Milking breakthrough!

I am so excited I just had to share my success with you all because this forum has played an enormous part of my goat-keeping experience.

My Doe Joy freshened May 20th with two bucklings. Unfortunately one of the babies died due to a disbudding mishap at 4 days old (I think the guy helping me do it burned him for too long and caused his brain to swell, but that's another story), so since she's only had one baby nursing I've been milking her twice a day without separating the baby. Luckily the baby nurses on both sides so I haven't had any lop-sided udder issues. 

She's a horror to milk. I tried staying peaceful and keeping my hand on her udder until she calms down, which just didn't happen. I could only handle so much of her kicking me, and kicking over the milk bucket and making a huge mess. I tried holding up one of her back legs, but she would just kick me with the other back leg and balance on her front legs. I finally resorted to the hobble. I would try to milk her until she kicked for the first time, and then I would hobble her and leave her hobbled until I was finished milking, then take it off and pet/brush her for a few minutes with my hand on her udder to try and end the session on a positive note. She would not touch her grain if my hands were anywhere near her udder. 

Yesterday, after 2 solid weeks of struggling at both daily milkings, she let me milk her without kicking or sticking her stupid foot in the milk bucket!!! I was so excited I could hardly stand it. FINALLY some progress.  This morning we had another successful milking session and I feel so rejuvenated. I was beginning to wonder who was going to break first.

I separated the remaining baby for the first time last night for 6 hours and was a little disappointed with the 9 oz I got from her, but I'm separating him again tonight for 10 hours to see how much I can get. He's a chunky little thing so I'm not too worried about taking the milk at this point. 

On another happy note we are going to pick up our first two registered doelings tomorrow!! My husband got them for me as an anniversary present! He definitely wins husband of the year award in my book :D

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