Grandma Means Business: A Weaning Ring Tutorial

Since I saw Siobhan trying to kick Macree off and keep her from nursing, while apparently lacking the determination, I decided to intervene.  Out came the two weaning rings I had already ordered online.

Let's call them "Big Guns" and "Little Guns."  We tried "Little Guns" first; if it doesn't work, we'll get out the "Big Guns."

The handiest tip I've ever learned for putting a weaning ring in is to put it in hot water.  Since it's cold out, I used boiling water.

A tongs is very handy for fishing the weaning ring out.

Poor little Macree has no idea what's about to happen.

It was that easy!  Well, for us, anyway!  We tied her with her chin up and Herb helped hold her head.  I slipped the right side in first since it was against the fence and harder to maneuver, then twisted the softened plastic and slipped the left side over her moist nose into the other nostril.

Be sure the points face outward.  The hardest part is not getting poked while putting the weaning ring in.

Macree was not amused.  The idea is that Siobhan, also, will not be amused if Macree tries to nurse and pokes her udder with those spikes, and Siobhan will kick her off more determinedly.  That's the theory, anyway.

Mama Siobhan came over to see what her baby was wearing.

What a sweet and loving mama, which is probably why she needs some help in the enforcement department.

Macree tried to lick it off.

She tried to run away from it.

Finally she stood at the fence and looked pathetic for the boys across the way.  Poor Macree!  It's time to grow up.