Best way to start milking a goat (first time for both of us...:)

[Granolamom]

I've had Aisa for 2 months now, and her kids are almost 6 months old. They're still nursing, and Aisa still seems to have tons of milk, and I REALLY want to milk her.
A good friend built me a milking stand yesterday (as a surprise gift), and so now the only thing stopping me is the fact that I've never milked a goat before, and Aisa has never been milked.
I've tried to touch her udder a few times, to feel how full it is, and her response to me was a look of total exasperation, and a quick retreat, as far away from me as she could get.
She's still a bit on the skiddish side, even though she will let me pet her some, and even brush her with a horse brush.
So, what's the best way to do this? I've fed her on the milking stand, but did not lock her head into the stanchion, because I did not want her to freak out on me. Do I go super slow for a while longer, and try to get her used to the stand first, without locking her in, or do I go for it, and hope she'll get over it?

 

[MattyP]

Rule # 1.

Make sure it's a girl.

 

[FlightsofFancy]

Go for it....kindly and she will get over it. The thing with going too slow is that she will think anytime she resists you stop and at some point she needs to learn that "This is gonna Happen!" Lots of praise and treats but once you go for it.....don't loose. LOL! Kinda like kids...pick your battles but WIN.
Good luck!

 

[Goattalker]

Before you start, I would recommend you go to the store and buy some of those party balloons, the ones used to make animals at the fair. Fill the balloon half way with water, then poke a hole in the bottom, and practice milking. You need to learn to keep the fluid from back washing to get the feel of milking. If you have a friend that will sit with you that is even better, but if not, practice on the balloon until you get the hang of it-you just may avoid giving your doe mastitis from improper milking.

 

[mandolinmama]

Quote:
LOL LOL LOL! You seriously made me laugh today!

 

[Chirpy]

At this point just go for it. Put her in the milk stand and give her some grain/feed.

Wash her udder/teats (I actually use unscented baby wipes for this but there are multiple ways to wash them off).

Use a strip cup or bowl to squirt the first two or three squirts into. That's to get anything out of the end of the teat and you can easily check for lumps or blood in the milk that way.

Put the pail under her... at this point I'd suggest keeping one hand on the pail so you can quickly move it when she kicks. She will almost certainly kick unless you tie her down or use a hobble from the beginning. There are different thoughts on using those but I have tied my goats legs down and it made a huge difference in milking her. She learned after about two days not to kick because she couldn't. I didn't have to tie her after that - it may take longer. If you do tie her feet down have someone else stand next to her so that if she freaks out she won't fall over and hurt herself; or put her next to a wall on one side with you on the other again so she can't fall off the stand while tied to it.

Use your free hand to milk one teat. Do you know how to milk? If not do some google searches and go to http://fiascofarm.com/ to learn how to do it. I generally milk one teat for a minute or two and then go to the other teat and then back to the first - just so she gets used to feeling my hands moving around under her.

If you chose not to tie or hobble her legs you could use a tall glass to milk into instead of a pail - that would be easier to hold in one hand and quickly move away so she doesn't get her foot in it.

Have fun!

 

[ksacres]

I knew if I waited long enough someone else would post all that information...

 

[Chirpy]

I knew if I waited long enough someone else would post all that information... lol

Yah, I kept waiting for you but no... you were waiting too.

We both know I didn't cover everything so please feel free to add all those things I forgot!

One thing I did think of - use something like "Fight Bac" after you are done milking to spray on the teats (or dip them).​

 

[Granolamom]

Alrighty then, as they say here in Ga, tomorrow will be the day! Thanks ya'll for the great advice, and I'll keep you posted on our progress (as for the tip about the balloons, I might try that, even though I think I'll figure out the actual milking part pretty easily. Heck, I pumped milk for both of my Human kids for a combined 2 years, after going back to work, and so I'm pretty familiar with the inner workings of the milk source - how different can it be.....?)

 

[ksacres]

Quote:
Ok, yes, we use the baby wipes to clean the teats before milking, and dip with an iodine based dip after.