Okay, with a goat this small where do you get a pail? Can I get a regular stainless steel pot from the store or do I need a proper pail? Jeffers has a 2 qt pail for $19.95 and I know I'm gonna need a strainer and pads. Where do you guys get your supplies? What do you use? What do you clean it with? What do you use for udder cleaning? Teat dip/spray?
Good grief, can you tell I'm a newbie.....ugh. Thanks!
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the patience and practice - i'll work on. I keep remembering the teat in the whole hand - hold and pump with the last two fingers. -( I need a video of someone whose got it down.....
You'll get it figured out! It just takes some patience, practice, and persistence.
Melissa Johnson said:
well, do you guys hear me crying?? I have milked 2x with this tee tiny teat goat - and today I got 2x as much as the first time which adds up to about 1/8 c. I was told pinch with the thumb and index finger and squeeze with the middle holding the last two out like a prissy lady drinking tea........ sigh..... the babies were in jail for nothing.... i have yet to give up however. lol.
I noticed that the teat that looks like it has been abused, is the easier to get some milk from. The other seems to have a smaller oriface - must be the reason the kids are favoring the other.
Deborah told me that 2 qt. milk pail wouldnt fit under the Nigi's. I paid bout 5.00 for it at Jeffers. I didnt even try it. I am using a flat bottom stainless steel small pot. I also thought about the cleaning medium. I used just a little vinegar and small amount of soap. I remember reading that vinegar killed more bacteria on vegetables than the fancy vegetable sprays people were using on produce. And on the other hand - I dont want to pickle any udders either. lol.
Kare at Chaverah Farm said:
I don't think you need a special pail unless you want the lid that keeps dirt out. You can get stainless steel pails on Amazon for a pretty good price. Here is the link to a 2 quart size for $9.99, but there are several other sizes there too. If you add other things to your order and meet the minimum, then shipping will be free. =)
You can buy cloth diapers to use for strainers (unbleached). I just clean mine with regular dishwater. I bought gentle baby wipes for udder cleaning and I spray with water that has grapefruit seed extract in it, but I think I will also add some of the EOs that were suggested here. This is the chemical free way =) In the past I have bought a teat spray, filters and wipes from Hoeggers. I also bought my strainer and strip cup from them.
well, do you guys hear me crying?? I have milked 2x with this tee tiny teat goat - and today I got 2x as much as the first time which adds up to about 1/8 c. I was told pinch with the thumb and index finger and squeeze with the middle holding the last two out like a prissy lady drinking tea........ sigh..... the babies were in jail for nothing.... i have yet to give up however. lol.
I noticed that the teat that looks like it has been abused, is the easier to get some milk from. The other seems to have a smaller oriface - must be the reason the kids are favoring the other.
I don't think you need a special pail unless you want the lid that keeps dirt out. You can get stainless steel pails on Amazon for a pretty good price. Here is the link to a 2 quart size for $9.99, but there are several other sizes there too. If you add other things to your order and meet the minimum, then shipping will be free. =)
You can buy cloth diapers to use for strainers (unbleached). I just clean mine with regular dishwater. I bought gentle baby wipes for udder cleaning and I spray with water that has grapefruit seed extract in it, but I think I will also add some of the EOs that were suggested here. This is the chemical free way =) In the past I have bought a teat spray, filters and wipes from Hoeggers. I also bought my strainer and strip cup from them.
Yeah, I'm nervous cause I've never milked anything before but I'm hoping that will be somewhat of an advantage...I won't have to relearn how to milk the smaller teats, although my breeder's does tend to have a little bit longer teats so I'm hoping that will make it easier.
