how long is too long on milking stand?

[Vickir73]

My girls get feed twice a day; however, I only milk in the AM. I feel like I need to change something. Daisi finishes her feed (about 6 cups) in about 10 minutes. Dafni (not in milk, but I feed her on the milk stand and only give her about 1 1/2 -2 cups) finished in 10 minutes or less. Momma Goat takes her sweet *** time. This morning I had her on the stand for 20 minutes and finally took her off even though she didn't finish. She eats sooo slow!!!

(1) Should I only be feeding once a day if I only milk once a day?
(2) If I feed twice a day (even though I only milk once a day) should I feed less in the evenings (and more in the AM to make sure they get the entire amount)?
(3) is there an "average" time I should leave them on the stand to finish? - I can't keep taking over 30 minutes with 3 goats - or am I being unreasonable?
(4) If I stop milking and just let the kids nurse, I feel like Momma Goat won't get enough if I put their feed in the "general" feeder. Am I wrong?
(5) I think they may be getting too much feed now - but I'll post this question as another topic.
(6) blasted goats

 

[Straw Hat Kikos]

1. I only feed once a day and think it should be fine if you do too. I really don't see the point in feeding twice a day, unless you really want to. Besides, it takes to much time to have to do that twice a day.

2. As I said, I would feed once a day and that would be in the morning. If you do feed twice a day then I would feed equal amounts, morning and evening.

3. Are you feeding them as you milk? If so how long does it take you to milk? If it is asking longer for hem to eat then it is for you to milk then they (1.) have to much food or (2.) you should feed them somewhere else. Maybe in a bucket or a feed trough.

4. Yes I think you are wrong. lol If you have a large enough trough then they should all get plenty of food. All my goats eat out of buckets right now and they all stuff their faces, pull their head out to chew the food, then put it back in. I think that they should all get enough food even if put into one feeder. And if not, then just feed the one separate or give them all their own bucket or trough.

5. I already answered that one!! lol

 

[CrazyCatNChickenLady]

I tried to feed my goats separately and noticed they scarf the food down if they think someone else is gonna eat it first. They lolly gag if they're tied up separate. Maybe a little competition for food for mama might actually do her some good.

 

[Vickir73]

since I'm not milking at night anyway, I think I will try that this evening. Just dump it in the feeder and see what happens. I'll feed the bucks separately tho since I'm giving them AC - and it's easier to get my hands on them

 

[treeclimber233]

Iused to feed all my goats at the same time. When they eat out of 2 troughs some of them would gulp the food so fast they would choke. So I started putting lots of bowls buckets whatever would hold some grain and putting grain in a lot of different places. Spreading them around some slowed the gulpers down. I guess they thought they had time to eat and did not need to hurry.

 

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

All my girls get just enough time on the stand that it takes me to milk. Roughly 10 minutes each. IF there is one that needs a little fattening up I'll let her stay for a couple extra minutes.

If I only milked once a day they'd get fed on the stand once a day~ no reason otherwise unless they are underweight.

They have free-feed alfalfa all the time and after each milking I'll dump a bucket of pellets in the feeder for them to share.

Been working well for me!

 

[sawfish99]

I can milk out our does in under 4 minutes. We are only milking in the morning, but feed does in milk twice a day. Most of the goats eat all their feed in about 8 minutes. As soon as they are done, they go out and the next comes in. We do have 1 doe that is extremely slow. She is always milked last and left on the stand for about 20 minutes. She is underweight and I want to encourage her to eat as much as possible. I go do other chores while she eats.

We built a second stand so that it would reduce the waiting time because I can get 2 goats milked before they can finish eating.