First time Momma

[lcertuche]

Yeah, so true. I tell them instead of planning on college they should try to get into working on getting a plumbing or electrician license. Good money and not years of paying off student loans. I'll be owing mine till I'm dead most likely.

 

[Fullhousefarm]

Be careful NOT to milk her out at all as the first milk is colostrum which the babies will need. If she gets overfull in the udder where it's leaking out and you have to relieve pressure, save what you milk out and refrigerate it so you can warm it up and bottle feed the kids. Maybe someone I tag can give better direction/suggestion? @babsbag @Goat Whisperer @OneFineAcre @Fullhousefarm @animalmom others?

I've had to milk a doe once before kidding- but it was a special case and I wouldn't advise it. Unless she's been full and "hard" with a tight shiny udder for more than 24 hours or leaking profusely I wouldn't even consider it.

The doe I milked pre-kidding is a super milky Lamancha. Precocious udder before 12 months. Had a huge udder for a FF her first kidding at 2. Milked for over 18 months her first lactation feeding her twins and another set of twins 9months later while milking almost a gallon a day. Pregnant with her second set of kids her udder was huge. It started to get engorged and shiny and she would leave puddles of milk wherever she layed down starting about a week before she was due. I waited 4 days and she was just too uncomfortable and I was worried about mastitis. So, I milked her until she wasn't tight. 1 1/2 gallons of colostrum and I didn't milk her out. After that I milked a few cups once a day if she was tight. She kidded 3 days later and I give the babies a bottle each of her colostrum from the first time I milked- but her milk was still very sticky and yellow so I think she was still making-or had- colostrum. In fact, I just finally got her dried off 10 weeks before kidding this year by taking away all grain for 3 days. I had been milking every other day for three weeks with no slow in production. It's a good problem, but 11 months and I was done.

 

[nstone630]

I've had to milk a doe once before kidding- but it was a special case and I wouldn't advise it. Unless she's been full and "hard" with a tight shiny udder for more than 24 hours or leaking profusely I wouldn't even consider it.

The doe I milked pre-kidding is a super milky Lamancha. Precocious udder before 12 months. Had a huge udder for a FF her first kidding at 2. Milked for over 18 months her first lactation feeding her twins and another set of twins 9months later while milking almost a gallon a day. Pregnant with her second set of kids her udder was huge. It started to get engorged and shiny and she would leave puddles of milk wherever she layed down starting about a week before she was due. I waited 4 days and she was just too uncomfortable and I was worried about mastitis. So, I milked her until she wasn't tight. 1 1/2 gallons of colostrum and I didn't milk her out. After that I milked a few cups once a day if she was tight. She kidded 3 days later and I give the babies a bottle each of her colostrum from the first time I milked- but her milk was still very sticky and yellow so I think she was still making-or had- colostrum. In fact, I just finally got her dried off 10 weeks before kidding this year by taking away all grain for 3 days. I had been milking every other day for three weeks with no slow in production. It's a good problem, but 11 months and I was done.

What a process!!! Good gracious. My doe is no here near that large, and doesn't seem uncomfortable, and not leaking. I'm leaving her be, will just check that there is milk flow once she kids.

 

[OneFineAcre]

Nice barrel
I'm curious at what temp is at bottom where babies are vs the outside temp ?

 

[nstone630]

Nice barrel
I'm curious at what temp is at bottom where babies are vs the outside temp ?

I'd have to put a thermometer out there to see. It MUST be warmer than outside...At least I'd think (hope) so. We are using a 100 watt bulb.

 

[OneFineAcre]

I'd have to put a thermometer out there to see. It MUST be warmer than outside...At least I'd think (hope) so. We are using a 100 watt bulb.

Oh I'm sure it's warmer
Just curious about how much it does

 

[nstone630]

Oh I'm sure it's warmer
Just curious about how much it does

Well that is all the reason enough to do it! We are all about being super educated on everything goats...why not add that to the list?! I think I have a thermometer from when we used to incubate I can use...I'll keep you posted.

 

[babsbag]

My husband can do anything as well. Fix a car, plumbing, electrical, framing, roofing, you name it. The question is "WILL he do it and WHEN will he do it?" The one skill he doesn't have that I desperately need is welding.

 

[NH homesteader]

Yes WHEN is often a question with mine as well, lol. He can weld too!

 

[nstone630]

My husband can do anything as well. Fix a car, plumbing, electrical, framing, roofing, you name it. The question is "WILL he do it and WHEN will he do it?" The one skill he doesn't have that I desperately need is welding.

Mine welds! And I don't think we've been married long enough for him to think he has an option of "when will HE do it"...I ask...it happens LOL.