brentr
Ridin' The Range
10/9/2011
My NZ/Giant Chin cross doe is now 5 months, and a good 7.5 lbs. I put her in with my NZ buck. Both of them are first timers. My buck was clearly willing and trying his best to accomplish the goal. The doe was not aggressive to him, but clearly not willing - no laying out or lifting; she stayed kind of bunched in the corners.
Three questions I'd like input on:
1)is her unwillingness a possible sign of sexual immaturity? I do wonder if being half Giant Chin is delaying her maturation. I want to breed as early as able, but I obviously don't want to damage her (emotionally or physically) by breeding too early. I have a senior buck who is a very experienced and persistent breeder that I could use if part of the problem is trying to breed two first-timers.
2)if she is not sexually mature, how can I know when she is ready? Age and weight seem to be the only criteria for evaluating readiness. By those measures, she should be breedable now. If she's not ready now, what age would you suggest?
3)if she is not sexually mature, and I breed her to an experienced buck, what could result other than her just not conceiving? Her external genitalia is smaller than my senior does, but seems big enough that there would be no injury from breeding.
Thanks for the help in advance!
Original post - So I've heard from several different sources that I consider reliable that when it comes to breeding does for the first time, they follow the "six months or six lbs" rule. I have a NZ x giant Chin doe that is six pounds, but only 4 months. That seems a little young, but she comes from a really good mothering doe. She handles really well, seems quite calm.
I'm in no rush, but am considering that she'll hit six months in the winter. I don't think I want her to kindle the first time in the winter, so I either need to breed her in mid-late October (at the latest) or wait until March for breeding.
If she were yours, even though she is six lbs, how old would you want her before breeding the first time? Before anyone gets incensed, I am NOT planning to breed her right now...
My NZ/Giant Chin cross doe is now 5 months, and a good 7.5 lbs. I put her in with my NZ buck. Both of them are first timers. My buck was clearly willing and trying his best to accomplish the goal. The doe was not aggressive to him, but clearly not willing - no laying out or lifting; she stayed kind of bunched in the corners.
Three questions I'd like input on:
1)is her unwillingness a possible sign of sexual immaturity? I do wonder if being half Giant Chin is delaying her maturation. I want to breed as early as able, but I obviously don't want to damage her (emotionally or physically) by breeding too early. I have a senior buck who is a very experienced and persistent breeder that I could use if part of the problem is trying to breed two first-timers.
2)if she is not sexually mature, how can I know when she is ready? Age and weight seem to be the only criteria for evaluating readiness. By those measures, she should be breedable now. If she's not ready now, what age would you suggest?
3)if she is not sexually mature, and I breed her to an experienced buck, what could result other than her just not conceiving? Her external genitalia is smaller than my senior does, but seems big enough that there would be no injury from breeding.
Thanks for the help in advance!
Original post - So I've heard from several different sources that I consider reliable that when it comes to breeding does for the first time, they follow the "six months or six lbs" rule. I have a NZ x giant Chin doe that is six pounds, but only 4 months. That seems a little young, but she comes from a really good mothering doe. She handles really well, seems quite calm.
I'm in no rush, but am considering that she'll hit six months in the winter. I don't think I want her to kindle the first time in the winter, so I either need to breed her in mid-late October (at the latest) or wait until March for breeding.
If she were yours, even though she is six lbs, how old would you want her before breeding the first time? Before anyone gets incensed, I am NOT planning to breed her right now...
