because deliquesce asked

Deliquesce asked why we castrated goats. Well started to write her a note explaining that we did it because we only wanted to keep one adult male goat intact because those who are intact pee on their faces and smell really bad. It sounded funny so I did a web search and I found this from a goat farm website (fiascofarm.com) to back up what I said….
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Adult males

Courting/Mating

Bucks have their own special way of getting the ladies in the mood. Along with their smell and peeing habits they also have some certain behaviors that may seem odd, especially if you have never seen it before. These mannerisms are most often exhibited toward the doe in heat, but because breeding and dominance can be so closely related, you will also see does and wethers, as well as bucks asserting their dominance over each other (or you) by exhibiting these traits. Also, does in heat will exhibit these traits and we call this “acting bucky”.

These mannerisms are totally normal and the buck may try them on you as well as a doe. When a buck is “in the mood” he doesn’t always care what sex or species he tries to breed. If a buck exhibits these traits at you, he may have a crush on you and you should be careful that he doesn’t try to mount you when you aren’t looking.

Tongue flapping-

The buck will lower his head and flap his tongue at the side of the doe (or you).
Leg pawing – The buck paws at the side of the doe with a straightened leg. This is usually done at the same time as tongue flapping.
Blubbering- This is done toward the doe (or you); it can can be done in conjunction with leg pawing and tongue flapping

Smell

As bucks grow they will develop a distinctive odor. Many people find it a bad smell, others don’t find it that bad, they just find it strong. The odor will not be quite so bad the first year, but will increase with maturity, Does and wethers (neutered males) do not develop a smell like bucks do. It is bucks and their smell that have given all goats a “bad rap” for smelling. If you keep your buck with your does (not recommended) the buck smell will get on the does, and if you milk the does, it can get in their milk.

Urinating

As bucks mature and go into rut, the male equivalent of heat (in the Fall), they will start peeing on their front legs and faces. They have a kind of “spray attachment” on the penis and can really spray. He will spray his urine into his mouth and then curl up his lip to get a good whiff. His legs, face and beard will eventually be coated with a sticky layer of urine (irresistible to a doe). Once rut is over (in the Winter) he may, or may not, stop peeing on himself.

Aggression

As a buck matures, he will get more aggressive. This is natural. Even the sweetest, most well behaved buck may challenge you, as well as his companions, from time to time (usually during breeding season). Aggressive bucks toward humans is not good. A buck he needs to know/be taught that you are dominant to him.

Other habits

As he goes into rut, your buck will want to make sure all his equipment is in proper working order, so he will be ready at a moment’s notice to breed a doe. He will get erections quite often. He will check himself with his mouth (yes, he will be able to reach).

A buck will practice his sexual technique on his male companions. He may also try to practice on you if you are not careful. He may not intend to hurt you, but you should be very careful when you are around a buck in rut.
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We lived in a very rural area. Off of a dirt road off of a dirt road off of a dirt road on 5 acres of property. We had horses, goats, dogs, cats, chickens, geese and rabbits.

Here is a photo of me and my sister (I am on the left) with two of our goats – Heidi and Heather.

They were female Saanen Goats and good milkers. Oh and Saanen goats originated in Switzerland thus the name Heidi for the one goat. LOL

At one point we had 14 goats. They were so sweet and would follow us around like puppy dogs. Sometimes I miss those days…

First Entry for Thursday – if you missed my entry for Wednesday – it is one back. It was written in the evening.

All items © 2005 CAMElias/Dakk O’ta unless otherwise noted.