Sad Doe -- When Do They Forget Their Babies?

[SkyWarrior]

Today, I took Lulu's baby (who was born March 20th) with Splash (Belle's rejected daughter) to their new home. Their new owner is a friend of mine who has raised plenty of bottle babies and actually sold me my first goats. So, they're in very good hands! But poor Lulu was crying for her baby when I got home. Very sad.

I have her and her sister in the kidding pen at the moment because her sister, Lisa, is due sometime soon. I thought about putting Lulu back with the other adults, but Lisa called for her when I was milking Lulu.

Can someone tell me when Lulu will "forget" about the baby and move on? I seem to recall it can take a week or so. I would like to know just how paranoid I need to be when out at the barn since the bears and other predators are out. And yeah, I'm feeling a bit guilty.

 

[alsea1]

I imagine that depends on each goat.

Sometimes I think my girl Mouth wishes I would do something with her three brats. When I check her stall it is a wreck. Sometimes they even have the water bucket off the hook.

 

[that's*satyrical]

With the ones that are really good moms a few days, or at least they stop looking around and looking pitiful after a few days. The other ones sometimes don't even notice, or at least don't appear to notice.

 

[littlelambx3]

It really depends. Whenever we had to take my girl's baby away, even if it were for a few seconds, she'd freak out and run in circles and cry. She still does that, and he's almost a year old.

 

[KinderKorner]

It depends on the goat.

I've had a goat cry for her dead baby 24/7 for over 2 weeks. :/ Poor thing.

Most likely a few days to a week.

 

[SkyWarrior]

Right now I still have Lulu in the pen with her sister, Lisa, who should kid soon. I've moved them both back in the main pen and bringing her sister to the kidding pen at night. But Lisa cries when Lulu isn't there. :/ I doubt Lulu would hurt Lisa's kids if she was there while Lisa kidded. She might actually steal one, to be honest. But I know she won't take Mocha -- thought I'd introduce the girl to her and she gently nudged Mocha away. What do you think?

 

[mdavenport0121]

I have a doe I took off the mom about a month ago. Here's almost the question in reverse. In nine months when I put her back with the herd, will she recognize her?

 

[Pearce Pastures]

Wish I could say something definitive for you. The only time I had any experience with that it was I think a bit over a week, maybe two, and she was okay. Mine was like KinderKorner's---baby was stuck and then died. She saw it even though we tried to take it out of the room right away.

 

[that's*satyrical]

I wanted to add I don't have experience yet with the babies passing away and the moms knowing about it, mine is only from when they leave at weaning time. So I could see how it might take longer if the doe loses her baby at birth or close to that time.

 

[Egg_Newton]

It's took my mama about two weeks before she finally stopped crying for her. Being a mother myself it broke my heart to hear her.