When to begin milking.

[Kare]

This might be answered somewhere here, but I couldn't find it =)

I have a first freshener who kidded 3 days ago and I'm wondering when to begin milking her.  I have been adjusting her to the idea for about 2 weeks now, taking her to the stand and giving her grain, touching her udder and teats.  She was fine until today.  I think that is because her milk came in and the kids are eating a lot more than they were even yesterday, so she is feeling more protective of her milk.  So is this a good time to start milking her?  Or is it ok to let the kids have it all for the first week?  If I begin separating them at night, what is the preferred method for this?  Gradual?  Details would be wonderful =)

 

Kare

[Deborah Niemann-Boehle]

No. I was only addressing Kare's particular situation with twins and a first freshener. If the kids are healthy and gaining weight, you can start separating them at 5 to 7 days of age. I was agreeing with Kare's assumption that you would start gradually. First time only do it for six to eight hours. Only do it every two or three days. Gradually increase amount of time they're separated until it is 12 hours a night by two weeks of age. Gradually increase the frequency from every three or four nights to every night, depending upon how the kids handle it.

 

If you have a first freshener that gives birth to a single kid, you can start separating every night starting at five days, although you would still start at eight hours and work your way up to 12 hours over the course of a few days.

 

I currently have a four year old nursing three kids that's giving about six pounds a day at one month, so we're separating her about three nights a week because her kids don't need a quart each, every day! On the other hand, I have a two year old with triplets that needs to be with them every day, because she is only producing about 3 1/2 pounds a day, so if they're on her 24/7, they're only getting about 20 ounces a day each. You really have to customize it to each individual doe, her kids, and her ability to make milk.

Will White said:

Deborah

 

Are you saying you don't separate the kids over night till they're 6-8 weeks?  I thought you could do it much sooner at about 2 weeks?

Deborah Niemann-Boehle said:

You said "kids," so I'm assuming only twins, because she's a first freshener. When we only had a few goats, they only ate grain on the milk stand. Yes, you can start milking her now without separating the kids. You may only get an ounce or two, but it's mostly a training exercise now. If she kicks over the buckets, it's not a big mess or a big disappointment. If the kids are fat and healthy, you can start separating them for a few hours over night at five to seven days of age. You really have to play it by ear with each goat, and some first fresheners have a tough time just keeping up with the demands of two kids, so you might only be able to separate them for six to eight hours a couple times a week. As the kids get older and eat more solid foods, and the dam's supply increases, you can separate them for longer times and more frequently. Depending upon her supply, you can start separating every night by 6-8 weeks of age.

[Deborah Niemann-Boehle]

LOL! That's not uncommon.

Melissa Johnson said:

My doe has yet to kid, but I have always ran my hand under her belly and udder/teats etc.  However, now when I do it, she twirls around and gives me a I might butt you look as if she wants to yell "that's not for you!"  lol. I have to assure her, oh yes it is. ^^

[Will White]

Deborah

 

Are you saying you don't separate the kids over night till they're 6-8 weeks?  I thought you could do it much sooner at about 2 weeks?

Deborah Niemann-Boehle said:

You said "kids," so I'm assuming only twins, because she's a first freshener. When we only had a few goats, they only ate grain on the milk stand. Yes, you can start milking her now without separating the kids. You may only get an ounce or two, but it's mostly a training exercise now. If she kicks over the buckets, it's not a big mess or a big disappointment. If the kids are fat and healthy, you can start separating them for a few hours over night at five to seven days of age. You really have to play it by ear with each goat, and some first fresheners have a tough time just keeping up with the demands of two kids, so you might only be able to separate them for six to eight hours a couple times a week. As the kids get older and eat more solid foods, and the dam's supply increases, you can separate them for longer times and more frequently. Depending upon her supply, you can start separating every night by 6-8 weeks of age.

[Melissa Johnson]

My doe has yet to kid, but I have always ran my hand under her belly and udder/teats etc.  However, now when I do it, she twirls around and gives me a I might butt you look as if she wants to yell "that's not for you!"  lol. I have to assure her, oh yes it is. ^^

Deborah Niemann-Boehle said:

You said "kids," so I'm assuming only twins, because she's a first freshener. When we only had a few goats, they only ate grain on the milk stand. Yes, you can start milking her now without separating the kids. You may only get an ounce or two, but it's mostly a training exercise now. If she kicks over the buckets, it's not a big mess or a big disappointment. If the kids are fat and healthy, you can start separating them for a few hours over night at five to seven days of age. You really have to play it by ear with each goat, and some first fresheners have a tough time just keeping up with the demands of two kids, so you might only be able to separate them for six to eight hours a couple times a week. As the kids get older and eat more solid foods, and the dam's supply increases, you can separate them for longer times and more frequently. Depending upon her supply, you can start separating every night by 6-8 weeks of age.

[Deborah Niemann-Boehle]

You said "kids," so I'm assuming only twins, because she's a first freshener. When we only had a few goats, they only ate grain on the milk stand. Yes, you can start milking her now without separating the kids. You may only get an ounce or two, but it's mostly a training exercise now. If she kicks over the buckets, it's not a big mess or a big disappointment. If the kids are fat and healthy, you can start separating them for a few hours over night at five to seven days of age. You really have to play it by ear with each goat, and some first fresheners have a tough time just keeping up with the demands of two kids, so you might only be able to separate them for six to eight hours a couple times a week. As the kids get older and eat more solid foods, and the dam's supply increases, you can separate them for longer times and more frequently. Depending upon her supply, you can start separating every night by 6-8 weeks of age.