Goat People - Dwarf breeds - Bucks

[FatCatFarm]

Are they more trouble than they’re worth? We have two wonderful Pygmy nannies and were contemplating adding a billy rather than hauling the girls around in order to have them bred. I have heard they don’t make good pets and I have a six year old daughter. Others have said it just depends on the billy. Wondered if getting said billy as a weanling and raising him might make a difference. Or, we may just want to leave well enough alone.

I do know billys go into rut in the fall and actually pee on the backs of their front legs and faces as a part of that.

Are polled billies less trouble than ones with horns?

Thoughts?

[MunchingonHay]

Billys stink.

Why have a stinky billy around to breed to your two girls once a year, when its easy to load them up, have them at the billy’s farm for a bit (till they catch) and bring them home.

Then once the kids are born the billy is going to have to be separated (because you can not breed the babies to the daddy yuck!)

So, separated housing, fencing, stinky, pushy, loud male 365 days a year for 2 simple breedings? does not add up to me.
I would find a nice “boyfriend” online or word of mouth and either have him ‘stay over’ while the girls are in heat or just load them up. But having a billy just because, does not make sense.

ps. I love pygmy goats! they are so cute and please post pictures when you have your kids !!!

[FatCatFarm]

LOL! Well, don’t sugar coat it or anything. :winkgrin: Kinda what I figured though. Just not any billys close by that I like.

[kinnip]

I have two Nigie bucks you can have! I sold all of my does, and now have two horn dawgs prowling around. I’m not positive about pygmies, but I think they are like the Nigies in that they are non-seasonal breeders. My large goats only breed in fall and winter. The Nigies are ready all day, every day. They are smelly and very affectionate. In the fall, they get a little pushy, but overall I enjoy the boys. They really are affectionate.

[FatCatFarm]

I think the Pygmies and the Nigerians are very similar. Are they stinky? Pics?

[Nes]

Is AI not an option with goats?

[MunchingonHay]

[QUOTE=FatCatFarm;5768945]
LOL! Well, don’t sugar coat it or anything. :winkgrin: Kinda what I figured though. Just not any billys close by that I like.[/QUOTE]

sorry if I came off a bit harsh, I just cant stand the smell of a billy goat. :lol::lol::lol::lol:

and I dont want anyone else to have to put up with that stink :winkgrin::winkgrin::D:D:lol::lol:

[Ghazzu]

If the does are polled vs. dehorned, you’re going to need a horned buck.
IMHO, better someone else’s buck.
They are rather pungent, and the smell lingers–kinda like when you get thrush on your hands–it does not wash off easily.

Also, if you’re milking the does, having a buck in proximity will give an off flavor to the milk.

[cowboymom]

I love my goats but I won’t have a billy. They reek. We used to drive past the neighbor’s and the car would reek just from driving by. In the winter, with the windows up. I kid you not.

They reek.

[FatCatFarm]

Okay. Thanks everyone. Got it. They reek. I could put up with a little muskiness in the fall but all the time, no. You’re right, not worth it.

[Epona142]

Bucks, not billies.

They stink, sure, but to me it’s not overpowering. In fact I find the smaller breeds to not reek quite as bad. And mine only stink during rut. Once all the does settle, they stop rutting and are “normal.”

Horned bucks = huge no no. Even if they are tame as sweet butter like mine have been, they WILL be destructive with their horns. Fencing, housing, trees, will all feel his horns.

Disbudded bucks are far less destructive. I’ve never had a “mean” buck, my bucks have all been gentle loving kind souls. Easily handled, leash trained, trained to get on the stand to have their feet trimmed.

But if you don’t want to keep a buck, don’t!

I often lease or borrow a buck. I’m doing it again this year. Borrowing two bucks actually. Going to be fun hand breeding everyone!

Best of luck to you

[cowboymom]

Meh-I will use doe instead of nanny and I will use buck when they’re young but a billy goat is a billy goat to me! I know it’s not all PC for new goat people but I have had too many experiences with nasty smelly billy goats to worry about their public image much. :lol:

[appaloosalady]

The Nigerian bucks don’t smell nearly as bad as full sized bucks do. I have 2 here and they are only stinky a month or two out of the year and not too bad then.

[FatCatFarm]

[QUOTE=appaloosalady;5771237]
The Nigerian bucks don’t smell nearly as bad as full sized bucks do. I have 2 here and they are only stinky a month or two out of the year and not too bad then.[/QUOTE]

Thanks for this and you are correct. Kept mulling it over and finally went to see a local Nigerian breeder who keeps quite a few bucks and are currently in rut and while they were a tad on the musky side, it was not bad or pervasive so we came home with an adorable and very friendly black and white disbudded purebred buck. I couldn’t get over how friendly, calm and sweet natured all of her bucks and does were.

[maunder]

Congratulations FCF!!! I didn’t think you’d have any trouble with temperament with a pygmy, although it’s individual.

Be careful though…:)…I have a friend with a perfectly lovely pygmy buck and during the rut he will try to knock her down to breed her ;).

[FatCatFarm]

[QUOTE=maunder;5933391]
Congratulations FCF!!! I didn’t think you’d have any trouble with temperament with a pygmy, although it’s individual.

Be careful though…:)…I have a friend with a perfectly lovely pygmy buck and during the rut he will try to knock her down to breed her ;).[/QUOTE]

No that would not go over well and will be discouraged. This guy is actually Nigerian Dwarf and the Nigerians definitely seem to be more placid than the Pygmies. I’m going to keep one of the Pygmy does, but sell the other (at least that’s the plan). I ran into a really good deal on a nice Nigerian doe and her young doeling. I just love the flashy coloring of the Nigerians in addition to their laid back natures. But it is one reason why I wanted a buck who didn’t have horns. :yes:

[CosMonster]

Okay, I’ll be a voice of dissent. I have two Nigerian Dwarf bucks and I absolutely love them. One is registered and has done quite well at shows, we also have dairy goats and are using him as a stud as well as standing him out a bit. The other, well, I have to admit I just haven’t gotten around to castrating him yet (we want him to be a wether companion to the buck when he can’t be in with the does, but his testicles just dropped recently…also it’s kind of confusing since they’re both named Oliver–long story–but we have Big Ollie the buck and Little Ollie the future wether).

They’ve been horribly stinky this fall but only when you get up close to them. They do pee on their faces and legs which is kind of nasty but honestly not too bad. We have a lot of space, their pen is relatively small but they follow me around while I do chores for like 5-6 hours a day.

Other than rutting season I don’t think they’re that stinky, honestly. I mean, they’re a little smellier than the does, but hardly at all. And I kind of like the smell, but I’m also crazy like that. :uhoh::lol: They do get pretty strong for a bit in the fall, though. That’s fading away for my goats (was pretty bad throughout October) and they’re back to their nice goaty smell.

Both Ollies are super friendly and I adore them. Dwarf goats are fantastic pets.

All of my goats are disbudded but it wasn’t an intentional decision on my part, just not knowing anything about them and winding up with disbudded goats so I can’t give any advice like that.