Breeding
Nigerian goats can breed year round. The gestation period for a doe is 145 to 153 days. For the most part, Nigerian goats are a hearty breed with few kidding problems. New babies average about 2 pounds at birth but grow quickly. Watch out for those little bucks! Bucklings can be fertile at as young as 7 weeks of age. Make sure you wean does and bucks separately to help you avoid those unintentional breeding's.
Bucks can be used for servicing does as young as 2 months of age and definitely by the time they are 4 months old. Nigerian goat bucks are vigorous breeders but are gentle enough to be used for hand breeding (contained) or pasture breeding where one buck is available for several does as they come into estrus. Both methods are used successfully.
Does can be bred as early as 4-5 months of age, or once they start cycling.
Most breeders prefer to wait until they are at least 1 year or older before breeding. The biggest mistake any breeder can make is to assume bucklings cannot successfully breed a doe at 8 weeks or the doe is not able to be bred at a young age
Nigerian does can have several kids at a time, 3 and 4 being more common than singles or twins, with some quintuplet births occurring. Nigerian goats are generally good mothers and are able to take care of their babies with ease.
They can also provide a surprising amount of milk for their size.
Bucks can be used for servicing does as young as 2 months of age and definitely by the time they are 4 months old. Nigerian goat bucks are vigorous breeders but are gentle enough to be used for hand breeding (contained) or pasture breeding where one buck is available for several does as they come into estrus. Both methods are used successfully.
Does can be bred as early as 4-5 months of age, or once they start cycling.
Most breeders prefer to wait until they are at least 1 year or older before breeding. The biggest mistake any breeder can make is to assume bucklings cannot successfully breed a doe at 8 weeks or the doe is not able to be bred at a young age
Nigerian does can have several kids at a time, 3 and 4 being more common than singles or twins, with some quintuplet births occurring. Nigerian goats are generally good mothers and are able to take care of their babies with ease.
They can also provide a surprising amount of milk for their size.