The Weaning Process

     Oddly enough, we have never had to really step in and help out any of our goats. The mommas have always willingly made the choice to stop letting their offspring suckle. We had to do some research and call some other goat owners to learn how to help her out. 

    The buckling in question is over 7 months old (his new owners are building a fenced in area for him, but who knows when that will get done). He is on the smaller side, but he will not stop feeding from his mom. So we started separating them at night. He is eating regular feed and picking on his own. He can fully function. The mom has been exposed to a billy and will have new babies early fall. I do not want her body stressing to produce milk and grow new kids at the same time. 

    Weaning is terrible and I feel so bad when Fin screams for his mom. She doesn't to be stressed or bothered by us moving him either. Tomorrow starts the complete separation where he will stay in a separate location completely for the foreseeable future. Hopefully his new home will be ready and they will come by to do a meet and greet. 

    With all of the stress of possible war, I thought about keeping him in case I needed to eat him. Yes, the thought did cross my mind and the potential home hasn't paid yet. I don't usually eat goats, but if push come to shove I'd have to quickly get over that. We have also stopped saling any chickens in fear that we may need them in the immediate future. 

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