- Thread starter
- #11
mysunwolf
Herd Master
Hi. We have 4 acres and sheep and chickens too!
Hi! How many sheep/chickens do you have? And is your acreage attached to your house like ours is?
mysunwolf - four acres and some sheep
Hi! How many sheep/chickens do you have? And is your acreage attached to your house like ours is?
promiseacres
Herd Master
Currently 17 sheep and 36 chicken and chicks. Yes our property is a big rectangle.
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- #13
mysunwolf
Herd Master
That's more sheep than us, but many fewer chickens 
We're mostly homesteading as well, but selling our meat at the farmers market is certainly a great way to advertise our live animals.
Just had to brag on the sheep again. The lambs are 10 weeks so we weaned out the boys into the field with the ram. I am milking the mommas of the two sets of twins, and I think the extra corn at milking time is going to help them get back into condition very, very quickly. Plus, sheep milk!! I am getting about 1 cup a day from each sheep milking twice a day, plus they are getting trained to the stand in the process. I really need a ramp and a no-slip rubber mat to help these girls out though, they are certainly not goats and have a hard time with the stand.
The first evening after the babies were separated out they produced quite a bit, but as usual it has slowed way down.
Hopefully I will get it together enough to separate out babies overnight in the spring so that I can have plenty more milk... though who am I kidding, when do I ever have it together on this farm?!
We're mostly homesteading as well, but selling our meat at the farmers market is certainly a great way to advertise our live animals.Just had to brag on the sheep again. The lambs are 10 weeks so we weaned out the boys into the field with the ram. I am milking the mommas of the two sets of twins, and I think the extra corn at milking time is going to help them get back into condition very, very quickly. Plus, sheep milk!! I am getting about 1 cup a day from each sheep milking twice a day, plus they are getting trained to the stand in the process. I really need a ramp and a no-slip rubber mat to help these girls out though, they are certainly not goats and have a hard time with the stand.
The first evening after the babies were separated out they produced quite a bit, but as usual it has slowed way down.
Hopefully I will get it together enough to separate out babies overnight in the spring so that I can have plenty more milk... though who am I kidding, when do I ever have it together on this farm?!
animalmom
Herd Master
who am I kidding, when do I ever have it together on this farm?!
Ha, that is certainly something I know a lot about... getting it together, let alone having it together. But then again, life is a work in progress, no?
- Thread starter
- #15
mysunwolf
Herd Master
Absolutely a work in progress, which I guess is the only reason I have any hope for accomplishing more milking next spring
I have to remind myself that I will never be done learning about stock just like I will never be done with building fences 
Poka_Doodle
Herd Master
Quick question from someone that knows near nothing about goats, what do you do with the goat milk
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- #17
mysunwolf
Herd Master
Now wait here a minute, first off these are SHEEP
Both of these things happen a lot: people thinking my sheep are goats, and people asking me what I do with the milk! My answer is: what do you do with cow's milk? With our sheepsmilk, we drink it, put it in coffee, pour it on cereal, use it in oatmeal, pancakes, make yogurt, cheese, etc...
Pretty much everything!
Poka_Doodle
Herd Master
Oh, sorry.
I also have chickens
I also have chickens
norseofcourse
Herd Master
Woohoo! Another sheep milker, and it looks like you're doing great!
Are you milking your sheep from the rear or from the side? How high is your milkstand?
I get people calling my sheep goats a lot, too. Especially when they talk about the milk. Sometimes it even makes me do it
Are you milking your sheep from the rear or from the side? How high is your milkstand?
I get people calling my sheep goats a lot, too. Especially when they talk about the milk. Sometimes it even makes me do it
- Thread starter
- #20
mysunwolf
Herd Master
@norseofcourse, I've been following your sheep milking thread and love it!! Very informative too. It has helped me a lot in my sheep milking adventure--though none of mine have peed on the stand, YET!
I am pretty bad at the training, so Darla (the wild ewe) almost didn't even come in the barn for the grain this evening since she knew milking would follow. I'm currently low on patience with timid sheep. It's nice to have the friendly Katahdins and dairy ewes who will do almost anything for some high quality feed. Maybe once I get my Chaffhaye the more timid ones will be more willing...
The milk stand is the ugliest thing in the world (though I didn't build it), and it's at least 18" off the ground, possibly more. Will have to measure. I really think a ramp has to happen, and definitely a rubber mat or something to make it more "grippy," the ewes get really frustrated with how slippery the plyboard is.
I am still figuring out which milking position I like. I am right handed, so the animal faces to my left, and I milk all the quarters from their left side. However, I figured out that I like to reach my hand from behind and grab the teat from there while holding the mason jar in my left hand from the front. A lot like milking cows, in the end. I'm beginning to enjoy the fact that I can use the lower part of the udder in the "whole hand squeeze," while still making sure to remain as gentle as possible.
I will keep everyone updated with whether or not they settle down about the whole milking thing or just get more stressed about the whole experience!
I am pretty bad at the training, so Darla (the wild ewe) almost didn't even come in the barn for the grain this evening since she knew milking would follow. I'm currently low on patience with timid sheep. It's nice to have the friendly Katahdins and dairy ewes who will do almost anything for some high quality feed. Maybe once I get my Chaffhaye the more timid ones will be more willing...
The milk stand is the ugliest thing in the world (though I didn't build it), and it's at least 18" off the ground, possibly more. Will have to measure. I really think a ramp has to happen, and definitely a rubber mat or something to make it more "grippy," the ewes get really frustrated with how slippery the plyboard is.
I am still figuring out which milking position I like. I am right handed, so the animal faces to my left, and I milk all the quarters from their left side. However, I figured out that I like to reach my hand from behind and grab the teat from there while holding the mason jar in my left hand from the front. A lot like milking cows, in the end. I'm beginning to enjoy the fact that I can use the lower part of the udder in the "whole hand squeeze," while still making sure to remain as gentle as possible.
I will keep everyone updated with whether or not they settle down about the whole milking thing or just get more stressed about the whole experience!
