How long to isolate new mom & kid

ehollenback · #1 08/12/08, 09:58 AM

Now that Petunia (the new baby) and Roselle (the new mom) have bonded and Petunia is nursing, how long do I keep them isolated? Roselle seems lonely and her mom keeps coming around and looking for her. She is very close to her mom. You should know that the male goats are still with the females waiting for DH's tractor to be finished being repaired so we can finish the fencing for the boy's yard. The boys can be a pushy PITA.

tmfinley · #2 08/12/08, 10:18 AM

I only totally separate the New mom and kids the first 2 days. Then for the next couple days put them up for the night and feedings. After that everyone is used to the new additions and the new mom isn't freaking out as much. I have a very small herd though, 6 does. I don't let the bucks hang out with the girls so I don't know how that effects the isolation time.
tiffany

DQ · #3 08/12/08, 11:29 AM

I would just make sure the babies are up and about and able to get out of the way of someone picking on them. Some of them take a few days before they seem to get "quick".

steff bugielski · #4 08/13/08, 05:43 AM

Mine are together from day one, but I do put them away at night.

Rockytopsis · #5 08/13/08, 05:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmfinley

I only totally separate the New mom and kids the first 2 days. Then for the next couple days put them up for the night and feedings. After that everyone is used to the new additions and the new mom isn't freaking out as much. I have a very small herd though, 6 does. I don't let the bucks hang out with the girls so I don't know how that effects the isolation time.
tiffany

I do the same. I have 20 breeding does.
Nancy

ehollenback · #6 08/13/08, 08:36 AM

We have a small yard that we were going to put in the new baby, Petunia and her mom, Roselle, and Roselle's mom Darla and the new 2 month old goat we adopted. I would put them in with the larger herd but the boys are such a PITA with the girls. Darla and Roselle spent most of their time in the dog house that we put by our pond for our ducks. They would hardly come by the barn for feeding, if at all. It got to the point where I would bring food to the dog house for them. It wasn't so bad for Roselle as Darla because Roselle has her horns. Poor Darla doesn't and there were days where two of my boys would NOT leave her alone if she stepped foot out of the dog house. I can't wait till the boys yard is done.