so lucky
Almost Self-Reliant
I'm so glad you got her milked; I was really feeling for her! Hope you get that stanchion built soon.
How do I catch a skittish doe for milking?
- Thread starter rhoda_bruce
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rhoda_bruce
Almost Self-Reliant
Today I got a good idea for the milking stand/stanchion. If I can get it started, then for sure DH won't be able to resist joining in.
Well, the only way I have been able to catch Dinah, is the same way I catch the birds.....with a large, strong net. Fortunately she hasn't broken it yet. I like her milk. Just drank a bit of it a few minutes ago. Maybe I go nuts and make cheese, soap, lotions, and drink a little, as well. I really don't think the other doe conceived and I'm sorry for that. She would be much easier to catch and I"m pretty sure she delivered before coming here.
Well, the only way I have been able to catch Dinah, is the same way I catch the birds.....with a large, strong net. Fortunately she hasn't broken it yet. I like her milk. Just drank a bit of it a few minutes ago. Maybe I go nuts and make cheese, soap, lotions, and drink a little, as well. I really don't think the other doe conceived and I'm sorry for that. She would be much easier to catch and I"m pretty sure she delivered before coming here.
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rhoda_bruce
Almost Self-Reliant
So I'm still not set up with a stand, but it'll get done eventually. So now DH is talking to me about getting a doe from a milking breed. Wondering if you goat milking people can tell me what you have and what you get out of them, per milking. It takes me 2 days to get a quart from my doe. I keep her going because I feel she is pulling her weight and I like the milk, but it can't supply my family with all the millk we drink.
frustratedearthmother
Sustainability Master
I love my nubians for milking, but I also love my nubian crosses and I had a wonderful milking pygmy at one time. So, how's that for a decisive answer, lol!
Nubians give lots of good milk. I have three does and they vary in the amounts they give. I had one who as a first freshener gave almost a gallon a day. Another first freshener about 3 qts a day and the third first freshener, barely a half-gallon.
I've had one doe freshen a second time with triplets and at the peak fo her lactation she could give over 5 quarts a day! But, I rarely milked her - jsut left her to raise her babies. Her babies are nearly 5 months old now and I've weaned the buck kid and left the two doelings on her so that I can lock her up occasionally at night and milk her the next morning. She still gives 1/2 gallon per milking and that's 5 months into her lactation. I love that doe!
I've also got two Kinder kids (1/2 Nubian and 1/2 pygmy) They are good milkers and their milk is delicious! I'm milking one who has dried up on one side and even from 1/2 an udder she gives nearly a half gallon a day. Her mother is my highest producing Nubian. The other Kinder gives bout the same amount - but from both sides of her udder, lol. She's a smaller goat - more dairy in appearance with a beautiful bag. I think she'll top that amount on her next freshening.
I had an exceptional pygmy that gave 1/2 gallon a day also-but unfortunately I lost her.
Nigerian dwarves are great little milkers also, even though I have no experience with them at all. I like a heavier goat that can also serve as a meat goat - so I don't really think ND's are for me.
Good luck with whatever you end up with! Oh, and personality makes a big difference! I just couldn't fight one continually to milk - my nubian and nubian crosses are wonderful on the stand. Maybe from generation after generation of being milked - or maybe just cuz they're hogs and will stand for milking as long as there is feed in front of them, lol!
Nubians give lots of good milk. I have three does and they vary in the amounts they give. I had one who as a first freshener gave almost a gallon a day. Another first freshener about 3 qts a day and the third first freshener, barely a half-gallon.
I've had one doe freshen a second time with triplets and at the peak fo her lactation she could give over 5 quarts a day! But, I rarely milked her - jsut left her to raise her babies. Her babies are nearly 5 months old now and I've weaned the buck kid and left the two doelings on her so that I can lock her up occasionally at night and milk her the next morning. She still gives 1/2 gallon per milking and that's 5 months into her lactation. I love that doe!
I've also got two Kinder kids (1/2 Nubian and 1/2 pygmy) They are good milkers and their milk is delicious! I'm milking one who has dried up on one side and even from 1/2 an udder she gives nearly a half gallon a day. Her mother is my highest producing Nubian. The other Kinder gives bout the same amount - but from both sides of her udder, lol. She's a smaller goat - more dairy in appearance with a beautiful bag. I think she'll top that amount on her next freshening.
I had an exceptional pygmy that gave 1/2 gallon a day also-but unfortunately I lost her.
Nigerian dwarves are great little milkers also, even though I have no experience with them at all. I like a heavier goat that can also serve as a meat goat - so I don't really think ND's are for me.
Good luck with whatever you end up with! Oh, and personality makes a big difference! I just couldn't fight one continually to milk - my nubian and nubian crosses are wonderful on the stand. Maybe from generation after generation of being milked - or maybe just cuz they're hogs and will stand for milking as long as there is feed in front of them, lol!
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- #15
rhoda_bruce
Almost Self-Reliant
Thanx. I am getting a small amount, but I had bred her to a buck from 3 known milk breeds. It was a doeling, but she didn't survive delivery, so no hope for future there, but I get 100% of the little amount of milk she produces. It makes a difference, but not huge.
3 or 4 quarts a day would be awesome.
3 or 4 quarts a day would be awesome.
perchie.girl
Lovin' The Homestead
Can you rig a sqeeze to catch her... just a gate that you can swing over to let you get a hold of her.... Having some pressure on the sides has been known to calm cattle.
I like bees suggestion too with the rope... My cousins stake their goats out attached to a big tractor tire. IN the middle of the tire is their water bucket so it doesnt get knocked over.
deb
I like bees suggestion too with the rope... My cousins stake their goats out attached to a big tractor tire. IN the middle of the tire is their water bucket so it doesnt get knocked over.
deb
