First Freshener Mini-Nubian Questions

Hip_Shot_Hanna · #1 01/15/08, 08:39 PM

Bracken is one of triplets, and while we didn't keep the buckling, we did keep her sister Bramble. Bracken and Bramble are very close. This is fine, but all day long, Bracken shouts to be let out with her sister when closed in with her own week old kids! Is this usual? Would it be safe to let Bramble stay in with her sister and her kids?

Also - Bracken had two kids. The buckling is the same color and she and her sister. The doeling is solid off white. Bracken doesn't really like the doeling much, though the doeling seems to be doing well, if she tries to nurse on her own, Bracken will move off if she notices it's the doeling. She allows the buckling to nurse unrestricted. She also butts at her own kids sometimes, I've never noticed that in her mother or other does I've had. She doesn't try to kill them, just sort of ward them off. We have someone that wants the buckling - will the mama be more interested in her daughter if he's gone?

And milking.. today for the first time... TINY TEATS. Sigh.. she didn't let down much milk for the modified ez milker we have. If I milk her by hand, will her teats get larger eventually? (I know my wrists and thumbs will certainly ache worse!)

Hip_Shot_Hanna · #2 01/16/08, 10:20 AM

What, no input?

Feral Nature · #3 01/16/08, 01:06 PM

Sounds like the doe may be stressed by not being with her sister. She is not letting her milk down well and is maybe nervous with her kids. Try putting the does together and watching. Put the momma doe back in her regular pen with her sister. Watch her closely to make sure she behaves with her kids in there.

But before you do this, check her udder. If her teats are hard for you to milk, it may be more than just the small size of them. Perhaps she is too full and congested and it causes pain when the kids nurse. Milk her out almost all the way and check the condition of her udder and teats. maybe she will be nicer to the kids if she is not full and sore. maybe she is sunburned on the udder, we have had so much warm sunny weather here in Texas.

As far as teat size goes and hand milking...I have a few that started out tiny and I just persisted despite almost crying through it grueling month after grueling month. They did increase in size and then at second freshening, they were even bigger. I say that if you can get past the first weeks and they improve, then good for you

Hip_Shot_Hanna · #4 01/16/08, 05:01 PM

Thanks Diane!

Tonight I decided to milk her by hand. Basically it involves more of a stripping than a milking job. I got half a cup. She was only away from the kids for about 4 hours.

Now, here's the thing. Her udder looks unchanged, but even with massaging it and "bumping" - there just doesn't seem to be any more milk to give. The udder is a firm one, not soft, but not stretched too tight and not warm.

Also. She didn't kick even ONCE while I worked on her for over 20 minutes to get even that much milk. Just merrily munched her grain. I mean, she was solid as a rock while I worked on her. I think that likely means she's NOT in much pain, etc. She did surprise me by being so docile.

I'm assuming she just doesn't have that much milk at the moment, and we are trying to build up over a period of time. Sure hope we can get a least a quart out of her!