How to find a good buck?

[LadyIsabelle2011]

I have had my girls for two years now, they are more than old enough to breed but I haven't been able to find a suitable buck simply because I don't know how to get in touch with the goat owners in my area or haven't really been brave enough to ask I guess.

I have taken them on one date, drove them up there and let them get to know the buck but I felt funny the whole time because the buck looked too big to me. (I think he was a kinder buck, small for a goat but not as small as my girls for sure ) My dad and the owner weren't worried but I was wishing the whole time for a smaller buck. Thankfully both came back into heat this week. It was a breath of relief for me.

Anyway, they are back in heat and I feel like I dodged a bullet. Now I still need to find a good buck. I can't keep one on my property. I need to get in touch with breeder but I don't know how to approach one. There is a guy right down the road from me that always has a lovely little herd of nannies and babies on his property but I never see him advertise.

How would you guys go about this sort of thing?

Thanks in advance!

 

[jodief100]

Call them up and ask! The worst they can do is say no. Check your breed registry for names near you.

 

[Catahoula]

Check CL too. Buck service is sometimes advertized. Go to the guy down your street...ask him who he uses for buck...pretend you don't know anything. It is always good to know your goat neighbors!

 

[bigmike]

I was looking for a buck to breed my ND and posted an add on CL titled Looking for a Nigerian Buck to breed my does...I put in the ad what I was looking for and that I was willing to pay a reasonable fee for use of a buck...I recieved several responses even one from a BYH member.Ended up going with a farm about 30 miles away that has great looking goats and only charging me $25...My doe is at breeder camp as we speak..One lady wanted to charge $100 and was fairly close but her goats came from the same breeder as mine and I wanted new bloodlines...Also might post on here and see if anyone is close to you and would be willing to offer breeding for you..

 

[ThreeBoysChicks]

What breed of buck are you looking for and where are you located. Put that in your Subject Line. Something Like

Nubian Buck Service needed in XXX

 

[AdoptAPitBull]

I just pimped out a Fainter buck this week. I advertised on craigslist, too. But of course you will get the morons asking how much the goat is to buy and don't understand what buck service is, like the person who just emailed me. So be prepared to deal with that if you put an ad up.

 

[Queen Mum]

Remember, goat grow for up to four years and they really can handle kids that are larger. Just not twice as large. So your does would probably have been fine. Most bucks are bigger than the does. Also if they kid twins the kids are smaller and that allows for easier birth.

That said,... Do remember to trust your gut, though and don't let people talk you out of something or into something. Really, YOU have to live with your choices so if you don't think something is right, say no.

 

[currycomb]

we noticed that no one seems to advertise they have goats, especially bucks. don't know if it is because they want to maintain a closed herd, don't want to get overwhelmed, or what, but goats at stud are just not advertised. contact your county extension, 4-H kids usually have bucks, and would welcome the extra revenue. we have goats. we have a buck goat. we don't advertise. mainly because we have grade goats, and do not want the responsibility should something happen to their doe. but we will breed to outside goats

 

[PendergrassRanch]

Where are you? Maybe someone on here could help

 

[LadyIsabelle2011]

I am in louisiana. All great advice here guys! Like cuurycomb said, I noticed that no one around here ever advertised their bucks for stud, although I always see kids and does being sold, but calling a number from an ad that was selling kids and asking if they did stud service didn't seem like the right route either. Probably just me though. I am going to try putting up my own ad like most of you suggested, it is a lot better than waiting around and hoping to meet someone who owns goats LOL ...by the way, that was how I found the first buck, I bought rabbits from them and noticed they had mini breed goats.

Anyway, craigslist ad it is! Thanks everybody!

By the way, what would be the normal buck to doe size ratio for a breeding pair? Just curious.