When to begin milking?

PrettyPaisley · #1 03/17/13, 07:51 PM

Our first doe kidded late this afternoon. Yay for baby goats and HOT DOG for fresh milk! It's been a long winter!

I want to bottle feed the babies so they are friendly and so I can consistently milk the does 2x daily and have lots of milk. When is it okay to pull the buckling? I wish she had had two so they could keep each other company but I have several who are right on the edge of kidding so he won't be alone for long!

Alice In TX/MO · #2 03/17/13, 08:51 PM

It would be best to pull him now if you are going to bottle feed. Put the colostrum in his bottles. If you let him get used to mom's teats, he's going to be hard to transition.

motdaugrnds · #3 03/18/13, 04:32 AM

I agree with Alice. Pull the kid now so it does not get use to the feel of its mother's nipple. Then just milk some of that dam's collostrum straight into the bottle, pop on the nipple and feed the kid.