So the first thing you are going to need is a milking stand. You can milk without one, but you would be a lot better off comfort wise if you have one. Your does don't need to be any special temperament to milk, but certain does take to it easier than others. You'll need a seamless stainless steel vessel to milk into. You can buy a special milking bucket or just use a stainless steel kettle. Other things you would need are supplies to clean the udder, a teat spray or dip, and a way to strain the milk. I just use a mild soap like baby shampoo in some warm water to clean the udder. I wipe it off with a wash cloth and then dry it with a clean one. The next step is to discard the first few squirts of milk. There can be bacteria that entered through the teat so you want to get rid of that. Then you can set about to milking. Milk out the udder completely, being sure to massage the udder to try and get it completely empty. Then I use Fight Bac Spray to close the orifice of the teat and add a disinfectant. If I were you, I'd watch some people on YouTube demonstrating milking so you can see how it's done. Blue Cactus Dairy has some really helpful videos.
How Does Goat Milking Work?
Hi! So I’m wanting to start milking goats. My only problem is I have no clue where to start! I have been forced to milk for colostrum occasionally but I have never milked for well, milk. I have two does that have a lot of milk (I wouldn’t be milking this year) but I’m not sure if they have to have a milking temperament or something, Do they? What else do I need to do or know about milking goats? Tips?
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1. Lay on your back in the pasture and bleat softly
2. When a goat stands near your head, gently clamp onto their udder (note that you may need to file your teeth down if they are sharp)
3. Begin to suck and do your best impression of a baby goat
2. When a goat stands near your head, gently clamp onto their udder (note that you may need to file your teeth down if they are sharp)
3. Begin to suck and do your best impression of a baby goat
.
Thanks! Can you find the Fight Bac at Tractor supply?So the first thing you are going to need is a milking stand. You can milk without one, but you would be a lot better off comfort wise if you have one. Your does don't need to be any special temperament to milk, but certain does take to it easier than others. You'll need a seamless stainless steel vessel to milk into. You can buy a special milking bucket or just use a stainless steel kettle. Other things you would need are supplies to clean the udder, a teat spray or dip, and a way to strain the milk. I just use a mild soap like baby shampoo in some warm water to clean the udder. I wipe it off with a wash cloth and then dry it with a clean one. The next step is to discard the first few squirts of milk. There can be bacteria that entered through the teat so you want to get rid of that. Then you can set about to milking. Milk out the udder completely, being sure to massage the udder to try and get it completely empty. Then I use Fight Bac Spray to close the orifice of the teat and add a disinfectant. If I were you, I'd watch some people on YouTube demonstrating milking so you can see how it's done. Blue Cactus Dairy has some really helpful videos.
Start feeding your does on the milking stand a month or two before they kid, so they get used to the idea of jumping up there to eat. Stay with them in case they freak out when you lock their heads in and fling themselves off the stand.
I'm doing it all wrong and I never knew!1. Lay on your back in the pasture and bleat softly
2. When a goat stands near your head, gently clamp onto their udder (note that you may need to file your teeth down if they are sharp)
3. Begin to suck and do your best impression of a baby goat
Is it recommended to remove kids immediately or can I let the kids stay on until weaned?Start feeding your does on the milking stand a month or two before they kid, so they get used to the idea of jumping up there to eat. Stay with them in case they freak out when you lock their heads in and fling themselves off the stand.
Everyone does it differently! I like to share milk with the kids. My does are standard dairy, and give about a gallon a day at peak, so I have plenty of milk. I will start milking once or twice a day within a day or so of kidding, then start separating kids at night once they're about 2 weeks old and milking the doe in the morning. You will have to see what works best for you. Obviously, you will need to watch closely to be sure the kids are getting enough to eat and that they aren't tearing up mom's udder. They will do that if they are aggressive nursers and hungry.Is it recommended to remove kids immediately or can I let the kids stay on until weaned?
Yeah there are a few ways of doing it. I wait until my kids are two weeks old and then start separating the kids at night in a pen where they can still see their moms but can't get to her. In the morning then, I milk and then reunite the kids and they get all her milk for the rest of the day. At three months old they are then either sold or I start taping their mom's teats during the day as well to wean them off milk.Is it recommended to remove kids immediately or can I let the kids stay on until weaned?
I'm not sure. 🤔 I think I have to get mine from Jeffers.Thanks! Can you find the Fight Bac at Tractor supply?
Well last year I milked just like [mention]MellonFriend [/mention] said, separating at night and milking in the morning. But this year my goat had triplets so I waited until they are weaned before starting to milk. That worked much better since I did not want to bottle feed any kids!
I actually don't bottle-feed my kids when they are separated. At two weeks they are old enough to be able to go without milk overnight. 🙂
Of course separating and milking all depends on how well kids are growing and if mom actually has enough milk to spare. Every doe is different and one size does not fit all.
Sorry for my aggravated response early, it was a terrible moment. Doesn’t excuse my response but I hope you know it was nothing personal and I was just having a moment.1. Lay on your back in the pasture and bleat softly
2. When a goat stands near your head, gently clamp onto their udder (note that you may need to file your teeth down if they are sharp)
3. Begin to suck and do your best impression of a baby goat
Thank you! I probably would wait to milk till they were weaned at 2 1/2-3 months just cause I’ve had to separate a mother and daughter overnight once and they were both so stressed. I had to stay with the mother most of the night so she wasn’t as stressed but I could hear her daughter baaing most of the night and felt so bad for her (she was with another mother and her young kids, the mom is nice to other kids so it wasn’t a big deal for her)
It's fine, sorry I couldn't help myself lolSorry for my aggravated response early, it was a terrible moment. Doesn’t excuse my response but I hope you know it was nothing personal and I was just having a moment.
your good looking back its actually really funny haha!It's fine, sorry I couldn't help myself lol
Oh my.1. Lay on your back in the pasture and bleat softly
2. When a goat stands near your head, gently clamp onto their udder (note that you may need to file your teeth down if they are sharp)
3. Begin to suck and do your best impression of a baby goat
Yeah, was bit weird to read, but after I figured out it was a joke, I did giggle a
bit.
It really depends a lot on genetics, how many kids she has etc. what breed is she? Is her mom/ dad from lines that priduce a lot of milk? Some does are fine until weaning, but with a single kid or very milky genetics you may have to start milking from the time she kids. Jyst be prepared for any scenario
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