Weaning question

[CarolynRenee]

Background....
Saanen mother, single saanen doeling, born May 6th (almost 6 months old now). Up until about a week ago, the doeling would have almost the entire day to be with the mom. Doeling was locked up at night so I could get some of the milk in the morning (I only milked in the am). I would separate them once in a while for an entire day/night just to see how things went, but didn't do it for more than two or three days.

I've been "trying" to wean the doeling from the mom by separating them 24/7 for five days now. About how long will it take for the doeling to "forget" that there's milk there? Or how long before the mom gets sick of feeding the kid? I've had the kid run through the six strands of "weed burner" hot wire twice now & she's right back on her mom.

I hate having to separate them, mostly because it's a pain for me to move them from one area to another all the time & the fact that the doeling is learning to ignore the electric fence.

Sorry about the ignorance factor. Last year I sold my doeling at four months so didn't have to wean her. This doeling I'd like to keep & breed for another milker next year.

[DQ]

I separated a wether for 1 and 1/2 months and he still would go nuts trying to nurse when I walked his mom through his area. he was 5 months old. well I figure that just means I still get to have evenings off of milking when I want to. actually thats the only thing keeping him out of the freezer that has been my experience. I really don't care if they are weaned one way or the other so every time I have "tried" I gave up after a few weeks to months. one of last years doelings continued to try and nurse half heartedly and occasionally after she had her own babies!

[Alice In TX/MO]

Three months isn't enough for some kids to forget.

[Laverne]

My nigie buck 8 mos. old bred his first doe the other day, an unrelated la mancha cross. He's been weaned for months. He was rearing to go but all of a sudden noticed an udder with milk and totally went crazy nursing. Only after he sucked her dry did he turn to an interest in breeding. It was hilarious. That nursing instinct can be really strong. I'm thinking of making a, custom for her udder, anti nursing bra to prevent her six month doelings from nursing or put up more fence which I don't feel like doing.