WooHoo, my first babies!

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Jill had her babies on the 13th. Here's a pic of one of the twins. These are her first babies and she is a great mother, I'm so proud of her!

One thing that concerns me is that both babies nurse on the same side. I've been milking out the other side to relieve the pressure. Once I get some of the pressure off, then I can guide the babies to that teat and they will nurse from that side. They often lose the teat and I have to guide them to it again, they always go back to the small side. This has become a habit for me to go out 2 or 3 times a day and milk a little then let the babies drink it empty. It's like there's a side for the babies to drink and a side for me to milk. The teat on the side they ignore is almost twice as large as the one they drink from, and it hangs several inches lower.

I get the feeling she may have a bad udder even tho she is a good mommy. I can post pics if you need to see what I'm attempting to explain here. Any advice on how to get them to drink from both sides so I don't have to milk her and guide them to the other teat?

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It does sound like she may have a bad udder -- if you can post pics that will help.

It is very common for babies to nurse from only one side. Sometimes I have a kid nursing from one side while I milk the other side -- works fine. If you don't want to be milking, though, it would be a problem, I guess. She will need to be milked out on that side, or she'll be in pain and at risk of getting mastitis.

I left the single buck kid on one of my first fresheners this year, because she has small teats and is literally a pain to milk (she stands on the milking stand just fine, it's just that my hands cramp up). I still am milking her out twice a day when I milk the other does, and getting a cup or two from her at a milking. I could get more if my hands weren't bothering me so much. But it's important to keep the udder from getting overfull at this stage of the game. It isn't so critical after ten months lactation when you are trying to dry them off, because milk production is down then anyway.

Kathleen

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How often should I milk her out? I've been taking about a 1/2 pint 2 or 3 times a day. Should I start emptying that side every 12 hours or more often? Sorry to sound so dumb, but I've never milked a goat before. I've read that some people only milk once a day, but her udder seems to be full almost all the time. I'll get a pic tomorrow. Made a trip to town this afternoon and just got home. I don't think I could get a good pic tonight.

I don't plan to breed her until she goes dry. I plan to milk her as long as possible.

[ajharris]

Spinner,
That is a beautiful kid. Did she have does or bucks? I love little saanens!!

[southerngurl]

I would milk twice a day, to help keep her from being more lopsided.

When the babies get a bit bigger, they will eventually start using both sides.

[KayJay]

Congratulations!!

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Originally Posted by ajharris

Spinner,
That is a beautiful kid. Did she have does or bucks? I love little saanens!!

Both are bucks. I was hoping for a couple of does, but it wasn't to be. I'll enjoy them both for a short time, then off they go to new homes if I can find buyers for them. A neighbor has a saanen doe so I might be able to sell one to her, and the other might end up as a wether friend for my breeder buck.