C&D Farming..oh what a life!

[frustratedearthmother]

If your recipe doesn’t specify aging you shouldn’t have to worry about it.

 

[Jesusfreak101]

Honestly with the other goats one would give me a gallon and the other was 3 quarts. And it's alittle faster then hand milking but i think the spend has more to do with the animals abilitly to get the milk out. If you try to fast it might hurt their udders. Hand milking takes me about 15 minutes with panda and she give alittle over 2quart/half a gallon. Just depends. I know some goats take longer to milk out then others. One of my higje produces took me 30 min to milk her alone now whether that was because mt hand muscle were still adjusting or not i don't know. It's easier now. Probably because it's my third year of milking.

 

[Duckfarmerpa1]

My goats tend to jump around a lot. Tried the hobbles...that didn’t go so well. I’m giving this second milk machine a few more days, then going more expensive. It frustrating when, I have the machine to her for, say, 10 mins, get some, but then I still need to hand milk, and get more!! None of this should be this hard...I just know it.its probably because the ones we’ve bought have been less than $100 so far. We were at an auction today. One of the main reasons we went was for a $2,000 milker. One lady wanted it bad!! She wasn’t going to quit. We finally stopped bidding at $275 and she got it...I was soooo upset. But we got a tonnnn of other stuff and have to make two trips with the car trailer tomorrow! Got a really nice chicken tractor, and the pipes for another. Got a ton of fencing. No hot wire though. But, we had a ball! Got the x-large dog crates for $5 each...excellent condition..we got all four! Ok..have to get to sleep, uo at 5 to go get the stuff!!

 

[rachels.haven]

Do your hobbles go above the hocks or below?

 

[Jesusfreak101]

i used to tie daisy which that girl tried her best to kick me from here to mount everest. she would lay down then jump back up and nearly got me that way once. my milk stand has a roof so i tied her belly to that so she couldnt lay down while her back legs were tied the back post as tight as i could get them after a month of that she finally behaved on the stand. they (seem to not sure the science behind it) would make sure to try to keep the milk in for the babies. Panda the doe i now have is polite to a point. she stand while i milk ( when i first got her she now behaves) then right before the second let down she would fight like her life depended on it after me keeping at it she gave up on the thought she would get out of milking now she stands. you might have to let her adjust as well, sometimes it takes them awhile to get over the fact your taking the milk as well,.

 

[Duckfarmerpa1]

@rachels.haven , We just made the rope hobbles. Honestly, Busty does good for me, not for Chris, she can since his tension. She’s doing better...but, when she does Kick the bowl..you just want to scream!! Ugh! So much work, down the drain....I just wish, I had a good idea of how long milking takes an average person, with a descent machine...and if it empties them? I contacted the girl with the nice farm out here. She invited me out, but she milks by hand. But, she does use a machine at a dairy she works for, so maybe she can help a bit? Only problem is, she’s not free till mid April. I kind of wanted some help...yesterday...so I could know if I should ge5 a new machine? Ok...when you all use your machines...do the nipples get darker colored? Maybe a bit hard? @Jesusfreak101 , @B&B Happy goats @Mini Horses. @lalabugs

 

[Jesusfreak101]

Uhh not to my knowledge thats odd does she do that when you hand milk?

 

[Duckfarmerpa1]

Oh...left this morning at 7 to get the stuff we bought at the auction. Had to make two trips with the 26’ trailer. Didn’t get home until 4pm..then we had to put some of it away? Chris said we have way too much junk. I told him he needs to take a few trucks into our movie theater...problem solved! He said I cant junk up his garages with my farm stuff...hmmm.,guess I need more buildings?? I won’t mention that for awhile..he already has heard me say it a thousand times....

 

[Duckfarmerpa1]

Uhh not to my knowledge thats odd does she do that when you hand milk?

No, not at all...just gets shriveled... the first pump had no valve on it to change suction and it seemed way stronger. This we adjust it down, but it seems to make them both get purple.i only use it like 5 minutes and then hand milk...at least it gives my hands a bit of a break..but, I just wish one of you was here to show me the ropes!!

 

[farmerjan]

If their teats are turning purple the vacuum is way too much. Is the vet's office very close? maybe call them and see if anyone working there has any experience with a milking machine? Might be a technician might have some ideas/suggestions.