Its my first time milking a goat, and its her first kid, but the milk is so minimal, we get about a tablespoon per go - I'd been hoping for a lot more. I picked up lots of tips reading Deborahs book and have been following it all. But my doe is so jumpy and antsy when I try to milk her, she is kicking and bucking and not settled and relaxed at all. I did udder massages with her morning and evening feeds for ages before the birth to get her used to me handling her. She had a single kid, so I've been milking her morning and evening since day one (its now day 8) and twice now, I have separated the kid for 8 hours the first night, then 9 hours, and was hoping for a big full udder the next morning. But, there's been so little milk, just a few squirts. I think my technique is ok............but am I doing something else wrong? Or do I just need to persist with it, and it'll happen? Any tips? Thanks!!
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Here is a little hint that works for me - I have a girl that as soon as her grain is gone she wants me to stop. If I mix her grain into some chaffehaye then she is there much longer and gives me more time. She would even try to lay down but we worked thru it. If I stopped and talked to her and pet her, then restarted she was okay. I also went to a milking machine, a converted old one (a Babson) and it works so well and the girls don't mind it a bit. I have pictures of it on my website and prices for the conversion if anyone is interested in that option. I have arthritis so milking by hand is getting very awkward. I have no udder problems and that was my main concern when I went to a machine. My web site is windingrvrfarm.com
My personal preference is not to take the little ones away overnight until they are about 6 weeks. Depending on their size - how well they are eating. I hate to rush them away from the security of their mom.
Katharine, I thank *you* for the reminder of how far I have come. I was thinking that was my stat time, small teats and tears. Well, I didn't really cry but I did feel terribly incompetent. I honestly continued to feel that way until my second year after I milked her daughter the first time - it was like the parting of the sea, this is how it is supposedly to be, now I have a chance of learning to do it right. Yes, it was really like that. I suspect you will get there far faster than I did!
Ladies, what can I say but a huge THANK YOU for sharing your experience and for taking the time to write. I am feeling much more relaxed, I feel like the pressure is off, and that I can just get the routine going better without having to get milk NOW! I appreciate so much your encouragements to keep going. Thank you!
Katharine
The reason for milking early in this case, would be because the doe only has one kid. If you want to keep production up, you have to milk to mimic supporting two kids. If you wait as you normally would with a doe with two kids, then you would end up milking after supply has gone down, because there has only been the demand of one kid for so long.
There is enough colostrum to milk in the first week, although the flavor/texture isn't desirable. A lot of people milk and save the colostrum in those first few days to have in case of an emergency.
Melissa Johnson said:
He's nursing normally time wise, so that's good. Since you're seeing a favoring of one side, you might just try milking the side he doesn't nurse from for a while, to keep that production up. Sounds like you have a better handle on milking than you're giving yourself credit for. :)
Katharine Norton said:
I would not separate a doe from her kids for at least 2 weeks, but I would milk her A.M. and P.M. from the very start. As soon as possible, actually. Usually after 12 hours I will nearly milk out the doe, and save her colostrum for any future emergencies where I might need it. I then milk out what is there without removing her from her kids every A.M. and P.M. I do this because the doe has a lot of horemones that make her not mind being milked as much right after the kids are born. If I keep it up, she seems to stay that way long term. If I don't begin milking her right away, it seems I have a bigger fight later. Usually, for the first few days I get quite a bit of milk, but as the kids grow and get more active and hungry, I usually don't get much. Just getting her on the stand and going through the motions helps things go smoothly though.
I feel quite accomplished - lol - that I can use the 2 qt. pail and milk with 2 hands - well, as long as they hold out, and I can tell by her body when she is ready to give me a bump with her back foot - then I know I have to hold the pail, milk into it with one hand. I have become an expert at blocking with my forearm! :)
Thanks Katharine Norton! for this study of milking - I have another doe that I have decided not to breed again - ever. I will never need those 2 cups of milk that bad. lol - I tried two different seasons and milking her was a constant wrestling match. Thank goodness her daughter has been much more agreeable.
Glenna Rose said:
Oh, Melissa, your post caused me to laugh. I also thought about how if Capri had teats like that instead of the size of the last joint on my little finger (honest!), that I could milk too! Capri's really are that size with Summer's (her daughter) being the size of my thumb. That is the difference of crying and going to the funny farm and to actually enjoy milking. :-)
Kicking? Really? Now you know they *never* do that! I have one hand on the milking cup and the other milking - the milking cup hand is always ready to move at the slightest movement; my left hand has developed great reflexes. I love Summer so, she has delightful manners, but her mother had her foot in more milk than I had milk in my kitchen those first months (that was when I actually believed I could have it setting on the stand foolish person I was); that is saying a lot because I only got less than a pint - never made it past 15 ounces with her. Days I actually got a cup into the house were delightful. Whenever people talk about milking into pails, it's like they are from Mars because I could not do that which is why I hold a cup and empty it regularly in my jar; the less milk I have to dump the better I like it. I absolutely love "milk defensively" - that has so much meaning!
speaking of videos - I found on youtube some time ago, a girl who has Nigerians. She demonstrates how she milks on various goats that have different size teats/orifices etc. Interesting to watch and she was so nice to give me some encouragement. However, I see no kicking of the measuring cup, which mine did - and I still have to milk defensively once she has been relieved. Just sayin'
I only wish I had teats to milk like this Nubian in the video included in the videos tab. LOL - well, maybe not - wouldn't be very pretty on a Nigerian.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQL38sgf-4o
Bravo Glenna! well said.
I found that the first month of having the goat on the stand - was most challenging. I never tried to milk before we were pushing 3-4 weeks, and let mom raise the kids, I do not bottle feed as a norm. And you are right about technique - if I hold my hand in one position - I get next to no stream - change ever so slightly and here comes a strong stream. Sometimes I milk like on a standard goat, pinched at the top of the teat and pulsing the last two fingers - sometimes I use my index and thumb and the other fingers rest.
As Glenna indicates - you will find the combination - at this stage in the game - I would consider the majority of milk belongs to baby. I remember Deborah told me with a single kid - when you do start milking, consider yourself as the "sibling". :)
Glenna Rose said:
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