my doe just had a baby, but I think something is not right.

[Willowspirit]

Just for future info, hot compresses on the mom’s bag can help colostrum or milk flow.

Congrats on your beautiful babies!

 

[Ninjasquirrel]

Just for future info, hot compresses on the mom’s bag can help colostrum or milk flow.

Congrats on your beautiful babies!

Also for future info you can always bottle feed cow's milk and be sure to make sure momma doesnt get mastitis. Glad the little ones are doing well!

 

[Mylied]

Your moms and babies are adorable! Makes me miss breeding goats. The amount of colostrum they get at a time is like a tablespoon so it's not much. Plus, as I'm sure you noticed, newborn kids are all kinds of awkward trying to figure out how to nurse. But figure it out they do. You don't have to wean the kids unless you want the milk. I always just let mine do their thing. If I wanted some milk, I'd just milk some out at night, but I didn't milk on the regular.

 

[Willowspirit]

Your moms and babies are adorable! Makes me miss breeding goats. The amount of colostrum they get at a time is like a tablespoon so it's not much. Plus, as I'm sure you noticed, newborn kids are all kinds of awkward trying to figure out how to nurse. But figure it out they do. You don't have to wean the kids unless you want the milk. I always just let mine do their thing. If I wanted some milk, I'd just milk some out at night, but I didn't milk on the regular.

you’ve just answered my question! I wondered if you could leave the kids on the mom and milk for yourself now and then. This renews my interest in getting doe goats.

 

[Birdsong 82]

Yeah. Relief. Now you can enjoy those beautiful kids!!! Mama I'm sure is proud (and exhausted).

 

[ShannonR]

As a rule if I am leaving the kids on Mom, I just stick around and observe long enough to see that the baby has a teat actually in its mouth and that the mother is being a decent mom and That's about it. I also used to get very anxious about kidding season. Over the years I have settled down about it. I find it best to intervene as little as possible to allow bonding during the first day or three.

For milking a doe with kids on her: I have played around with this, and found it best to lock the babies away from mom for 4-6 hours, or even overnight, and then milk the doe. Otherwise I get about half a cup of milk max, not worth the effort of milking.

 

[Birdsong 82]

I'm a nervous wreck about everything. But the waiting and process stressful and I had to get myself involved 1 time. That's why I'm glad the first ones ever was in the middle of the night while we were asleep

 

[Birdsong 82]

Woke up about 3:30 AM to screaming... thought my chickens were being killed by something. Running out with lantern and slippers I turn and see 2 beautiful dry fluffy healthy kids ready to go and screaming their butts off and mom behind them looking exhausted. Turns out the just didn't know where to get milk. After mom drank tons of water and babies knew where to get food everything went great. Still have those happy healthy three. Wish it was always like that

 

[Mylied]

you’ve just answered my question! I wondered if you could leave the kids on the mom and milk for yourself now and then. This renews my interest in getting doe goats.

ShannonR is correct. If you want a quart or so, it's best to separate the kids from the does overnight when they are 2+ weeks old, milk in the morning, and let them back together for the rest of the day. They fuss the first few nights but get over it. I wasn't much of a fan of goat milk so I was happy getting a cup or 2 at a time if I needed it. I just like goats. I still have 2 but they are pets.

 

[chickens really]

View attachment 1988756 View attachment 1988753 Good news everyone! Both does are wonderful momies and babies are thriving. Tummies full and happy and jumping around!
Thank you one and all for all your advice! Phew!!! This was my first time for me as a “midwife” to my girls I’ve read so much about what could go wrong I was so worried! Especially since I was not ready for the births one after another. Here are two pictures of the does and kids! I am so proud of my does!

Those babies are so precious..