Getting close to weaning time? Should I be worried?

[tidy rabbit]

I notice my mare is less and less willing to let her baby nurse. He's 17 weeks now and she's getting crabby about letting him nurse and this morning I saw her swing a hind leg at him when he tried. She also was pretty crabby about him trying to share her grain. This morning - crabby might have been an understatement. I worry about her being mean to him.

I have a babysitter gelding who gets a weanling each year. 17 weeks seems pretty young still but I don't want that crabby mare beating on her baby either.

Oh, and this is her first foal so I'm not sure how long she'll tolerate her baby.

Thoughts?

[siegi b.]

Some youngsters, especially when they're upset about something, immediately try to nurse even if they just did so five minutes ago. Sometimes they will just push repeatedly against the mare's bag and then she invariably will bite or threaten to kick to tell the youngster that he's going too far. Pretty natural behavior.....

Some mares are very food greedy and refuse to share their meals with their offspring. I have one of those in my barn and end up feeding her kids in the stall next to her once they are old enough to have some grain. This is also a good way to start the gradual weaning process... Initially the kid just goes in the adjoining stall to eat and leave mom alone while she does the same thing. Then you start leaving the kid in there longer and longer (with hay and water), until the only time he spends with mom is outside. After that the "real" weaning is a cinch!

Good luck!

[tidy rabbit]

This is also a good way to start the gradual weaning process... Initially the kid just goes in the adjoining stall to eat and leave mom alone while she does the same thing. Then you start leaving the kid in there longer and longer (with hay and water), until the only time he spends with mom is outside. After that the "real" weaning is a cinch!

Good luck!

I was just thinking about this process and I think I'll start tonight with dinner and see how it goes. I think it's time to get the ball rolling. :)

[VirginiaBred]

Too early.

It's his teeth. Try and leave him with mama until 6 months.

[sixpoundfarm]

Some mares are very food greedy and refuse to share their meals with their offspring. I have one of those in my barn and end up feeding her kids in the stall next to her once they are old enough to have some grain. This is also a good way to start the gradual weaning process... Initially the kid just goes in the adjoining stall to eat and leave mom alone while she does the same thing. Then you start leaving the kid in there longer and longer (with hay and water), until the only time he spends with mom is outside. After that the "real" weaning is a cinch!

Good luck!

Ditto!

[SmartAlex]

My mare is sick of her colt too, and I can't say I blame her. He's 17 weeks too, I think, and is a miserable hormonal little monster. She lets him nurse, but he treats her just horrible when he's in a mood, and she's starting to give it back to him. We have started separating them for short periods with no problems, and soon it will be permanent.

[tidy rabbit]

I separated them at dinner last night. He in their stall and she in the stall next door. I have 3/4 height walls between the stalls so he was able to still see her. He called a number of times to her but she just ignored him and a couple times she got mad at him looking at her while she ate.

However... when I put them back together, he immediately tried to nurse and she was happy to let him. Looks like a good solution to my problem for now. :)

[VirginiaBred]

Yay!

My colt was born April 27th and has been eating in a separate bucket in the same stall for several weeks now. I tie mama so he can be as slow as he wants to. Works like a charm!

[tidy rabbit]

YAY, it went even better this morning. After thinking about things for a few minutes he went to his bucket and ate his grain. And again when they went back outside she happily let him nurse right away. Phew. Problem solved for now.