[angie]

Hi looking for information,comments and advice on milking once a day when my girls kid.

Plan on milking in the morning then allowing the kids to be with their mum's during the day.

How long should I keep them apart overnight? Should I give the kids two bottles in the evening and one in the morning?

I assume that I shouldn't strip out the mums.

All comments welcome either positive or negative experiences as then I have more information to work with.

Many thanks in advance

Angie

[Anke]

People do all sorts of combinations, but I have never done it. Always milked twice a day and removed kids from dams at 4 days (earliest) up to two weeks (latest). If you want the kids to take the bottle easily, it is best to give them their first drink of colostrum from a bottle (just milk out some from the dam, my kids normally get about 100 to 150ml in the first two hours). They can then go and explore and find the dam's milkbar without you worrying that they will get tired/cold/hungry. They will then also "remember" when you want them to take the bottle as you start milking out the dam.

[Penninehillbilly]

I milk once a day when she has kids on, I separate them for a few hours in the afternoon, normally letting mum out, extending the time, then switch to overnight, can't think what age that would be, quite a few weeks old. Doing it his way i don't give bottles


Edited
'Doing it THIS way i dont give bottles'

[Lesley Silvester]

I leave mine together for the first couple of months, then separate them at night to enable me to milk Mum out. I'm sure she hangs onto some for the babies because they always shoot straight under her and seem to get something. I then continue with the once a day. No bottles.

[Dogwalker]

I leave the kids on the doe for about 4weeks but start separating for the evening feed after 2 or 3 so they get used to going in a different pen for their supper and she gets to eat in peace then put them back together.  Once they're eating mix I separate overnight and milk in the morning.  They get goat mix not bottles.
One doe would never let me milk the kids favourite side but never any other problem.