When should I start milking my goat?

From my inbox: "We have two does that just kidded, one is a first time freshener and the other is her second kidding season. They both have twin boys and everyone is healthy and fat. I’ve heard waiting until kids are two weeks old, separate at night and milk mom in the morning. But I also, heard you should wait until the kids are weaned. When do you recommend is a suitable time to start milking them?

The first time fresher’s udder is huge and is always full. The other doe’s udder is not even (the babies seem to be eating off one side mostly)."

The short answer is ... Both of those answers are wrong for 99% of kids, does, and owners, because they are making a lot of assumptions about your does, the kids, your philosophy, and your management. Separating overnight every day starting at 2 weeks is a recipe for poor weight gain and coccidiosis in the kids. Waiting until the kids are weaned is a recipe for a rodeo on the milk stand, especially if it's a first freshener. The answer lies in the middle. These decisions need to be made based on the doe's production, the number of kids she is feeding, the kids' weight gain, and your long-term plans.

In this video, I get into the long answer and give you all the details so you can figure out what is going to work best for each individual doe in your herd!

For more information, check out ...

When to Wean Baby Goats: https://thriftyhomesteader.com/when-to-wean-baby-goats/

Colostrum for Baby Goats: https://thriftyhomesteader.com/colostrum-for-baby-goats/

Preventing Coccidiosis: https://thriftyhomesteader.com/preventing-coccidiosis/

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