Today, I noticed that Lucy is chasing off her buckling when he tries to nurse. Her udder is HUGE, and very VERY full, and she's not allowing him near her. He seems to be active, and he's still trying to nurse, but she doesn't seem to want him around her at all. They are all still in their kidding pen, separate from all of the herd. She will smell him on his head, and allow him close, but when she smells his bottom, she butts him, or shoves him with her nose, and has even nipped at him. I held her and allowed him to nurse her for a short time, but I'm not sure that's the way to handle things. Any thoughts? My other doe will walk away when she's not interested in nursing, so I know it *could* be that she just isn't interested at the times I'm observing her... but I need to know what to keep an eye on.
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I think THAT might be exactly what's going on. I think she's super full, and on the *verge* of mastitis... (there was a small amount of blood on one side... I massaged, and felt a hardness deep in that side, so I massaged it, and did my best to milk that side out. She lets the doeling nurse on that side, but not for long. I think it's painful for her. I'm encouraged that when the little boy calls for her, she does answer him... She's not beating the crap out of him all the time (like they will when they are around kids that aren't theirs) so I'm hopeful. Today, I milked her, and saved the milk. I let little boy finish my milking job, and then gave him a small bottle. His tummy is full full full!! lol
Deborah Niemann-Boehle said:
I don't think birth order has anything to do with it. I have noticed that some kids don't nurse as well (kind of like human babies) and the does don't like to let them nurse as much because they're hurting her teats.
I had a 9-year-old doe reject her month-old doelings last year after being separated for a 24-hour milk test! I was not happy! She did get over it after about 18 hours and let the start nursing again. Thank goodness they were older.
The one that completely rejected her kid and never let her nurse again was eight years ago about 5 days after birth. It was because I foolishly listened to a long-time breeder who convinced me I could take the doe to a show (with the kid) five days after kidding. Afterwards, I realized he just wanted more goats there so he could get a leg on one of his does and finish her championship. I felt really terrible for taking her to the show afterwards! She wouldn't let the kid nurse after we got to the show or ever again. The 3-hour car ride just totally messed her up.
I just didn't realize that rejection could take place so far past kidding! They're six days old today!! lol Thanks for the encouragement. I'm hanging onto hope!
Agreed Deb! I don't like worrying about horns!
So glad that babies tummy seemed full! YIPPEE! I can tell you that I have definitely noticed favoritism here!
I had been meaning to ask, if Deb or any of you had noticed this much, especially for the first born kid! Both Marley's doe last year (especially her), and Karley's buck (but to a lesser degree) were the first of their twins born and the moms really seemed to favor them. In fact Marley frequently treated her buckling like yours has been doing Rachel. It was always obvious that he was getting to eat enough but not as much as his sister. It was like he got to eat every other time he tried and the in between times she would push him away or run off from him. She is just a weirdo, no matter how you look at it. I love that crazy girl!
If his tummy felt full, she may have just finally realized he was hers. I've seen a few does really beat the snot out of kids for hours before letting them start nursing again. Good thing the kids are so persistent. And this is a really good reason to have goats without horns!
This morning, little boy's tummy was full, and Lucy is still shooing him, but not as actively as she was yesterday... I'm leaving him with her and checking his tummy again later today... I really hope it's just that she prefers the doeling, but isn't totally rejecting the buckling. Is that possible?
Checked on everyone again tonight, and it's not better. Little Guy's tummy wasn't full, but sister's was. Mom is still head butting him and running when he tries to nurse. She's acting like he's a buck trying to mount her... Holding her down to let him nurse was harder this time, so I may just start training her to the stanchion, and giving him the milk... she lets the doeling nurse no problems, but she's constantly checking to make sure it's the girl, and if the boy gets close, then Lucy runs from them both, which means the doeling isn't getting a full sitting of milk either.
Ah, gotcha. Still no. I was watching them the whole 30 seconds they were together, and both moms didn't want anything to do with the other's babies. lol
I think Margaret meant while they were all together. I think what she's getting at is that his poo might smell like the other does kids because of the milk if he were to have gotten some of Ginger's milk. I think because it's funny that when she smells his behind, she butts him away.
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