Dam Raising - and getting milk for our use too

[mzgarden]

So, here I am again.
Our girls are due in about 4 & 5 weeks respectively.  I want to dam raise the kids but I also want milk for us.
My thinking is after a period of time where they are together all the time, we'll separate kids into a kids only pen at night with hay and water, and milk the girls in the morning and then let them all run together all day.  My thinking is the kids will get what they need during the day, allowing milk to build up overnight for us.

My question is -- about how long would it be best to let the kids have all the milk before we begin splitting it with them?  I'm guessing 2-3 weeks?

[Deleted]

Like @redfish said, most folks do just what you are planning to do

I use to dam raise, I now pull the kids and milk from day 1. I love it and the does seem to be more consistent in their production.

[Deleted]

I usually wait a week then put the kids in a pen that is right there inside the Doe house, the kids complain a bit at first then get used to it, momma's actually seem relieved to get a "break" from their kiddo's, then once I have milked I release the kids and stand back and watch the kids find their udders

[Deleted]

Our 2013 kids were two sets of twins from our 2 dairy does which we pulled at 6 weeks, and we discovered the house and barn were too close for about a week. Our 2014 kid crop was triplets from the 2 dairy does - we let them nurse throughout their lactation. 2015, we picked up 6 more (supposedly bred) dairy does, and only 3 of them kidded (along with our original 2), all twins. Because the first two sets of twins arrived during a particularly cold week, we brought them home (to the dining room) and bottle fed them from day 1. Most of the rest stayed with the dams until about 4 weeks, when they were transfered next door to the "kid pen" (out of sight).

Let me tell ya, those day one bottle babies are still the most loving, in your face/lap/at-your-side-on-a-walk goats. Besides, we got some great pictures of kids bouncing off the furniture and attempting to eat paperwork. :-P The ones we left on moms, even after months of separation and living in the kid pen with the 'tame' ones and having us work among them daily, are still standoff-ish. The "trauma" of separation after 4 weeks, to kids and moms was significant. The dams that 'lost' their kids immediately, was virtually nothing. We weaned at about 6 weeks, and found that it went easier by offering cold milk in a bottle, or 100F (38C) water in a bucket.

I'm not an expert, but in my limited experience, either we will let the dams raise them (and write off milk), or pull them from the time they drop and bottle feed them. Yes, it's more work, but if we're going to keep any doelings, it seems make all the difference in the world when time to trim feet, or touch their teats, or give shots, or any other task.