PICS added....picking up 2 possibly preg goats in the morning!

[jessica_1285]

5 yr old pygmy doe.
2 yr old pygmy doe.
2 yr old pygmy buck.

The seller has decided goats are not for him so he is giving them to me. He has had them for 6 months and the buck has been with them the whole time.
So I guess there's a chance they might be bred!
I'm still new to goats (no pregnancies) how on earth am I gonna know if they are bred and when to expect kidding? Am I crazy for taking on questionable goats? :/

 

[pridegoethb4thefall]

Look for udders on the doe's. That can help you know how far they are from kidding (possibly)

Do LOTS of research here on BYH, you will learn ALOT! STUDY kidding threads and read the 'Stickies" at the top of the forum topics.

Prepare to separate the buck from the doe's so he doesn't try to breed the babies. Find a vet right away, and try to find a local goat person to mentor you.

You are NOT crazy!! Brave and adventurous and kind is more like it! ALOT of us started out just like you, myself included. A lot of owning goats is learning on the job, and running here to BYH for advice, help, ideas, feedback, and support.

If you can, get pictures of the doe's udders (try to include the tail/vulva area as well in the pics) show us what they look like, pics from the top looking down at their back and belly, as well as full side shots and from the front.

Udder pics can be very helpful, especially with pygmies, as they tend to have big bellies even when not preggers.

Will be watching this thread for pics!

 

[jessica_1285]

Thanks for your suggestions I will definately take your advice! Look for pics later today I'll be pretty excited if they are expecting but also very nervous lol. I don't care either way as long as these goats are healthy..fingers crossed. I haven't even seen pics so I'm really not sure what I'm getting l How long do I keep them separate from my current goats?

 

[TigerLily Trail Ranch]

I agree with all of the above. I breed pygmy & pygmy crosses so if you can gets pics up id be happy to take a guess since im used to telling the difference between fat & preggo on the super shorties lol . Plus im sure theres quite a few others on here willing to throw in their 5 cents as well . BTW theres always ultrasounding & blood tests to.

FYI I got my 1rst goat, an adult ND mix wether, as a bud for my old gelding I had at the time cuz hed flip when I took my mare out (feeling wasnt mutual lol) & shortly after we rehomed him a few years later & less than a month after he went to his new home we came home with my 2 crosses from the feed store lol. Granted that store isnt exactly known for taking care of their animals, & these 2 were a buckling & a doeling between 2-4 months, terrified of people (not anymore), & were in an open wire dog crate too small for them to be in 24/7 in March (NM weather isnt too bad by then normally, but it was a chilly winter, & they didnt have bedding either). Anyways built them proper pens (#1 just hung with the horses) got some buddies for them from an NPGA breeder, & 3 years later both does are pregnant 2Fers (bred to my purebred buck. The mix is now kept as his buddy & not used for breeding though he was never wethered) & im looking to expand my herd to 10+ head & am hopefully on the road to breeding some awesome NPGA champions ( & the mix doe's kids just cuz lol).

Sorry about the long post. My point is that sometimes when we gets goats its "just one of those things" .

ETA: They probably arent, but ill ask anyways. Are they bio tested? Normally the recommended quarantine is 3+ weeks.

 

[jessica_1285]

Yay I cant wait to get pics up! I'm counting on some educated guesses I'm excited to get them home. I realy don't even care if they end up being mixes (you never know lol) I'm sure you will be able to tell since you breed pygmys. He told me that one is blk and white like a cow... can pygmy's have that coloring? As for testing He didn't mention it so probably not.

 

[madcow]

Yay I cant wait to get pics up! I'm counting on some educated guesses I'm excited to get them home. I realy don't even care if they end up being mixes (you never know lol) I'm sure you will be able to tell since you breed pygmys. He told me that one is blk and white like a cow... can pygmy's have that coloring? As for testing He didn't mention it so probably not.

