Thank you Glenna Rose and Kelly! It truly is exciting to be milking my first goat. My teenage girls are really enjoying the experience too!
Thank you for all your tips Glenna Rose! I love the idea of the music playing in the barn area. I recently bought a lamb and when we went to the barn area to pick her up, beautiful music was playing over the sound system and I thought to myself how soothing it was, and how peaceful it must be for the sheep.
Again, I love all the tips from experienced goat milkers, the encouragement, and the excitement.
Congrats! With Capri being my first milking goat (her first time being milked as well), I totally understand your excitement.
When I visited Capri at her previous home, her owner did something I did not realize the significance of at the time. She let her out into the milking area and Capri went right to the stanchion because she knew grain was awaiting her. You might consider doing that with Ellie, letting her to the stanchion a couple other times during the day and giving her a little bit of grain so she looks forward to being there. I have recently starting giving Capri a bit of apple at the end of each milking. The most important part I have found for me is for *me* to relax and she is more relaxed resulting in a tiny bit more milk. Though I have not yet introduced music to the milking time, I plan to do that, perhaps about 10-15 minutes before milking, and see if it makes a difference.
What is funny is that every time Capri is out of her stall/pen, she heads right to the stanchion even if the feeder is not hanging on it. It is sort of like, "Okay, I'm here and doing my part, now it's your turn."
Again, congratulations - it's a wonderful journey. :-)
Congratulations!!!!! I have come to LOVE milking my girls and I know you will too. Give Ellie some time and before you know it, she will be on the stand before you are even ready to milk her. Congrats again and enjoy!
Comments
Thank you Glenna Rose and Kelly! It truly is exciting to be milking my first goat. My teenage girls are really enjoying the experience too!
Thank you for all your tips Glenna Rose! I love the idea of the music playing in the barn area. I recently bought a lamb and when we went to the barn area to pick her up, beautiful music was playing over the sound system and I thought to myself how soothing it was, and how peaceful it must be for the sheep.
Again, I love all the tips from experienced goat milkers, the encouragement, and the excitement.
Cindy
Congrats! With Capri being my first milking goat (her first time being milked as well), I totally understand your excitement.
When I visited Capri at her previous home, her owner did something I did not realize the significance of at the time. She let her out into the milking area and Capri went right to the stanchion because she knew grain was awaiting her. You might consider doing that with Ellie, letting her to the stanchion a couple other times during the day and giving her a little bit of grain so she looks forward to being there. I have recently starting giving Capri a bit of apple at the end of each milking. The most important part I have found for me is for *me* to relax and she is more relaxed resulting in a tiny bit more milk. Though I have not yet introduced music to the milking time, I plan to do that, perhaps about 10-15 minutes before milking, and see if it makes a difference.
What is funny is that every time Capri is out of her stall/pen, she heads right to the stanchion even if the feeder is not hanging on it. It is sort of like, "Okay, I'm here and doing my part, now it's your turn."
Again, congratulations - it's a wonderful journey. :-)
Congratulations!!!!! I have come to LOVE milking my girls and I know you will too. Give Ellie some time and before you know it, she will be on the stand before you are even ready to milk her. Congrats again and enjoy!