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Doe only had one kid. Should I milk her?

1051 Views 20 Replies 7 Participants Last post by  toth boer goats, 
Champion Fence Jumpers
My doe kidded a single polled gold buckling today, he is favoring one side should I start milking the other side? Or will he nurse both sides?
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goatblessings
Congrats on you sweet baby!! Kids usually favor one side unless you work with them to nurse from both sides. You probably will have to milk - at least for a while, to make sure she doesn’t get overly tight in her udder. At this point baby isn’t eating much.
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ksalvagno
Yes. You can freeze that colostrum.
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Champion Fence Jumpers
ksalvagno said:
Yes. You can freeze that colostrum.
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Should I milk out that side tonight?
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Champion Fence Jumpers
goatblessings said:
Congrats on you sweet baby!! Kids usually favor one side unless you work with them to nurse from both sides. You probably will have to milk - at least for a while, to make sure she doesn’t get overly tight in her udder. At this point baby isn’t eating much.
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Okay, I guess I’ll just start milking that side out until he gets weaned? I’ve never had a doe only have one kid before.
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Jessica84
You can milk it out until weaned or just keep a eye on her and milk when super full, eventually letting her just dry up on that side. Totally up to you. But singles are great for getting that liquid gold (colostrum) in the freezer! So at the minimum I would make sure to snag that
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toth boer goats
Yes, milk her on that side as needed.
Teach the kid that side too.

When the kid gets a little older, will go back and forth.
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Champion Fence Jumpers
toth boer goats said:
Yes, milk her on that side as needed.
Teach the kid that side too.

When the kid gets a little older, will go back and forth.
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Okay I have plans to show her so I want to make sure she doesn’t dry up on that side from not being milked enough. I milked her out yesterday and froze the colostrum.
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Champion Fence Jumpers
Jessica84 said:
You can milk it out until weaned or just keep a eye on her and milk when super full, eventually letting her just dry up on that side. Totally up to you. But singles are great for getting that liquid gold (colostrum) in the freezer! So at the minimum I would make sure to snag that
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Okay! I milked her last night and froze the colostrum. I’ll just continue to milk her because I have a show in May and I don’t want that side to dry up any.
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ksalvagno
Then milk twice a day like normal.
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Jubillee
I milk my does over the kids from day 1. It keeps their udders healthy. Even multiples can favor one side, I have had that. If he continues to favor one side, tape it and make him use the other side more. Then he should alternate better.
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luvmyherd
Mine have always used both sides eventually. The last one I had switched back and forth so I never knew which side I would be milking.🤪
Do you use the milk? If you don't that can be frozen too for orphaned kids.
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luvmyherd
Oh yeah!! That is one of the cutest kids I have ever seen and I have seen a LOT.
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Champion Fence Jumpers
luvmyherd said:
Mine have always used both sides eventually. The last one I had switched back and forth so I never knew which side I would be milking.🤪
Do you use the milk? If you don't that can be frozen too for orphaned kids.
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I haven’t been using the milk at all. I wasn’t sure what to do with it!
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Champion Fence Jumpers
luvmyherd said:
Oh yeah!! That is one of the cutest kids I have ever seen and I have seen a LOT.
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Thank you!!! He is the sweetest kid I’ve ever had!!!
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Champion Fence Jumpers
I have been separating baby from mama and milking her in the morning. Will her udder even out? Or should I do twice a day milkings? Here’s her udder from this morning.
@toth boer goats @luvmyherd @Jessica84 @ksalvagno @Jubillee
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ksalvagno
If you want an even udder, you need to milk twice a day.
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Jubillee
I would milk twice a day and maybe even tape the small side for a little while between milkings and get baby to nurse the other.
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Champion Fence Jumpers
Should I separate him for morning milkings?
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ksalvagno
With only one kid, you don't need to.
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