Frequently Asked Questions

Q: At what age should I breed my does?
A: It depends on the breed of the doe. We generally breed our boer and boer-cross does between 7 and 9 months of age depending on their body development. We generally like to breed them during or after their second heat cycle. In the Dairy goats we like to follow a 7 months, 70 pounds rule. We will breed the sheep as yearlings.

Q: Where can I give a CD/T shot so it is not obvious on a show goat/lamb?
A: In some cases the CD/T vaccine will leave an injection site reaction which will leave a knot or lump that can be present for up to a few months. To minimize the visibility of a lump should it occur, we generally give the shot just under the front leg in what would be the arm pit area. Generally in this location the knot or lump will not be visible during show.

Q: Do Wethers urinate on themselves?
A: No, when a buck is castrated, they make wonderful pets. They do not urinate on themselves or smell like bucks.

Q: At what age to goats mature?
A: It depends on the breed of the goat. Fullblood boer goats reach maturity at three years of age. They are a little smaller when they are born than a cross bred boer and take a little longer to start maturing than a cross bred boer. Cross bred boers are recommended for show wethers because they will mature earlier generally looking really nice around 6-8 months of age. Fullblood boers have the majority of their growth at a later age generally 7-12 months of age and will not reach full maturity until 3 years of age. Cross bred boer generally reach maturity around 2 1/2 years of age.

Q: I have a goat that doesn't want to come to me what can I do to make them come to me?
A: Goats respond very well to treats. First you will have to find out what they like for a treat. Most goats will like one or more of the following: bread, marshmallows, cookies (not chocolate), animal crackers, some cereals, etc. When you find out what that goat likes, they will be your best friend. My goats really like animal cookies.

Q: What can you do for boers with folded ears?
A: If a goat has folded ears you need to address the issue within the first several days of life. Unfold the ear and using duct tape, place a piece on both sides of the ear until the ear lays the correct direction (if needed, you can also tape a piece of cardboard to the ear to help it lay flat). This can be done with ears that are folded both vertically and horizontally. Leave the duct tape on until it falls off on its own. If necessary repeat by reapplying duct tape until the ear is correct. Doing this while they are kids is training the cartilage to grow the way you want it to. If the ear is folded and attached by skin it is recommended that you leave the ear folded instead of cutting the skin.

Q: Will goats get alone with other animals?
A: Yes, goats will get along with a variety of other animals such as cats, chickens, ducks, geese, miniature horses, miniature donkeys, llamas, sheep, and some dogs, etc. It mostly depends on their personalities and at what age you introduce them to other animals.

Q: How can you tell if a goat is getting sick?
A: The first signs of a goat not feeling well is they will have their tail down, not eat, have diarrhea or stand with their head pressed against the wall. Any change in their usual behavior will signal to you that something is wrong. It depends on the symptoms and what lead up to this behavior as to the diagnosis.