I tried milking these teeny teats this a.m. for the first time. I only got about couple tablespoons!! I was a little discouraged, but practice, practice, practice. I hear pinch off with the thumb and first finger, squeeze with the middle one - any suggestions? I have milked but only standard size goats..... oh and now I know for sure - no goaty taste whatsoever!!! and it really is sweet!! I was very pleasantly surprised. I didnt really believe it
britt greenland said:
I have a friend who milks right into a stainless tote with the mini-filter already on in. The milk stay SO much cleaner, but her goats are not mini goats. Does anyone know of a ss tote that is short enough for NDs?
Adrienne, Have you purchased a milker yet? You may want to check out Maggidans milker before you decide. It looks similiar to the Henry milker, but is only $50. I bought one when I had dairy sheep, and it's easy to use, but since I only have one milking goat, it's not worth the extra cleaning. I prefer to milk by hand for now.
Adrienne said:
I currently have the Hoegger half moon lid milk pail and mini strainer. The pail fits under Isabel better than Indiana, but works well for both of them. I like the mini strainer because I can strain the milk directly into the frozen jar ( we don't have an ice maker or bother to keep ice in the house) and then stick it into the fridge. I have been wondering about their production and apparently we have not done a very good job of milking since at 6 weeks fresh I had expected Indiana to give at least 3lbs with no kids on her, and she is only giving 1. Isabel I was not sure about, but Deborah Indicated she should at least be giving 1 lb with the two bucklings on her where she is only giving .5 lbs. I can only milk with one hand because my Cerebral Palsy, although mild, affects the strength in my right hand. I can get milk out with the right hand, but I really have to concentrate on it and its just a lot faster if I only use my left. So I have been thinking about getting one of those personal hand held milkers for about a week now.. I have breeding planned for June so that they will kid in October. After that I plan to breed for fall kids every year. I am hoping to get one in time for milking them then. I will be interested to compare the amount of milk I get out by hand vs the amount I get out with the milker. If I do that though...I will likely have a ton of milk filters collecting dust... as I have 3 boxes.
I have looked at both the Udderly EZ milker and the Henry milker, and although it is a bit more expensive I think I like the Udderly EZ milker because there are less parts. by that I mean, since the bottle screws directly onto the pump so I don't have to use two hands or worry about breaking the jar ( I break glass things...two heat lights before kidding for example). I do have some concern about the cleanliness of the plastic parts with both milkers over time, but with the sanitizing cycle on my brand new dishwasher (YAHOOO!!!!) I think it might be alright assuming I also wash the bottles by hand before putting them in the dishwasher since I am not sure the inside of the bottle would be sufficiently cleaned otherwise.
I also like the idea of using babywipes as udder cleaners, but I think I will stick to my towels because I just bought a bunch more to get us through so that I can comfortably wash two loads a week and never run out. David would not be happy to know I changed my mind about using the towels which I spent money on even if they were super cheap, therefore we have a ton of extra towels for no reason.
Replies
Melissa Johnson said:
Kare at Chaverah Farm said:
well, do you guys hear me crying?? I have milked 2x with this tee tiny teat goat - and today I got 2x as much as the first time which adds up to about 1/8 c. I was told pinch with the thumb and index finger and squeeze with the middle holding the last two out like a prissy lady drinking tea........ sigh..... the babies were in jail for nothing.... i have yet to give up however. lol.
I noticed that the teat that looks like it has been abused, is the easier to get some milk from. The other seems to have a smaller oriface - must be the reason the kids are favoring the other.
I don't think you need a special pail unless you want the lid that keeps dirt out. You can get stainless steel pails on Amazon for a pretty good price. Here is the link to a 2 quart size for $9.99, but there are several other sizes there too. If you add other things to your order and meet the minimum, then shipping will be free. =)
You can buy cloth diapers to use for strainers (unbleached). I just clean mine with regular dishwater. I bought gentle baby wipes for udder cleaning and I spray with water that has grapefruit seed extract in it, but I think I will also add some of the EOs that were suggested here. This is the chemical free way =) In the past I have bought a teat spray, filters and wipes from Hoeggers. I also bought my strainer and strip cup from them.
britt greenland said:
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