Dairy Goat People

[dacasodivine]

Do you hand milk or have something like an Utterly Easy Milker? or some other hand held milker?

 

[My Little Sister's Farm]

hand milk. would love to have something else, but we don't have electricity to our barn. we'll need to get something soon though.

 

[NurseNettie]

I'd love to learn more about milking goats-- do you guys have any good website recommendations? Not sure if I even like goat's milk, but with the rise in prices of food, fuel and everything else, we are trying to grow and produce as much as we can at home ( now that we moved to a place we can do that) and I'm looking for good resources!!!!

 

[zatsdeb]

I hand milk but I only will be milking 1 goat!

 

[Their Other Mother]

I have goats but don't milk them. I'm hoping to breed this fall and have lots of yummy goats milk nest spring.

I found a web site last year that has been soooo helpfull about all aspects of goat husbandry. www.fiascofarm.com Check it out and let me know how you like it!

Their Other Mother

 

[MissPrissy]

I hand milk.

 

[NurseNettie]

Thanks, Their Other Mother-- I'll check it out when I get back from work!

 

[penelope77]

i hand milk one right now but soon will be milking two maybe three. i don't mind the hand milking once my hand quit hurting. of course i'll have to go through the hand hurt thing again when i add the next couple girls. i am thinking about getting one of these http://www.maggidans.com/milker.htm i've heard some good things about it from people that use it. very tempting.
NurseNettie- i found that goat milk tasted like cow milk only richer(i have nigerians). i was scared to try it and had the kids do it first. there are things that can affect the taste but i haven't had any problems. one key is getting it chilled super fast.
i have been very pleased with having the dairy goat. i chose the smaller breed cause i don't have acres of land. also the one goat milked twice a day provides enough milk for our family of six. but we don't eat cold cereal and such so that probably helps with milk consumption. i'm adding the others so i can have yogurt and cheese.

 

[greyfields]

I hand milk 3 goats. I would say I would have to be milking 10 to justify a milking machine.

Plus, getting your hands on there helps you check for problems/lumps. I think i've bonded with my goats more now that I squeee them every day.

 

[penelope77]

greyfields- you bring up a good point about bonding with the goats with more hands on. i really enjoy my time with ginger. i still go out and hang with them but it's just different at milking time.