rachels.haven
Herd Master
She's not in heat then. Easy peasy (for you).
Lunatic Buck Behavior Advice Needed
- Thread starter bethh
- Start date
Beekissed
Herd Master
Guess this is why God gave goats horns? To protect their heads? You could try those ram shields that keep them from butting one another if they make them small enough for goats?
secuono
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Can the bucks not stay with the chosen does long term for breeding? Why remove them right away? I don't have goats, just sheep, but I can't see how they are all that different.
You could also give him something else to beat up that won’t hurt him. My billy despised anything orange and would end up with the offensive object proudly creamed on his head. Maybe a pumpkin or something that he can destroy that won’t destroy him..
- Thread starter
- #15
bethh
True BYH Addict
I wasn’t going to leave the girls and boys separated long term because when the girls aren’t in heat the boys drive them crazy. I revised my plans and will keep the appropriate girls and boy together until each girl has been bred. I’m now waiting on one.
Ridgetop
Herd Master
It is too bad that you can't keep the bucks and does separated. However, since the bucks can smell a doe in season over a mile away, it won't do much good anyway. Bucks fighting is normal during rut. Their hormones tell the bucks they need to fight when they are in rut. If you can separate them, they will not hurt themselves. In a few years they will age and realize that they will all get does. In the wild, bucks fight for females because they have to. Often the doe they are fighting for is not ready to breed and wanders off during their fight. Injuries to bucks from fighting are normal. As long as they are not able to do more that head butt, just put antibiotic salve on any raw heads. Spray on is recommended to avoid getting buck stink on you since their scent glands are located on their heads and behind their front knees.
Pen breeding (unless the buck is wearing a breeding harness and crayons) can be a hit or miss business with no idea when the kids are coming. More worry for you.
We pen bred our Boers with the buck wearing a harness. However we individually bred our dairy does with the doe and the buck both on leashes. Inappropriately rough behavior was discouraged.
If your bucks are young, they are probably just very anxious to get to the girls. Put the doe and buck you choose both on leashes in a separate area out of their pens and watch her behavior toward him. If she is ready to breed, she will flourish her tail, rub on him and back up to him presenting a breeding position. The doe determines readiness for breeding, not the buck. If the buck is over anxious and rough, he can hurt the doe and she will refuse him.
BTW, some does will refuse certain bucks anyway. If this happens use a different buck and see if she is just particular.
Pen breeding (unless the buck is wearing a breeding harness and crayons) can be a hit or miss business with no idea when the kids are coming. More worry for you.
We pen bred our Boers with the buck wearing a harness. However we individually bred our dairy does with the doe and the buck both on leashes. Inappropriately rough behavior was discouraged.
If your bucks are young, they are probably just very anxious to get to the girls. Put the doe and buck you choose both on leashes in a separate area out of their pens and watch her behavior toward him. If she is ready to breed, she will flourish her tail, rub on him and back up to him presenting a breeding position. The doe determines readiness for breeding, not the buck. If the buck is over anxious and rough, he can hurt the doe and she will refuse him.
BTW, some does will refuse certain bucks anyway. If this happens use a different buck and see if she is just particular.
- Thread starter
- #17
bethh
True BYH Addict
Fingers crossed, they seem to have settled down. I think we did pen breeding like you mentioned. I had 2 does with 2 buck and the other buck and doe together for about 2 weeks. So I know, I will have a window of due dates versus an actual date. One of my does, Dixie, seems to instantly go into heat when first out with the buck. She bred immediately this time as well as the last time. The others not so much. I’m hoping for a better kidding season in the spring. Thanks @Ridgetop for the great information.
Ridgetop
Herd Master
Good luck! Look forward to your posting on arrivals.