I'm new to pygmies also, but I've learned a lot from BYH since joining. Yes, pygmies can be black and white. In fact, they can be salt and pepper, brown and black, brown, black, and white; white, black, and also white with some black, usually along the back and on the face. Cute animals and mine are very lovable. In fact Ginger will rub her head in between my knees if I'm sitting just to get extra attention. She's a pill! Good luck if you get them. You are very brave and they will appreciate everything you give them in attention I'm sure.

 

[TigerLily Trail Ranch]

Cant post the link right now cuz im on my NOOK but I will later . I HIGHLY recommend you check out the national pygmy goat association website (they also have a group on FB). They have a TON of info. Pygmies colors are either brown or black based, & there are only 6 colors that fit the breed standard. I do not have this memorized so try not to laugh too hard at how badly I butchered it .

Caramel: think madcow's Ginger (cept she doesnt have the frosting), who has a small full belly band. Looks like Chamoisee nigerians if they are darker. Caramel can range from white to that dark color & should have black or brown points on the legs, stripes on face for does & normally a solid face for the bucks, A dorsal down the back, which I believe can stop 1/2 way, & tail. There should be frosting around the muzzle, tail, & ears as well. Points on the legs should have the other color running down the front (link will have pics ). In bucks a line the color of their points often goes down the front shoulder on each side (think the Jesus cross on donkeys). You dont have do be as specific registering them any more but Ginger would be considered dark caramel & there is also, you got it, medium & lights caramels though the white ones I call white caramel.

Agoutis should have white hair running throughout the coat
Chocolate Agouti: white hairs throught out the coat with brown points & brown coat.

All colors below should have solid black points

Grey Agouti can range from dark to light with a decent number of white hairs. If there is even a small patch where the white hair gives the area a "roanq" look like in nigerians & other breeds they are grey agouti

Black Agouti random white hairs throughout the coat

Black, & I believe its called self or solid black. Solid, no frosting on face, ears, or tail.

Acceptable markings are headspots, limited white & or belly bands (full or partial) between the shoulder & thigh (front & back leg) areas. High white can be marked down in the show ring though many comptete with a white sock or kiss of Merlin (white spot on chest) & place well. BTW all colors except the solid black should have the frosting around the muzzle, ears, & tail. Blue eyes, moon spots, other colors, & polled goats arent accepted (signs of other breeds mixed in).

Even if you dont own registered or registerable pygmies I do recommend possibly getting a membership. You get a subscription to their quarterly newsletter The MEMO (I myself am a newby but have found it very informative), reduced registration rates if you decide to go that direction, etc. If you decide to join let me know so I can give you my registration # etc .

Anyways ill post the links in a bit!

Cant wait to see when you post pics!

 

[TigerLily Trail Ranch]

Here are the links as promised . I hope these help !

NPGA Home Page

NPGA Color Examples

NPGA Color Choices

NPGA Facebook Group

There is also a FB group where you can post NPGA pygmies for sale, & as much as I love drooling over some of the animals ive seen on there (why arent they closer??? ) not sure whether or not youd like the link to that one. In case you cant already tell im an enabler for the pygmy goat addiction lol . Potato chip rule applies .

 

[jessica_1285]

Thanks so much for all the info everyone . We got them home and they seem to be doing great! I will have to post pics tomorrow once they settle in a bit more. They are sooooo cute ( and very tiny) the buck is only about 13". The girls don't really look pregnant to me but hubby says he thinks the one is. We will see what you guys think when I get the pics posted!

 

[jessica_1285]

Here are the links as promised . I hope these help !

NPGA Home Page

NPGA Color Examples

NPGA Color Choices

NPGA Facebook Group

There is also a FB group where you can post NPGA pygmies for sale, & as much as I love drooling over some of the animals ive seen on there (why arent they closer??? ) not sure whether or not youd like the link to that one. In case you cant already tell im an enabler for the pygmy goat addiction lol . Potato chip rule applies .

Thank You ! I think I already have an addiction lol. I now have 7 goats and already want more pygmys