Is she holding out or am I doing something wrong?

[glenolam]

As many of you know, Eloise and I started out rough with the whole milking thing. But she's calmed down a lot and last night I got her on the stand (unwillingly, but up) and she started chomping away on her grain (which, by the way, was laced with raisins and sweet feed!). She barely kicked!

BUT - I was getting at least 2 cups from her before (I've only been milking her once a day for a little over a week now) and for the past three days I haven't gotten more than a cup. Last night it seemed like she just shut off her right udder completely. I was lucky to get a few dribbles from her on that side. She also seemed unhappy I was milking her right side, so when I switched back to the left she calmed again.

Can they just shut off their supply if they want to? Am I doing something wrong? Both kids nurse from both teats so I know there's plenty of milk in there.

She doesn't seem ill or tender there so I don't think there's anything wrong with her.

 

[Mea]

Last night it seemed like she just shut off her right udder completely. I was lucky to get a few dribbles from her on that side. She also seemed unhappy I was milking her right side, so when I switched back to the left she calmed again.

Can they just shut off their supply if they want to? Am I doing something wrong? Both kids nurse from both teats so I know there's plenty of milk in there.

She doesn't seem ill or tender there so I don't think there's anything wrong with her.

Oh yeah !! If they are feeding babies...they certainly Can and often Do shut off the milk. That way they keep it for their babies.

Do You notice any heat on the one side of the udder ?? Does it feel warmer than the other side ? Or does it just feel 'empty' ? If the doe is drained of milk..she is apt to be sensitive in that area. At least that is my experience.

I was told, and believe it to be true, that a doe produces milk to fill the demand made on her For that milk. Of course that also means that they need to be fed more to allow them to produce more to meet the incressed demand. ( did i lose You yet ?? )

 

[ksalvagno]

I would think as the kids are getting older, they are drinking more milk. When you milk, do you keep the kids away for a period of time or are you just taking what you can get?

 

[michickenwrangler]

Feeling firm or feeling soft? Is your milking schedule pretty consistent? Cold weather can also cause a dairy goat to produce less.

 

[glenolam]

Right now I'm working more for technique so I'm not taking the kids away for any period of time. To be honest, there's not really any place I can do that as all the goats share one barn and one yard.

Tonight was much better, temper wise. She didn't kick but once and it was when I moved to the right side. I did get some milk out and it was nice and white, no blood or anything, but it was obvious she preferred me milking her left udder. I thought it was a good night until I measured and found it was only 8 oz.

What do you (or anyone) suggest for a night time milking schedule? Would it be better if I tried a morning schedule and kept the kids locked in a large dog kennel all night? I could partition off one side of the goat barn, but I would feel badly keeping the kids inside the barn all day while everyone else gets the option of going outside so I can milk once I get home from work. An afternoon/night milking is what I would prefer, but life isn't about what we'd all prefer anymore.

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

What do you (or anyone) suggest for a night time milking schedule? Would it be better if I tried a morning schedule and kept the kids locked in a large dog kennel all night?

yep! and its not too sad.. we've separated ours and there isnt any crying at all. we have our separated in another stall not a kennel. but they can see each other and lay next too each other but are still separated.

and are you feeding a lot high quality hay???? do the kids seem to be eating a lot? she probably has milk but they are just taking it.

 

[michickenwrangler]

That was how we did it at first too.

Left kids on for 3 weeks. Separated at night, milked, kids got to spend day with mom.

 

[glenolam]

Both udders are soft and jiggly and the teats look exactly the same. I'm thinking that I have the left side milking down OK, but when I switch to the right I twist my wrist more (since I'm not confident enough in her not to kick the bucket with two handed milking) and I might twist or pull the teat. She's getting so much better with the kicking that I think I'm on the road to being able to milk with both hands and the bucket underneath.

Yes, we're feeding quality 2nd cut hay (which they are going nuts for) and I'm also top dressing her feed with Probios 1x wk. I've upped her grain to 4 cups, too. The kids look great and act spunky so I'm assuming she's just supplying enough for them to "suckle" all day and night.

What are your thoughts about getting small amounts for now and assuming I'll start getting more in the afternoon when the girls are weaning off? I'm not striving for mass quanities right now, but would like to get a better "stock" as the summer starts. I tried milking her last year when her kid was about 8 wks old and her previous owner told me to tape up her teats all day - I'm thinking that it would take just as long to milk her in the am as it would to tape her up....

I would be interested in hearing what has worked for people who do night/afternoon milking with the kids still on the farm... if anyone has done that.

Then again I'm thinking the easiest thing to do is suck it up and get out of bed an hour earlier!