Lost a kid, how often to milk the doe?

[newbiekat]

I lost a kid at a day old, my doe is a FF. She didn't develop a big bag, it's actually very small, but I would like to keep her in milk, how often should we milk her?

I milked out her colostrum today after the kid died, but for tomorrow, and here on out, how often should I milk her?

 

[TGreenhut]

Sorry about your loss. It depends on how much milk you want and how much she'll give you. If you don't want milk, you can just not milk her and she will dry up. A lot of people only milk once a day. I milk twice a day because my nubians produce a lot of milk and they become uncomfortable and full quite easily. If she is not producing a lot and you want more milk, you can start milking once a day and then gradually up it to twice a day. Her body will adjust and you'll get more milk.

 

[ksalvagno]

If you want milk, I would milk at least twice a day. If she really isn't producing, you could milk 3 times a day. Most people with dairy goats milk twice a day.

 

[newbiekat]

She is a Nubian. I would like her to stay in milk. I milked her out yesterday after she lost the kid then again before I went to bed... she didnt produce very much (maybe a couple oz's). I milked her this morning, she produced quite a bit more than yesterday. (Maybe 1/4 cup?) I was planning on milking her when I came home from work and then again before I went to bed tonight. How long should I milk her 3x's a day? I would eventually like to be at 2x's and if she produces enough, then maybe just once? DH LOVES goat milk so he's wanting as much as he can get his hands on. She's the only one we have in milk (that is allowing us to milk her).

On a side note: It's amazing how much their attitudes change when they kid! We have worked with them and worked with them on the stanchion and they will let us clip toes, but never let us touch their teats. Our first doe that kidded let us touch her teats for the first day or so then went back to her normal self (but she's the stubborn one). This girl has always been the friendliest, and now that she kidded and I was there helping her buckling nurse every 2 hrs, I think we bonded Now she's letting us milk her!! AMAZING!!

 

[newbiekat]

How long would y'all suggest milking 3x's a day before dropping it down to 2x's a day?