Goat Myth Busters: Billy Goats are Stinky

Do billy goats really stink?

Are billy goats stinky?

First of all, let’s talk a little bit about goat terminology.  Billy goats aren’t billy goats anymore.  They are bucks.  Apparently, the terms “billy goat” and “nanny goat” aren’t respectful to the goats.  It has been my observation, however, that my bucks like to stick their heads in other goats’ urine streams, so I doubt they are that into being respected.  Anyway, billies are bucks and nannies are does, just like deer.  Now you know.

Stinky Nigerian Dwarf Goat
Jake the Nigerian Dwarf Goat
If he could sing karaoke, he would probably pick “I’m Sexy and I Know It!”

The myth is that bucks stink.  The reality is that the term “stink” does not even begin to describe the odor of a buck.  Their malodorous stench is one that sneaks up on you, before hitting you with a force you wouldn’t have thought possible.  You go from thinking “this smells fine” to “Oh my gosh, I’m going to vomit!” in a split second.  It’s awful.

In their defense, they don’t stink year-round, only during the “rut” or mating season, but trust me, that’s long enough!  Also, the does think the buck-stink smells better than the latest Calvin Klein fragrance at the mall.  The stinkier the buck, the more the ladies try to get into the buck pen.  Maybe that’s what is meant by the term “animal magnetism.”

So, that’s settled.  Bucks don’t stink, they REEK!  They play in their own pee and that of others.  They also give themselves oral pleasure if the ladies aren’t interested, but that is another story for another day.

Bottom line:  bucks are gross but funny, but you should definitely steer clear of them if you are easily offended.

What about you?  Do you hate the smell of bucks?  Some people don’t mind the smell.  I’m not one of those people.

For more goat stories, be sure to check out our “Animals” tab at the top of the page!

12 thoughts on “Goat Myth Busters: Billy Goats are Stinky”

  1. My bucks smell doesn’t bother me- they smell musky, but what does’t bother me is if I need to steer one somewhere & grab him by the beard & it is sticky from pee!Yuck! I love my boys tho, they are sweet.However not all of my friends agree & they say they can always tell I have been in the buck pen even if I didn’t touch them…

  2. I grew up around goats and yes I agree they REEK!! And they are so curious they are forever getting themselves into bad trouble.

  3. 🙂 Is it bad that this post makes me miss my buck? We sold our old guy and our junior, at 9 months old, isn’t quite acting- or should I say smelling- the part yet. I have a special coat I wear over my clothes- regardless of if it’s cold enough to wear it- to help keep the stench off of my clothes….

  4. I laughed a lot… I even read this aloud to my less than interested hubby who was kind enough to give me a courtesy laugh at the parts I thought were especially hilarious… 🙂 Oh the life of a goat gal with a non-goat hubby. 🙂

  5. My mother wore her buck pen coat elk hunting. After climbing the side of a mountain to try to catch up wit a heard of elk she was exhausted and fell asleep on a moss covered stump. When sh woke up the doe elk had settled down all around her to chew there cuds.

    1. You have the best stories. Really! 🙂 Eric tried hanging his clothes in the goat barn before hunting with no real effect, I’ll tell him to rub them on a buck instead. 🙂

  6. Does every breed of goat smell? I would love one of the little dwarfs! Do the does smell as well?

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