Separation Woes

Today began the process of separating the kids from the does. We had hoped to accomplish this at an earlier time after they had spent a couple of days with their Moms. But life doesn't always follow our plans. Does it? We decided to start milking the ladies 3 times a day to start with, as each one was quite engorged with milk. They needed some relief in a bad way! So the bottle brigade began with feedings of freshly squeezed milk, heated to a comforting level. All of the babies took to the bottles with a little coaxing except Sugar's little girl. Glory would have nothing to do with nursing from a bottle. She would go hungry first and proved in on two separate occasions. I couldn't let her get weak from hunger or she might get really sick. After all, she was a baby and this foreign object felt nothing like the warm squishy one that mom had. So we decided to let her nurse from mom till the new nipples come in. Hope it's soon!

Well, you would have thought we were committing murder down at the barn. With all of the hollering going on, which was bad. But the heartbreaking sound was when they started wailing! I could imagine what they were feeling and hated to cause them such grief. By having the babies on bottles we could get them use to human contact, necessary as they become milkers next year and monitor how much each one was taking at each feeding. Plus we need to make sure the does were being milked out, one for comfort, two to check for infection, but also to keep milk production up. The babies only nurse for about 2 months or so, then all of the milk will be used for our own consumption. We drink the milk, cook & bake with it and I plan to try my hand at cheese making this year. I've already had a few request from some friends to let them know when I have some ready.

Last feeding of the day was the end of a tiring and stressful day for all. The girls were still calling for their babies. We were sure the neighbor up on the hill was probably mad at the noise that had been going on all day. Going back to the house to wash bottles, process the milk and eat our own dinner at such a late hour, did me in. As the does cried outside, I was crying inside over a sink of soapy water. Lon wasn't quite sure what to do, but keep ckecking on them and letting me know they were getting a little quieter. I know it will get better with time and everyone will adjust. I am just not sure how long I can take the stress of the separations. A mom's heart will breaks at the cries of other moms and babies. Regardless of whether they are two legged or four.

Thankfully silence is all I hear for now,

Deborah