We have a new baby doeling and I have a couple of questions:
1. How long do I need to keep baby separated from our other adult doe? Our does have always been together and Nibbles (non-mom) is really sad & lonely. Twonkie is wanting to be with her sister too, although most of the time she's focused on baby.
2. I had to milk Twonkie's left side today b/c baby wasn't nursing and it got engorged & clogged. I noticed the baby nurse on that side, briefly, this afternoon but it is still fuller than the other side. Should I continue to milk that side? If so, can I store that milk (or should I)? I thought I might want to store it just in case something happens later on and baby needs it. Twonkie is the best for milking, she just stands there, lifts that leg a little and patiently waits. I'd never milked anything before (had to be walked through how to do it on the phone) and I have hand tremors and she was so great!
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I started keeping my newly-freshened does and their kid(s) separated for generally around 7-10 days this spring after I had a several day old kid get trampled. The buckling had suffered hypothermia in the first 24 hours after birth so he was kind of weak already and I guess he just couldn't get out of the way fast enough.
I did have a doe and singleton that I let loose after only 3 days though with no problems. He was a very big and very active kid so I felt that he'd be fine out.
And congrats on the doeling!
Store the milk in freezer bags and put on it how many hours after birth you collected it. It counts as colostrum for a couple days or so. Typically on this farm, the first goat of the year to kid gets milked at 24 hours post kidding, so I can store colostrum in case I need it for other kids. And then if we're ever in a situation like you are, we also milk the goat and save the milk. Every now and then I find 3-4 year old colostrum in the frig, and I just give it to the barn cats. We don't usually start drinking the milk before 4-5 days. Sometimes kids will have a favorite side, which is not so bad if mom has more than one. If a single kid has a favorite side, you really do need to milk the other side, or you will have a lopsided doe, which may or may not correct with subsequent freshenings. It can turn into a vicious cycle if you don't milk it -- it's too big for the kid to comfortably nurse, so they give up on that side entirely, and it can dry up.
There is not one single right answer about when to put the goats back together. When I had my first three goats, they all kidded together in the same stall and were together from day 1. Now we have kidding pens, and I keep mom and babies separated for a couple weeks, or until I need the kidding pen again, so sometimes it's only a few days. You can put them together and see how everyone acts. If they're all friendly, it's probably fine to leave them together.
I'd keep milking the one side, and save the milk!! Once it's out of the colostrum stage, I'd start drinking it. My breeder keeps her does with kids separate for a few days, I think. Not really all that long. Mom's will keep watch on their kids and help them stay safe. I think this is especially true/easier if they are in a small herd, which it sounds like you have. More experienced gals will comment here with more useful advice than my second hand is... but for now... lol I thought I'd at least give you a jumping off point!!