The Poultry Keeper

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 6954 Location: isle of lewis

i used to sit on the milking stand ,back to the head resting my head against the side of the goat i now use the milking stool my daughter made for me ,i also use a jug ,or a stainless steel dog bowl (only used for milking not for anything else ),the other thing is goats can choose not to let down ,your hands will get used to it Cool

,suki is easy to milk she is a togg ,and may is more difficult ,she has very clear ideas on who should have the milk Twisted Evil

,she is the old english ,with smaller teats as well Wink

what is going to be your routine
mine is
tie up the goats ,wipe down udder with warm water
take kid off my back and other kid off back of my neck put feed in front of goat i want to milk ,(i know not everyone agrees with this )
test milk for mastitis ,milk and again take kids off my back as and when required

pour milk into bucket
then put on udder cream pepermint gold cream for mine Rolling Eyes

i do tend to do this with goatlings before they are milking then they get used to you handling their udders
did you tell the people that there was someone really envous of their goats in britain

nigel · Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2007 12:09 pm Post subject:

Well Blåblomme chose not to let any milk down today, she is clearly testing me Confused

I did tell Ninna thay you were envious of her goats, she seemed very surprised. Not many in Sweden seem to be interested in the Ols Swedish Goat. They don't have a place in the Genebank (similar to the RBST) they just have a few dedicated supporters, usually people who want hardy, productive, dairy goats.

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 6954 Location: isle of lewis

same as here then ours don't either ,

nigel · Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2007 6:02 am Post subject:

OK just an update for you all.

[l-r] Mimmi, Bluebell, Foxglove and Prinsessan Snövit

[l-r] Blåblomme, Mimmi, Bluebell and Snövit

We've had the goats here for a week now. We've a mixture of pleasure and pain. including the time they ran through 11,000v electric fence across a main road, through a neighbours garden and then ran through fields for 1/4 of a mile before I caught up with them just before they entered the woodland of a local nature reserve. Twisted Evil

Tip:- never try to chase goats while wearing flip-flops.

We're slowly getting them into a routine and now the fence has been strengthened they are back outside. They are letting down milk now - not a lot but it is increasing everyday. We've found they love windfall apples and thistles. I'm convinced that Prinsessan Snövit [Princess SnowWhite] is pregnant - either that or she has swallowed a beachball. The other two I'm not sure about. So there could be the patter of tiny feet - Ninna said December/January. I'll have to get you a picture today of Snövit and see what you more experienced goat-keepers think.

The two youngsters are still maidens but do you think I should be at least leading them to the milking stand and washing their [admittedly tiny] udders so that they get used to it later?

Any other tips advice gratefully received.

A special thanks goes out to Suz and Debs who have listened to much wailing and gnashing of teeth from me over the last week. thank you ladies for your gentle words of advice and support.

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 6954 Location: isle of lewis

ahh but nigel you did it Cool

there will be no looking back now Wink

nonie does a lot of cream ect on their udders so that when they come to be milked they are used to it Wink

well done i know how hard that first couple of weeks can be
you did well Very Happy

they are lovely ,ps you lucky s*d Wink

,if i win the lottery one day ,expect me to knock on your door Cool

debcat · Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2007 10:49 am Post subject:

they look lovely Very Happy

agree with you about the flipflops Laughing

I'd do the udder thing now so they are used to being handled, I don't think my older 2 had ever been touched and one is a total nightmare

CP · Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2007 11:01 am Post subject:

jaydee67 · Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2007 12:48 pm Post subject:

Looking good Nigel - and I can imagine the flip flops and running after goats! LOL!

stephen · Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2007 1:17 pm Post subject:

What he also failed to say was that whilst we were chasing the goats across the field one of our neighbours stopped me to have a quick chat!

NannyP · Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2007 1:37 pm Post subject:

I think it's very courageous of you to take on som many at once! Just looking at the and reading your story makes me relived I only have a growing flock of chickens.
Nice to see them, and hope you have as much enjoyment from them as you want. Very Happy

stephen · Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2007 1:51 pm Post subject:

They are a nice family unit, as long as you get Nanny Blåblomme on side, the rest have no choice but to follow. I'm sure you know the situation Wink

I think you'd like goats...

Gilly C · Joined: 22 Jun 2006 Posts: 2380 Location: South Cumbria

I know I would you are so lucky, I also adore goats cheese and have problems with cow's milk, ah well one day, enjoy yours have, you made any cheese yet or are you still awaiting a milk surplus ?

stephen · Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2007 2:07 pm Post subject:

Still awaiting for more than a tbsp! Personally, I think they are close to being dry. Their kids are quite old now, and one is definitely looks pregnant. They weren't in the milking flock before we took them on, so...

Gilly C · Joined: 22 Jun 2006 Posts: 2380 Location: South Cumbria

Hope the kids arrive sooner than later then Smile

nigel · Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2007 3:05 pm Post subject:

kids

Anyone want to recommend a good book on goats/dairy goats, just been looking on Amazon and very few have any customer ratings so I'd appreciate your thoughts.