Separating goats expecting to kid

[Alice In TX/MO]

On a regular basis, new goat folks ask if they should separate does who are close to kidding from the herd, and the responses range the whole gamut. *Usually* we separate, but I left a first freshener (Mini-Alpine named Lemon) with the rest of the goats last night because I thought she still had four days or so left before kidding.

I was wrong.

Here's what Lemon looks like (it may be her twin), from her younger days.


She was bred to a black MiniMancha, Jim Dandy, from Nehimama.

Here's the buckling born this morning.


His name is Trouble. When I got to the goat yard this morning, Trouble was standing by the LaMancha doe (Cocoa) in the pic above. She's been our milk goat through the winter, as she's not due to kid till the middle of May.

Apparently, Trouble was born in the middle of the night, and Cocoa stole him. She had him dry, up, and he's sucked one side of HER udder dry.

Lemon, the real mom, was across the yard, bagged up, and uninterested in the whole thing.

I picked up Trouble, put Lemon (real mom) on the milk stand, and tried to get them together. NOT HAPPENING, and Cocoa was totally freaking out just outside the door.

After a while, I gave up, put Trouble and Cocoa in a small pen, milked out Lemon's colostrum, and bottle fed it to Trouble. He's getting a couple of ounces of colostrum every three hours. Cocoa threatens everyone who gets CLOSE to their pen, and she licks and loves on Trouble.

So, from now on, my recommendation is to separate the doe from the herd at least a week before her due date.

That way, you won't get Trouble.

[CraterCove]

That is some story. And Trouble, for all the trouble he might be, is adorable. I had no idea that does might steal other babies should they take a shine to them.

I will take this experience of yours and add it to my growing bank of wisdom.

[Goat Servant]

"That way you wont get Trouble."

Sounds like you named Lemon a good one too.

So Trouble knows where the Cocoa is. Or is it the other way around?

Too good a story Alice!

[Backfourty,MI.]

They are all so cute! Although I know it's definately not an ideal way for things to happen but it is such a nice story! You are so luck that Cocoa is such an excellent mother & surrogate. Good to know if you ever had to foster a kid to another to have a doe like her.

Thank goodness she isn't due to kid until May. Can she take care of Trouble & then her own in May when they come without any complications? Guess you won't be getting any milk from her any time soon huh?

[Backfourty,MI.]

Originally Posted by CraterCove

That is some story. And Trouble, for all the trouble he might be, is adorable. I had no idea that does might steal other babies should they take a shine to them.

I will take this experience of yours and add it to my growing bank of wisdom.

I have a doe that even though she's bred will try to steel another does' kid each year if they kid before she does. I have to keep her away from them a day or two.

[Alice In TX/MO]

I've been squinting at the calendar, and I think we can manage this. He's destined for freezer camp anyway, so he may be weaned a bit early to give her time to recover before she kids. AND, I'll be sending blood to Biotracking next week to be sure she's pregnant!

I'm *assuming* that her milk supply will increase to accommodate him as he grows. If not, I'll be milking Lemon now, and I can give him an extra bottle each day or whatever is necessary.

Lemon is our first retained doeling out of one of Ozark Jewels' goats that we got several years ago. I'm interested to see how she produces, and as she won't be nursing a kid, I can weigh the milk and know exactly.

Life with goats is certainly not boring.

[The Tin Mom]

Originally Posted by Goat Servant

"That way you wont get Trouble."

Sounds like you named Lemon a good one too.

So Trouble knows where the Cocoa is. Or is it the other way around?

Too good a story Alice!

ROFLOL!!!!!!!

Dd says she would rather have cocoa than suck on a lemon, too!

[The Tin Mom]

Dh says that Cocoa is a kid-napper!

[Oat Bucket Farm]

Oh my, what a mix up. LOL, well at least Trouble has a good momma!

[berrley]

Originally Posted by The Tin Mom

Dh says that Cocoa is a kid-napper!

[Minelson]

That is really a sweet story

[Goat Servant]

Originally Posted by The Tin Mom

ROFLOL!!!!!!!

Dd says she would rather have cocoa than suck on a lemon, too!

Good one Dd!

Poor Lemon is sure a source of entertainment!

[LoneStrChic23]

Oh my goodness! LOL Good to know....... I don't have a way to separate goats yet, but I took a leave of absence from work for Sabrinas kidding as I'm pulling at birth and raising on CAE prevention......so stolen babies hopefully won't be a problem.... In the future though I will definately keep this in mind!

On the bright side, at least someone took on Trouble and cared for him

Bummer he's a he though......was hoping to see a doe kid or two out of Lemon....

[motdaugrnds]

Alice, that is such a funny story; and Trouble looks so sweet.

Yes, Cratercove, goats will do most anything! ROFL

The first few years we raised goats, we had a doe that would take "any" kid. She did not steal because the other does "wanted" their kids and tended to them; but if there was one that was not getting enough milk due to the other(s) hogging it, this doe would let it nurse her.

I also had a little kid who would "steal" milk from any doe he could. His dam nursed and cared for him; but he was always stealing milk anyway. Never had a kid like this before; but saw no reason to stop it.

Had our first kid of the year just last Friday; and had to laugh as I watched Cherokee (the German Shepherd who has cleaned/protected more than one kid we had to bring in the house for whatever reason) try to get to it while our herd buck, Roman, was blocking. I had to tell Cherokee that doe didn't need help caring for her kid and make her leave the barn! Now the kid was outside for the first time today and Cherokee was babysitting while the dam went off to graze in the pasture.

I love the way goats act!!

[RedSonja]

Originally Posted by motdaugrnds

I also had a little kid who would "steal" milk from any doe he could. His dam nursed and cared for him; but he was always stealing milk anyway. Never had a kid like this before; but saw no reason to stop it.

DH's aunt had a kid like that in her herd (Nubians also, btw). Buckling would sneak in when the doe wasn't paying attention and nurse any doe he could catch. He got shoved off pretty roughly when he got caught, but he kept on doing it. He wasn't hungry, I think he was just seeing how much he could get away with. Pretty sure he went away pretty quick, as Aunt K was not happy about his behavior!

-Sonja

[Cheryl aka JM]

LOL!!!!

So I was looking at the pic of "Lemon" and then at the next pic that I know see has "Cocoa" and the new baby "Trouble" but I was thinking that was a before and after pic of the same goat~ so I'm sitting here thinking....Wow that color REALLY changes~ the only ones I've ever brought from baby to adult were boers so the color change isn't dramatic.....WAIT!! Where did that goats EARS GO!?!?! LOL! Two different goats I see now~ but that moment I thought it was the same goat and then realized her EARS were gone! LOL!

Cute baby~ he has ears right?

[pygmybabies]

thanks alice I needed a good story like this today. Wish I had a baby for muffin to nurse and take care of, but then again she might not even do it anyways.
I love the comment...he wanted some cocoa instead of sucking on lemon! GREAT and he is CUTE

[Alice In TX/MO]

He has itty bitty LaMancha ears. Right now, they are really laying flat to his head, and he looks sort of peeled! If it wasn't blowing a howling gale from the north, I'd take more pics, but I think I'll wait till evening feeding.

[Creamers]

kid napper - lol - haa haa

[Pony]

Creamers: Coffee spew! LOL!

Alice: I am ROTFL. That's just too precious a story.