I have three Nigerian does they are doing well, but I am impatient for milk so I am looking at getting two Mini-Nubians (f1). They both recently kidded and are being milked with a henry milker twice a day. I am looking for advice on making the transition a smooth one for the does to my house where we will be hand milking. Any input is appreciated. OR and words of wisdom that I need when I go meet them.
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Thanks! Now if WSU will get their act together and hurry up with the Johnes testing, just waiting on that before I go pick up my girls!
They should be used to some hand milking, because even with a milker, they need to be finished off by hand, so the transition shouldn't be too tough from that aspect. If you are worried about your own skill, you might consider getting a Henry's, and milking the way they are used to, and then switching to hand milking once you feel confident. :) Milking a smaller goat is still the same concept as larger, you just make adjustments to how many fingers you need to use to hold and milk the teat. It sounds like you have some experience, which should help a lot!
I have milked cows and goats. My neighbor's lamanchas are the only goats I've actually milked doing the job myself from start to finish. She has let me sample her ND milk but hasn't let me get my hands on them. I have never milked a smaller breed goat, so there may still be a learning curve for me.
I bought 3 nigerians, a pregnant momma due in July and her two yearling does. Minis weren't really on my radar when I started goat shopping I've wanted nigerians for years. When I started looking for a doe in milk I came across a lady with a nice F1 in milk for a great price. After I started visiting with her and looking I decided to get two. My tentative plan is to work with both breeds for a year and see what I like best and decide which direction I want to take my herd.
My children and I are loving the small size of the nigerains. They can walk them and play with them without being overwhelmed. I appreciate their more managable size after goat wrestling my neighbors lamanchas and nubians.
what do you mean they are doing well. are they too young to kid ? are they pregnant but 5 months + 2-3 for kidding is what's making you impatient?
you will love the personality of the mini-nubi. if they haven't been milked by hand . that might be the trickiest. mine have very nice large teats and she's only 5 months old ( so i understand the impatience. ) mine actually sleeps with a lamancha/nubian who's her best friend, and my ND and 2, 3 week old kids)
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Congratulations! It shouldn't be much of a challenge to switch them to hand milking. Do you already know how to milk? If not, that would be the challenge for you.