Goat behavior question~More signs of heat

[Henrietta23]

So I've been watching our Daisy, who is 9 months old, for any signs of heat. Today as I cooked my breakfast I saw her playing with her twin, Thomas, like they frequently do in the morning. For the first time ever, I watched Thomas sniffing her backside and actually mount her twice! When he wasn't paying attention to her she did everything she could to get him to come back, standing on her hind legs, twisting her head backwards, approaching him and rubbing against him. I haven't gotten down there to take a closer look at her for any other signs. They are now peacefully munching their hay. Since I am not usually home for this part of the day I have no idea if this something they do on a regular basis or not.

Forgot to add that Thomas is a wether.

 

[lorihadams]

I would say yes. But I haven't gotten my goats yet so don't count that as definitive.

 

[abifae]

Yep. Sounds like time to give them The Talk, Henrietta.

 

[Henrietta23]

They're back at it again. Definitely need to start looking for a way to get her bred.
Of course I now realize I never actually asked a question. But you guys are quick and figured it out. It was really 3 questions.
1. Does Daisy's behavior sound like she might be in heat?
2. Is it unusual for a wether to mount a doe in heat?
3. Is it possible that this mounting behavior is just part of their typical play that I haven't noticed before?

 

[abifae]

I've never been around goats so I don't know.

The sniffing and then mounting sounds more like heat. And I've seen fixed tom cats try to mount female cats in heat LOL.

No clue on if they usually play that way.

 

[Henrietta23]

I've never been around goats so I don't know.

The sniffing and then mounting sounds more like heat. And I've seen fixed tom cats try to mount female cats in heat LOL.

No clue on if they usually play that way.

I think the sniffing was what made me think it could be heat too. They play all the time, but that is something I haven't observed before. I have to put my boots on and get down there!

 

[Shiloh Acres]

My wether will most definitely get excited and mount a doe in heat. It is also a normal play behavior, from what I've seen. I even have a little doeling who gets excited and sort of mounts another doeling, but maybe she's just bouncing around.

I see it as part of normal play behavior too, but it becomes a LOT more pronounced as the does are going into heat. Both buckling and wether will mount often, and they also spar a lot more.

 

[ksalvagno]

Daisy could possibly be in heat.

Yes, wethers will mount others.

Yes goats mount each other when they play and for dominance.

If you can get a buck rag from someone and see how she reacts to it, that would be a better indication whether she is in heat or not. Also, the heat doesn't last long so if you see her in heat, you have about a day to get her bred.

 

[Shiloh Acres]

Oh good point on the sniffing. Yes, the boys sniff, the girls hold up their tails and allow it, and the boys mount. Wether also, same sequence.

My doeling doesn't sniff before she mounts in play. She just bounces all over the place.

 

[Henrietta23]

I had to expand my CL search for a stud and found this. Should I pursue it? It is a bit of a distance but I'm not finding anything local in my initial search...
http://hudsonvalley.craigslist.org/grd/2143235486.html