Hi All! I've been lurking here for WAY longer then I care to admit and I figured now was a grand to come out of hiding, post a question, and join in the chatter here.
To give a little quick background, I'm new to having Nigerians and just started my little herd this spring, YAY! I picked up two adorable doelings from Deborah in May, Penelope Cruz and Lucy Liu, as well as one more from a different breeder, Twilight. Of course as I was told these little cuties grow on you quite quickly and the herd grows. They did and my herd did - ha - and I just brought home a doe in milk and her baby.
Everything has been going well. I'm able to milk out the mom so I conquered that task. It has become increasingly more easy to get the hang of the hand milking technique, but what I'm wondering is how do I know when to stop? I really don't think I have a good grasp on when her udder is actually empty. I'm getting just under a pint (about a quarter under being full in the pint sized mason jar). I don't want to over milk her but I also don't want to be under milking. I just need to know what it actually looks like, feels like when the udder is empty so I know when I should stop.
I milk twice a day. The baby is 8 weeks old and quite the chunky monkey so there is no worry about her getting enough during the day.
Thanks for the help in advance. It feels good to be out of lurking and I'm sure Deborah will be happy I'm posting here so she doesn't get quite as many emails. ;)
Replies
Thanks so much Patty!! It feels really good to be out of lurking and have a profile picture. :D
Patty Meyer said:
Thanks so much Julia!! :) I am truly loving my little herd of five and feel really blessed to have been able to get my first two from Deborah. I spent much time throughout the winter before diving in researching and then reading her book as well as others she suggests. I think she found it kind of comical - and perhaps a bit odd, LOL - how well I knew her sites when we met for the first time when I went to look at doelings and pick a couple out. I feel better now that I know there will be no more milk coming out when the udder is empty. It seems so obvious, but I really wasn't sure if it would completely stop or not. She is definitely not getting fully milked out by me. I know my little piggie is doing the job but she'll also be fine if mama comes back empty and has to wait for her to fill back up again. ;) Thanks again.
Julia @Woody Glen Farm said:
Welcome, and congratulations on your little herd. :)
Congratulations on your new herd!
When no more milk comes out, it's time to stop. You can't overmilk her. Now of course some does are very proficient at holding back milk for their kids. You may have to bump her and massage her udder to get the last out that she may be holding back. I have one who is really good at it and I have a hard time getting it all out. If I don't get it all, I know her kid will finish it off so I'm not worried but if she doesn't have kids on her you really have to get it all. Sounds like you're doing great! Congrats again!