how to separate baby from doe

[Suburbanfarmer]

We have a small suburban lot and our goat enclosure is really only set up to be one enclosure. Our doeling is 4 weeks old and I would like to start getting more milk. I've heard to separate her at night. I only have 2 does and 1 baby. First, she wouldn't have anyone with her at night and second, I'm not sure where to put her (other than our garage in an extra large dog crate - doesn't seem like the best possible solution). Any ideas?

I've heard of taping the teats of the doe. Does that work? How would I do it? And, if it does work, can I wean that way by keeping the tape on 24/7?

Thanks.

 

[that's*satyrical]

The crate would work. That's where I put my lone baby buckling at night til he was big enough to sleep outside. He was fine with it.

 

[SheepGirl]

You can always put the crate outside in the goat enclosure/barn so she's not alone.

 

[Suburbanfarmer]

The crate would work. That's where I put my lone baby buckling at night til he was big enough to sleep outside. He was fine with it.

He didn't cry and carry on?

 

[that's*satyrical]

Not at all, but he was a bottle baby so not quite as attached to the goats yet. Might have been different if he was dam raised.

 

[ragdollcatlady]

I am too concerned that the big boys would be too rough on my new baby buckling if left all alone all night, so he sleeps in a crate in the garage with some nice music to keep him company. He only cries for about half hour before settling down. Long days running around being a baby goat and a full belly (plus a pretty late bedtime 10:30 pm) help him feel pretty tired.

 

[animalmom]

Regarding your question on teat tape... it is medical paper tape that is water resistant. You can get it online from various sources, or go down to your local walmart and you should find it with the bandaids. I tried using it last year to wean my doelings and found that some of the little beasties could suck the tape right off which rather defeats the purpose. This year I taped my does at night so I could have the milk in the morning and the does could nurse the rest of the day. That went well.

I do teat tape but I can't say I am a real fan about it as I do worry about pealing the tape off the teats because the teat skin seems so fragile. I may overtape as I put a strip down, over and back up the teat and then another piece around the teat as added measure to keep the tape on. I do fold a little tab down on each end of the tape so I have something to pull when I go to remove the tape.

It works but I am glad I only have to do it for a month. Seems to me it would irritate the heck out of me to put on a bandage, take it off, put it back on. Sheesh the goat says!

 

[Suburbanfarmer]

Thanks for the info! I might try taping and if that doesn't work then move the doeling into the garage.