Milking question

[FreyasMom]

Okay so my goat gave birth to a beautiful little girl friday morning (6-13-14). The kid is drinking from both teats atleast a little, but her bag is tight and looks like it will explode if it gets any bigger! So my question is should I be milking her some? She only had the one little girl, and it doesn't seem like she is drinking as much as what is being produced. And once the baby is weaned I plan on milking my goat for my family.
On another note should the baby be trying to eat hay? Because I've seen her nibbling on it off and on.

 

[OneFineAcre]

Yes you should since the kid can't drink all that she is producing.

 

[FreyasMom]

How much, how often? I am just worried to take too much, or I guess not enough!

 

[OneFineAcre]

The kid has had her colustrum for 3 days. At first we just milk them down a little to keep them from getting too fully. But after 3 or 4 days we milk ours twice a day even when they are dam raising. We milk them all the way out. We do that to boost production. She'll make more for the baby to drink
Milk isn't really drinkable for a week to 10 days though.

 

[FreyasMom]

Should I freeze what I milk for next kidding season or just give it to the dogs until its drinkable?

 

[OneFineAcre]

At this point it is no longer colostrum, so I would not save it myself.

You can taste it to see. Our goats milk has a funny salty taste for a week or 10 days.

You can try it.

 

[madcow]

I've seen some of our really young kids, just a few days old nibble at hay also. It doesn't seem to hurt them. I don't think they actually get enough to cause a problem for the undeveloped rumen in very young kids.

As far as your milking question about how often, I would go ahead and settle into whatever routine you will be doing daily. Kids nurse many times throughout the day for very brief periods each time, and each time they finish the udder starts making milk very quickly to keep the supply up for the next little snack they want. So no need to be worried if you are leaving enough for the baby. Pick your schedule, whether it is once or twice daily and stick to it as closely as possible. She will make milk to meet the demands of the milking schedule and the nursing throughout the day. You will probably find that the kid will pick a side and stick to it and that side won't have as much milk at milking time because the kid will keep it emptied out. You might just want to milk the unnursed side and leave the kid's favorite side alone until the kid is weaned. If you are milking and she is nursing full time too be certain she is getting enough for that high of production to meet her nutritional needs. It takes a lot of calories to produce milk. Hope that helps!