My doe Cayenne kidded this afternoon, or at least she started kidding and had one gorgeous healthy boy. I checked her around noon and there was no mucous and the way I remember her tail ligaments didn't seem to be any different that yesterday evening. I came back out around 6 and there was a beautiful buckskin boy, all dried off and nursing and everything. However, I'm quite sure she's not done kidding as she had Long Mucous starting again and she's still huge. It's now a number of hours later and she still has some mucous but not nearly as much. She doesn't seem to be uncomfortable and not in pain. Do I need to worry? I'm already battling a massive stress related headache. :( she's peeing and pooping, eating and drinking normally and taking good care of baby.
Update: over 8 hours since first baby was born. I'm thinking I'll have to go inside and see if I can help her. I'm terrified I'll hurt her. :'(
SUCCESS!!!!! It's hot and the flies are awful but I managed to get a couple ounces at least! :) I was So Amazed when the first stream of warm milk hit my hand! :D I'll try again this evening when it's cool and she'll be more relaxed. I did manage to soften up the side that baby hasn't been using as much so that should help some at least. Even my husband got it figured out! He almost did better that I did! Thanks everyone for your help! I don't think if have figure it out without your help!!
Sorry I have not added to this yet; I've been waiting until I had time to fully respond but will give a brief response now. My senior doe (this is her third year with me) had not been milked as a FF the year before so we were *both* new to milking. Her teats are quite small and difficult to milk. Things to consider:
1. This is *nothing* like milking a cow! So even those successful milking cows may have quite a challenge with a small-teated goat.
2. While many people can wrap fingers around the teats and various other methods, I found none of that to work for me and my doe. For her, I have to use my thumb against my forefinger between the knuckle (at the hand) and the next joint to successfully milk. My thumb actually goes over the finger so the teat is caught in that crook at the hand (and tip it slightly). Additionally, I have to have the hand side up part-way into the udder so I have enough "space" to shut off the flow of milk. Anything else just allows the milk to go back into the udder.
3. When the milk stream starts flowing, do not release it until the milk stops flowing! In the beginning, for some insane reason, I would stop which was likely from cow milking because the volume would go down and I would start the next flow. This doesn't work with the does with small teats because you will be there all day!
4. Seriously consider getting a Henry Milker. It is a good investment. However, you still need to learn to milk as that does not take the place of initial stripping and finishing off but it does give you a good break in between.
5. Be patient with yourself. If you go back two years to my posts, you will see a huge amount of frustration to the point of giving up. The first time I got even a tiny bit of foam, I felt like I had climbed Mt. Everest alone!
6. Then fast forward one year. This same doe's daughter from her first litter gave birth. Milking her was absolute heaven! Then I knew what milking a goat should be like. Not only does she have normal-size teats, but she had perfect manners.
Again, this year, I am having trouble getting anything out of my senior doe (at 3.5 weeks); that first milk just does not want to start. However, I will have to surmount this within the week if I want her milk. She has fantastically rich milk and is worth the effort.
Frustration with small teats is the norm - perserverance pays off. Honest!
Those are awesome pictures! I'll go out and try again. I must somehow be allowing the milk to go back into the udder or not getting any into the teat in the first place - or Something!!!
When a goat has small teats, rather than wrapping your fingers around her teats, you will be pressing your fingers against the teat, which is being held in place by your thumb. So, you'll press together your thumb and forefinger to trap the milk in the teat and then press your middle finger against the teat to get the milk to come out. Alternatively, if you do not have a long nail on your thumb, you can put your fingers behind the teat and the press your thumb against the teat in a rolling motion going from top down. The reason you shouldn't have a long thumb nail is because you'd be stabbing the goat with it, if you did.
And here is another series of photos that we shot, but we didn't use them because it looks like she is pinching the udder between her forefinger and thumb. She wasn't pinching the goat, but we were worried that people might think she was.
These are the milking pics from Raising Goats Naturally. You need to trap the milk in the teat first so that it doesn't go back up into the udder when you squeeze the teat.
The lady I bought my does from is 6 hours away so that's not an option. Then there's a lady about an hour or hour and a half away who has Nigerians as well but she's gone for the weekend. My Dad in law hand milked a cow for years and I'm king to see if he'd come over and at least try on Cayenne. He may not have any better luck than I but at least he has successfully milked an animal before.
Replies
Happy for you! That's great news. :)
Woo hoo!!! Congratulations!!! :-D
Sorry I have not added to this yet; I've been waiting until I had time to fully respond but will give a brief response now. My senior doe (this is her third year with me) had not been milked as a FF the year before so we were *both* new to milking. Her teats are quite small and difficult to milk. Things to consider:
1. This is *nothing* like milking a cow! So even those successful milking cows may have quite a challenge with a small-teated goat.
2. While many people can wrap fingers around the teats and various other methods, I found none of that to work for me and my doe. For her, I have to use my thumb against my forefinger between the knuckle (at the hand) and the next joint to successfully milk. My thumb actually goes over the finger so the teat is caught in that crook at the hand (and tip it slightly). Additionally, I have to have the hand side up part-way into the udder so I have enough "space" to shut off the flow of milk. Anything else just allows the milk to go back into the udder.
3. When the milk stream starts flowing, do not release it until the milk stops flowing! In the beginning, for some insane reason, I would stop which was likely from cow milking because the volume would go down and I would start the next flow. This doesn't work with the does with small teats because you will be there all day!
4. Seriously consider getting a Henry Milker. It is a good investment. However, you still need to learn to milk as that does not take the place of initial stripping and finishing off but it does give you a good break in between.
5. Be patient with yourself. If you go back two years to my posts, you will see a huge amount of frustration to the point of giving up. The first time I got even a tiny bit of foam, I felt like I had climbed Mt. Everest alone!
6. Then fast forward one year. This same doe's daughter from her first litter gave birth. Milking her was absolute heaven! Then I knew what milking a goat should be like. Not only does she have normal-size teats, but she had perfect manners.
Again, this year, I am having trouble getting anything out of my senior doe (at 3.5 weeks); that first milk just does not want to start. However, I will have to surmount this within the week if I want her milk. She has fantastically rich milk and is worth the effort.
Frustration with small teats is the norm - perserverance pays off. Honest!
When a goat has small teats, rather than wrapping your fingers around her teats, you will be pressing your fingers against the teat, which is being held in place by your thumb. So, you'll press together your thumb and forefinger to trap the milk in the teat and then press your middle finger against the teat to get the milk to come out. Alternatively, if you do not have a long nail on your thumb, you can put your fingers behind the teat and the press your thumb against the teat in a rolling motion going from top down. The reason you shouldn't have a long thumb nail is because you'd be stabbing the goat with it, if you did.
Hope that makes sense!
And here is another series of photos that we shot, but we didn't use them because it looks like she is pinching the udder between her forefinger and thumb. She wasn't pinching the goat, but we were worried that people might think she was.
These are the milking pics from Raising Goats Naturally. You need to trap the milk in the teat first so that it doesn't go back up into the udder when you squeeze the teat.
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