How long does it take? ?

Question

My mare and filly have been separated for 2 weeks now and the mare still has more milk than ever. On average, how long does it take for all the milk to dry up? What is the longest that it should take? I'm fairly certain she shouldn't have so much milk still...

Thanks for any help!

Answer 1

Are you SURE the filly can't get to the mare...AT ALL?

I thought I had mine separated between stalls.  Had 2x2 inch square fencing between them.  Completely.  Mare wouldn't dry up.

One day, while the mare was out...I caught her...she would back her butt up to the gate, and my filly would put her nose between the gate post and the stall post where there was a TINY little 'hole.'  It was big enough for her to get her nose and part of her face out to nurse.  Surprised me big time.

And the mare would stand 'just so'...so the foal could get to her udder.  Crazy...

My mare would quit 'producing' lots of milk within 2 weeks.  

I'd really check to see if your mare and foal are truly separated...if they are next to each other.

Cutting out or limiting grain intake will help too.

EXERCISE the mare...this will also help.

**EDIT...YES they will!  That mare is desperate to relieve the pressure on her bag...and I've heard of them doing that just because THEIR foal was 'gone'.  I'd almost bet that is what is happening.  Your mare is 'adopting' the other foal...even if it's through a fence.

Answer 2

Yes another mares filly will nurse from your mare, if the mare will let her.  She may be producing milk still because she is still close to a foal, even though it isn't hers.  If you can put her somewhere out of sight of the babies, it will probably help.  

Answer 3

I would just wait until her milk dries up completely before putting the two back together, It shouldn't take more that 6 weeks. I wouldn't worry about they hyper production of milk. It is probably because her body id still producing it but there is no foal there to drink it. Pretty soon her body will stop producing as much.