Worried about early weaning

[mylilchix]

My Nigerian Dwarf doe kidded October 2. I have been trying to milk her once a day because she only had 1 kid. The last few days, I've been getting about and ounce out of her at a milking. It also seems like she is trying to keep her buckling off of her. I have tried to put him on her, he's hungry, but she just kicks. She doesn't have mastitis. What could be going on? Baby is only 3 weeks old. Thanks for the help!!

 

[Southern by choice]

Are you witnessing the kid getting milk at all? Kids normally just run up take a few sucks and go on there way. There are some does that will start walking away sooner and start weaning early. What does the buckling do? Is he following her around crying? Is he getting any food at all?

 

[SheepGirl]

Does the buckling look full or are his sides sunken in?

ive weaned lambs at 30 days no problem. Just keep an eye on him because he is still a bit young.

 

[Pearce Pastures]

He could be nursing just fine as kids are efficient little eaters and the meat goats we raise seem to pull quick snacks throughout the day. I have attempted to milk one of those does out while she was nursing two kids and got very little milk because they WERE eating and keeping her from getting too full. On the other hand, if she is not letting him nurse, you may need to supplement and he is getting to the age where offering a bottle would be more difficult so action is needed soon to determine if there is a problem.

1) Do you separate them at night so that he is not nursing her before you milk? If not, that is likely the reason she has no milk for you. If so and she has no milk in the morning, there may be a production problem.

Along those same lines, have you tried to separate them for a few hours and then watched them after letting him back in with her? It would make your observation time of how she nurses more productive if she hasn't had the chance to let him sneak a suckle.

2) How is he acting? Is he playing, moving around fast, bouncing? If you pinch the skin on the back of his tail, does it snap back or stay pinched? Are his sides sunken? Is his tongue warm and wet?

 

[OneFineAcre]

He could be nursing just fine as kids are efficient little eaters and the meat goats we raise seem to pull quick snacks throughout the day. I have attempted to milk one of those does out while she was nursing two kids and got very little milk because they WERE eating and keeping her from getting too full. On the other hand, if she is not letting him nurse, you may need to supplement and he is getting to the age where offering a bottle would be more difficult so action is needed soon to determine if there is a problem.

1) Do you separate them at night so that he is not nursing her before you milk? If not, that is likely the reason she has no milk for you. If so and she has no milk in the morning, there may be a production problem.

Along those same lines, have you tried to separate them for a few hours and then watched them after letting him back in with her? It would make your observation time of how she nurses more productive if she hasn't had the chance to let him sneak a suckle.

2) How is he acting? Is he playing, moving around fast, bouncing? If you pinch the skin on the back of his tail, does it snap back or stay pinched? Are his sides sunken? Is his tongue warm and wet?

x2