Introducing all new goats, new herd

[Paisley]

Hello everyone.
I'm looking for advice for starting a new little herd and introducing them to each other.
Nigerian Dwarf goats, 1 buck and 2 does. All >1 year.
The buck and one doe are being sold together and so are familiar with each other.
The second doe is from another herd completely.
They are all coming in Sunday afternoon to my home so none of them are familiar with this pasture or barn - new to all of them.
Thoughts about how best to make this transition smooth?
PS - if it is best, I could bring the pair in later, but I didn't want the one doe all alone too long.
Thank you!

 

[Paisley]

The doe and buck are currently kept together where I'm getting them from. It's my intention to separate the buck within the next few months, but I can't immediately. I need to get him a friend; don't want to leave him all alone. Not sure if him in the next pasture over is enough or he needs a wether with him. ???
Someone else suggested I separate the pair and single doe at first through a fence. Let them get to know each other that way at first, then all together. .

 

[farmerjan]

@Mini Horses ???? @rachels.haven ???

 

[Mini Horses]

I'd put 2 does together, buck separate. It's a breeding issue which can create way more problems than separation of the buck. Now these guy jump to amazing challenges! Invest in some cattle panels to contain the male until other arrangements are made. By the way, assume doe coming with buck IS bred if they've been housed together. Soon you'll have a son to wether for dads company.

I just never run the bucks with the does other than breeding season. With meat breeds, I put marking harnesses on bucks and put with their does for about 6 wks. With dairy I almost always put doe in only for a few hours, when in full estrus. I did run a hundred or so head herd and had several bucks. They each had a run and shelter, adjacent to other bucks. More than enough company!

My mini horses were always hand bred. Stallions had own runs.

Animals learn the rules or leave the farm.

 

[Finnie]

I don't know who you are but no I'm not sure who that is.

Farmerjan was calling over some experienced goat people to help you with your questions. On this forum, if you put the @ symbol and then someone’s username, it will send that user an alert that they were “mentioned”. (If they have their settings set to receive those alerts.)

It worked, because then @Mini Horses came and replied.

 

[cathclark72]

The doe and buck are currently kept together where I'm getting them from. It's my intention to separate the buck within the next few months, but I can't immediately. I need to get him a friend; don't want to leave him all alone. Not sure if him in the next pasture over is enough or he needs a wether with him. ???
Someone else suggested I separate the pair and single doe at first through a fence. Let them get to know each other that way at first, then all together. .

We put an "apron" on our little Nigerian Dwarf stud so he can stay with the doe's. He tolerates it really well and he can't breed. We keep an eye on him still, but no accidental pregnancies so far.

 

[Paisley]

This is the first time hearing about an apron. I'd love more information.

 

[Josh from Georgia]

The doe and buck are currently kept together where I'm getting them from. It's my intention to separate the buck within the next few months, but I can't immediately. I need to get him a friend; don't want to leave him all alone. Not sure if him in the next pasture over is enough or he needs a wether with him. ???
Someone else suggested I separate the pair and single doe at first through a fence. Let them get to know each other that way at first, then all together. .

I have a lot of Nigerian dwarfs. I always separate them by a fence for a few days and that drastically reduces the fighting once i put them in the pin together. They will let you know when they are ready too. Once they slow down on trying to fight through the fence they are ready to go together. Sometimes it only takes a few days sometimes a week or so.

 

[cathclark72]

This is the first time hearing about an apron. I'd love more information.

Here is the link on Amazon where we got ours. It has made such a difference for our herd. He gets to be out all the time with his pals. Hope this helps.

https://www.amazon.com/Buck-Apron-Breeding-Mating-Regular/dp/B086222RLL/ref=sr_1_5?crid=2JRKGA4V0HH1O&keywords=goat+apron+anti+breeding&qid=1649287834&sprefix=goat+apron%2Caps%2C166&sr=8-5