The Poultry Keeper

Teasal · Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 11:38 pm Post subject:

I think you are getting through to your goat - slowly!! It is frustrating when they act like that and tip the milk over. I am sure by the end of the week, you will have a bucket full of milk and your goat will be quite happy with you ....I hope.

50 minutes from here? Am I coming in my private jet? On a really good day traffic wise we can get to Derby in an hour and a half. We are right up in the top corner of Derbyshire, about 10 miles North of Buxton.
If you get really stuck I will get my private plane out though!!!!

nigel · Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 7:00 am Post subject:

It sounds like you're making progress - i do hope she continues to calm down for you.

When I first got mine here they were just the same. Mine came from a commercial flock and were used to machine milking and didn't take too kindly to being milked by hand by a beginner. They reacted the same when a friend visited [and he has a dozen he milks by hand]. Eventually we bought a small milking machine, an indulgent unjustifiable luxury, but it cut milking time in half, increased yields and the goats were much happier.

I think it all comes down to routine, they are intelligent creatures and they get upset at changes and she's gone through quite a few, there's bound to be a period of adjustment. I can tell from what you're saying you're not going to give up on her. Have you checked what the previous owners routine was, time, what he fed etc? and tried to match it. One of our biggest problems - silly as it seems - was they were used to being milked from behind and hated me sitting next to them it really spooked them.

I may be asking obvious questions, but have you checked for things like mastitis that would make milking painful for her?

farmercoop · Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 10:45 am Post subject:

do i have the same goat this morning!!!!! This morning me and my mum went down again ( i know people have only said one human but if it was only one of us there would be no chance whatsoever of me getting any milk) anyway, me and my mum went down to the goats, sorted out feed and gave the kids there feed and got my mum to hold the ''problem'' goats feed in front of her, she started munching and i started gently taking to her, stroked her side and went down to her udder to milk, no kicking, no movements at all during the WHOLE of the milking process, she squatted to let me milk her, let down her milk and let me milk her fully onto the floor, i didn't want to take any chances and get a bucket so just milked her straight out onto the floor, fully stripped her! she didn't kick one bit, she just carried on eating her food! now when we tried the yesterday morning she was kicking running off biting, she wasn't even tied up this morning!!! I'm so proud of her! not a single movement during the whole milking!

Just thought id share my good news I'm so happy! tonight were going to try again, lets hope she will be the same as this morning! Very Happy

I hope she is the same and just lets me get on with it again tonight and forever! Were going to take a jug to milk into tonight!

Thank you to everyone who has helped me i really wouldn't of been able to get this far without you i don't think!

Thanks Joe

farmercoop · Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 10:48 am Post subject:

teasel, we used to have a caravan in whatstandwell so i just presumed it would be about the same time away, were more neaer to Mansfield in Hucknall so not quie nottinghamshire way, thanks Joe

nigel · Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 12:30 pm Post subject:

congratulations - that is such good news

fingers crossed for tonight

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7373 Location: isle of lewis

well done

debcat · Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 3:19 pm Post subject:

well done

farmercoop · Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 8:55 pm Post subject:

Milked into a metal bucket tonight, had froth on the milk so must be getting quicker at milking, got about 2 pints off her! she was an angel, not satan anymore! Joe

Thanks so much everyone!!!

farmercoop · Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 7:10 pm Post subject:

were going to try a vinegar cheese tomorrow night so looking forward to trying that, need to get a tie ring up so she doesnt just walk off when shes finished eating.

nigel · Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 6:56 am Post subject:

good luck with the vinegar cheese - I love cheese making.

farmercoop · Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 12:16 pm Post subject:

well we did the vinegar cheese and its so dry and crumbly, docent taste very nice like i thought it would, hm, maybe I'm doing something wrong? it wouldn't even be spreadable, more like rubbery type of crumble dry cheese, does anyone have a cure for dry crumble unspreadable ''soft'' cheese?

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7373 Location: isle of lewis

i'm afraid cheese making is a bit of an art ,fun to learn though Cool

nigel · Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 1:54 pm Post subject:

Here's a good recipe for Panir [Vinegar Cheese]

http://fiascofarm.com/dairy/quesoblanco.htm

farmercoop · Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2008 9:47 am Post subject:

Hi all

Just thought id update you all, shes still milking well and got 3 pints this morning! which is more than enough for me if shes producing around 5-6 pints a day now! Okay it might not be 14 pints suz but its still very good to me! thanks so much everyone for all your help! esp sub for letting me ring her! Joe

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7373 Location: isle of lewis

the butter fat is higher ,and she doesn't probably eat as much as suki Wink

it's not the amounts of milk that count
so well done Very Happy