What Age Do You Breed?

Ever since we got our goats, I've been looking around at what age to breed. I will admit, I was somewhat surprised to find out that you can breed them at about a year old.

So I was just wondering, what age do you breed your goats? What kind of qualifications do you have for them, and etc.?

Age, size and health. Those are the three I try to go by. Sometimes we get an unexpected breeding. I have one now, younger and smaller than what I like. Now it is a wait and see what the outcome is.

What age usually?
I was reading somewhere that some people like to breed them around a year old because it increases milk yield for the rest of their lives or something. Just not sure how comfortable I would feel doing that. xD

I'm just curious because I have a seven month old doe that I'm considering breeding this year, but probably won't end up doing.

You breed by weight not age
I have Nigerians and I use 40 lbs as the guidelines
With that being said all of mine are large enough by a year old
We have bred at 8 months
All of my kids born this spring are large enough at 7-9 months
With that being said we breed most at around a year old but don't breed some until 18 months

Ah, ok. Thank you very much, OneFineAcre! I have Nigerians, too, and have been debating on this for a while. I'll have to get out the scale and keep tabs on her weight.

I agree with all the above posters.

It also helps to know your lines. I have a doe that comes from the larger side for the Nigerians, they are often over the height standard and weigh more then the average Nigi. The can be bred at a younger age then my other girls, but I wouldn't breed them at 40lbs as they are pretty young when they hit the 40lb mark. BUT I have other does that come from some of the smaller Nigerians, they are much older when they hit the 40lb mark.

I hope that makes sense

Could you email the breeder and ask their opinion? IMO that is best, they should know their goats pretty well

How 'bout some pics of these gals

Oh, I'll definitely be asking the breeders soon, haha. We were lucky to get our two from a breeder who demands to know exactly how they're doing, even now and loves to get updates. Couldn't have asked for better help through all of this turmoil or a better breeder. (We're actually taking them out to her place sometime in December for 4H practice. Can't wait to see their mothers and all of the others!)

I think we're probably going to have to wait on her, though. She's a bit on the small side.

And I've been waiting for someone to ask for pictures!
The black and white one is our wether, Stanley. He's my big baby and I just adore him so much and am thankful everyday that we got him and not another doe. <3 I couldn't ask for a better, more loving goat.
And then the goldish one is Daphne. She's not nearly as loving as Stanley, but I still adore her. She can be a bit stubborn and annoying sometimes, but oh well... I wouldn't trade her. (And I'm hoping that she produces some gorgeous babies.)

Beautiful goats
She doesn't look that small to me for 7 mos
Let us know what she weighs
I have a doe Ginger the same color as your doeling
I wish we could get a baby the same color she has never had a kid with her coloring
And she's stubborn too
She is 5 yo one the home page of my website
She's a big girl too

Well, I'm kind of just basing it off of what size our neighbor's goats were... kind of hard since they are two months older.
She was about five months old in that pic, so this is good.
And I just had to go look at your goats. They're all so gorgeous. Makes me kind of want one, haha.

I'll check her weight tomorrow. (Not sure how I'm going to do this, of course. xD)

Get your bathroom scale weigh yourself first
Then hold her and get on the scale
Then do the math