[HappyHarrisFarm97]

When we permanently separated our Nubian buckling from our doe, I started milking by hand to relieve her of milk pressure and prevent mastitis. It has only been a week and so far we have had no trouble at all. I do have a question though. Is the trick to decreasing her milk supply 1. Waiting longer between milkings (currently about every 12 hours) 2. Milking less at each milking (currently about 1 cup per milking) or 3. Milking less often (currently twice per day)? I am feeding her 2 chewable vitamin C 500 mg per day and fresh parsley at each milking. How long should it take to dry her up? What other advice do you experienced goat folks have?

 

[Little-Bits-N-Pieces]

When I want to dry my does up, I start by milking halfway out each milking, after a few days I milk once a day, then every third milking, still only halfway out. Eventually I stop milking them. Takes about 3 weeks that way.

 

[MsScamp]

I don't milk any of my does I'm drying up. With multiple kids I pull one kid a week, and when the last kid is pulled she dries up on her own. I've never had a problem with mastitis, and I've got several Nubian does in my herd. Pull all grain and/or pellets about a week prior to weaning and, if possible, transition to grass hay only.

 

[Little-Bits-N-Pieces]

That is a good method as well ^^

 

[HappyHarrisFarm97]

She had a singleton so I didn't have that option of pulling one kid per week. What about BOSS? Is that considered grain?

 

[Little-Bits-N-Pieces]

Not really, its more of a fat and oil supplement, but it does help with milk production a bit.

 

[MsScamp]

If they have singles I do the same thing with the feed, pull the kid, and kick the doe back into her pen to dry up.

 

[TDG-Farms]

We never leave odd number of kids on our does. Kids like to take one side, leaving a lop sided udder that can last the goats lifetime. So singles are pulled after a week and the third kid from a batch of triplets is taken either at the same time or at about a month and switched to a lamb bar. More milk for the two left on the dam and she doesnt have to work as hard feeding all 3.

 

[HappyHarrisFarm97]

So what am I gonna feed this gal while I milk her? She is such a pig anyway and acts like she is eating her final meal ever each time she eats. And she is such a loud mouth! Lol! I will never hear the end of the complaining if I don't give her grain. I know, I know... Spoiled! Do I just put hay in the feeder while I milk? Hardly seems like that will occupy her... Last night I cut a few carrots and that kept her jaws fairly busy a few minutes. Guess I'll try that again.

 

[HappyHarrisFarm97]

I cut up a beet, a carrot, an apple, a celery rib, an orange and half a cucumber. Princess had all she wanted and then some! I wish I had taken the camera out there. With the beet, she looked like she had played with my lipstick! So cute! I am going to see how things look this evening. We may try to skip the second milking today. I milked about a cup and a half just now. Could have gotten PLENTY more. But she softened up a little and I stopped. No grain and no BOSS. We shall see how it goes!

 

[Little-Bits-N-Pieces]

Well, you're on your way to drying her up!