Goats - Wethers or Does?

[ThreeBoysChicks]

I really want to get a couple of goats this spring. My neighbor has 5 does who will start kidding in April. They are alpine does (Great grandmother, grandmother, mother and daughter) all bred to a boar goat. My neighbor said that she will sell me two wethers very cheap because she knows I will take great care of them and they won't end up at auction.

So my question is for you goat people. I realize that every goat is different, but as far as attitude, are wethers and does about the same? Or is one nicer than the other? I don't want to breed, so I don't really need does. I just want some great pets.

Thanks in advance for your opinions.

 

[mtnmenagerie]

wethers make such wonderful pets. very even tempered. their personality depends on how much time you spend with them while they're growing

so give them lots of lovin!
besides, with does, you have to go put up with heat cycles. some of mine get LOUD and crancky during that time.

a small bit of advice... ask the person you're getting them from to disbud them. no possibility of accidents withs those horns.

good luck, and congratualtions on getting goats!

 

[FarmGirl01]

Wethers are number one. I have whethers and does. The does are loud. Get more than one they love the company. I keep my goats in with my hens. They get along just fine. Good luck.

 

[vicki2x2]

I have had both wethers and does over the years and usually wethers are much friendlier! Some does can be a bit stand-offish, others are fine, but they are definitely loud when they are in heat.

If you can, bottle feed your babies. They will be like dogs and follow you everywhere. I just adore our goats, they have the best personalities!!

Vicki

 

[helmstead]

Because we have a breeding operation, we don't keep our wethers...but they do make great pets. I don't really see a difference between wethers and does, ours are supper sweet, too. Biggest difference to most buyers is price...

 

[greyfields]

If you don't plan to breed, the obvious choice is to get whethers.

I like putting my goats in with pigs. The goats pull down the tall blackberries, then the pigs demolish them. I use the goat/pig combo to clear areas I dare not enter with the tractor.

 

[Ericasl]

HI I have a wether I got him at two weeks old and bottle fed him. He is very sweet but my problem is he still want to get in my lap and jump on me and he is getting big. Other wise he is very sweet he comes to his name and will walk right in the house. He is like a dog. We had him dehorned, because of the kids we have a 5 and 6 year old that he hangs out with alot and we have sheep and I did not want the horns!! We love him. He is boar. Our reggie

 

[GAhen]

Thanks for this thread...My friend just offered me a pygmy wether that is three months old....I want to keep it with my chickens.
Dog you thing it could sleep in big a dog house????

 

[mlheran]

Wethers are more "kid-like" and don't have heat cycles.

GAhen - yes, a pygmy would be quite happy in a dog house, but it would need a larger sheltered area during cold rainy/snowy weather (they won't go out in the rain, and you can't fit feed & water in a dog house). You should also keep two as they will be lonely by themselves -even with chickens for company.

 

[Wildsky]

I have a wether Boer Goat named Bucky - he's so much fun, like an energetic child..... and he LOVES my kids - he'll race around with them till they're ALL out of breath!