Which to Get----Buck or Wether-----or whole herd?!? Update---HELP!

[drdoolittle]

I am planning on adding another goat to my small herd and can't decide which would be best, a wether or a buck? The goat I get is going to be a companion for the buck I have now-----when he's separated from my girls. A wether would be o.k., but I'm thinking that another buck would be nice if I want to breed my girls to a buck from a different background. My buck only about a year old and the one I'm looking at is about 7 months----would they get along o.k.?

Here's a pic. of my buck, Scout:

Here's a pic. of the other buck:

 

[ksalvagno]

Either would be fine. Whatever will work for you. Just introduce them slowly.

 

[Mamaboid]

Either would be fine. Whatever will work for you. Just introduce them slowly.

x2

They will joust a little no matter which you get, but should get along great. Nice ages to put them together.

 

[drdoolittle]

Well, the lady who has the buck I want is now saying she doesn't want to sell him separate from the other 3 pygmies she has! It's 2 does----one white and one white and tan, and another buck---white. They are all young---the buck are both 7 mos., and the females are probably 1-2 years (both probably bred). She wants $200 for all 4. I think it's a great deal----I can always re-sell the ones I don't want. But, WOW, what a lot to take on at once! What do you all think?

 

[ksalvagno]

If they are healthy and you have the room, go for it.

 

[SmallFarmGirl]

If they are healthy and you have the room, go for it.

x2 if I were you, they'd be in my herd by now.

 

[drdoolittle]

My Hubby will absolutely KILL me! I think he'll be fine once I sell off any kids (remember, two of the does I have now are bred). I could end up having any where from 8-12 kids!

I have plenty of space for 3 bucks---my bucks pen is !6' x 16' and his "house" is the tank part of a dunk tank----4 goats could easily fit in there, so 3 will be fine.

My question----how much square footage would 6 does need in their shelter? I have a huge run-in shed that has 3 1/2 sides----we split it in half----the chickens coop is one side of it and the other half is for the goats (they are completely separated of course).

The pen area is 100' x 100' sq.----so about 10,000 sq ft. Of course, about 1/8 of that was fenced off for my pig pens.

 

[ksalvagno]

How big is the shelter? Is is possible to move the divider and give the goats a little more room if needed?

 

[drdoolittle]

O.K., here are pictures of the other goats (you've already seen the one buck):

And here are some pictures of my pen, shelter and goats----just so you have an idea: The first 2 are showing off my does relaxing in the pen. In the 3rd pic., you can see the goat shed way in the back, and in the 4th, you get a shot of the end with the pot belly pigs' pens. Oh, I guess you can see the shed in the first 3 pics.---you can also see my buck pen (with the big blue dunk tank shelter).

 

[SheepGirl]

Sheep need 12 sq ft of space for their shelter (for the average 150# ewe) and 30 sq ft of exercise space in a drylot (which is basically what you have). So I think you'd have enough room if the space requirements were same for goats.