Kicky Milker

[Roll farms]

It sounds like you found the perfect way for her. Good job!

 

[big brown horse]

 

[Windy Pond]

Hey FOF thanks for the towel advice, I will try it. Maybe my bucket is too big? I didnt get much milk tonight, I'm only getting enough to coat the bottom of the bucket. Her baby is 8 wks old, 22 lbs. and cleans her out! Baby Jewel is eating everything and has to lie upside-down to nurse. She's huge! Fern is kicking her away and it looks like weaning is in progress.
Will I start to get more milk? I'm such a newbie!

 

[freemotion]

Are you separating them at night so you can have the morning milk?

 

[Windy Pond]

Have not separated them yet, baby Jewel just turned 8 wks and I wanted her to get as much milk as possible. I'm going to separate Friday after Turkey Day. I discovered this evening that Fern milks better if I milk both teats at the same time. She lets her milk down faster and teats fill fuller. Little steps, I feel that I am learning more every day! :bun

 

[big brown horse]

Yea!!

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

great job Windy!!

 

[freemotion]

You can just separate them overnight, milk first thing, the let them be together all day. I'm sure Jewel is eating hay really well by now, and other than some hollering, will be just fine with this gradual weaning, if you want to do it this way. I will probably do this with my spring kids from two of my does, and start around two to three weeks old.

 

[Windy Pond]

I survived the holiday so here I am again. Fern keeps getting worse, I had Jim hold her back end this morning and she is totally mad at me. I decided to try hand milker and found instructions for making one on dairy goat journal. Very excited I put it together in a few minutes and headed out to the milking stand. Her udder was really soft and I couldn't get a good seal, I just managed to annoy Fern to the point she wouldn't eat her grain. I am going to separate her an Jewel tomorrow and see if I get a fuller udder. I'm so sad!!!!! Waaaaaaaaaa!

 

[big brown horse]