If you’re coming from a background with other livestock—especially species like pigs, rabbits or horses—you might be worried about keeping intact males in the same space. In some species, it’s a recipe for disaster.
But with goats? It’s different.
Goat bucks are surprisingly peaceful. I often joke about their “bro club,” because they genuinely like each other. In my experience, they often form deeper bonds with their fellow bucks than they do with the does. Once breeding season ends, I’ve watched bucks call out to each other like they miss their roommates, and when I reunite them, they settle in like they never skipped a beat.
What It’s Like to Keep Bucks Together
In the off-season, I keep all my bucks in a shared pasture. They eat together, sleep curled up near each other, and roughhouse the way adolescent boys do – playful blubbering, mounting games, and plenty of headbutting.
During rut, it gets rowdier. There’s more posturing, some minor scuffles, and an occasional bloody nose. But even then, in over 15 years, I’ve never had a serious injury between bucks kept in a bachelor group. The key is space, resources, and not mixing them with does.
What Not to Do
If you put two bucks together with does, everything changes. They will fight relentlessly, and the poor does will be harassed endlessly. I’ve had success overwintering one buck with a group of does, but never more than one.
My Recommendation
Yes, bucks can and do live peacefully together, and in most cases, I recommend having at least two. Bucks thrive on companionship just like does do, and having a buddy makes the off-season far less lonely. In a holistic setting, our goal is always to provide as positive an environment as possible, and companionship in herd animals is a major part of that framework.
If you’re worried, take a deep breath. With thoughtful housing and basic precautions, your bucks can coexist just fine, and they’ll likely become best friends.
