What do I need to milk a goat

[silverfilly]

thanks for all the replys everyone, looks Like im bringing home a milking goat! They are geting 1/2 gal a day from her but they are only milking once a day and her baby is still on her so when I bring her home Ill have to milk her 2X a day and should get more than a a 1/2 gal. How much milk should I expect from a first time freshener? Looks like I just might have enough from the one goat to make cheese and yogert too.

 

[pipermark]

I dont think anyone has mentioned this but you need to keep things sanitary for the health of the goat. This web site, and I promise I have no affiliation with them, has some good information.


http://www.goldenbrookfarm.com/milking-tips.htm

 

[ametauss]

I tried coffee filters and it didn't flow.... I like the T-shirt idea would you just use one strip in a funnel??

No matter how clean I think the area is, I find hair and stuff in the milk....

I got four milk crates and a piece of plywood and put the plywood on top of the milk crates and use another milk crate to sit on to do my milking... I also line my large mug (I have a pygmy and get about 16 oz a day) with a zip lock bag to make getting it cold easy by throwing it in the freezer in the bag....

 

[Broke Down Ranch]

Quote:
Or you could just drape/stretch it across the opening of whatever you are straining into. This is how I do it - drape the cloth over a jug or jar (whatever you want to strain or store in) then slowly pour the milk into it. Let it run thru, do NOT wring, rinse out your milk receptable VERY well and drape a fresh area of material over the opening and strain back into what you originally milked into. At this point you have strained twice. Then rinse out VERY well your original item (jar or jug) that your strained into first, drape a fresh area of material over the opening and strain one more time. Now you have triple strained your milk and it should be hair/particle free...

 

[silverfilly]

Anyone have a website where to get milking supplies cheapest? Looks Like Im starting a new adventure

 

[PotterWatch]

I don't know where is the cheapest, but I have gotten quite a bit of my stuff from www.caprinesupply.com and have been very happy with them. I did compare prices with a couple places and I think that for all I got caprine supply was a little bit cheaper, but not a ton.

 

[pipermark]

The least expensive mechanical milking device I have found is called an EZ milker. I think I will be purchasing one today.

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

hey!

i'm new to milking and dairy goats too! this site is invaluable for us newbies.

i used caprine supply, lehmens, and hoegger supply to get everything i needed. the start up cost seemed high but wow - having the right equipment really is worth it. i got the larger milk strainer - not wanting to spend the money at first and i'm glad i did.

here is the best advice i got:
1. have the owner let you milk the goat FIRST before you buy - apparently its not unusual at all. this way you can see if she is the right goat for you
2. have them send home some of her feed so she can get used to whatever you get - if its different
3. it might take a couple days for her/you to get into a system that works. have patience and stick to a routine
4. you probably wont break her but i still worry about every little thing
5. feed makes all the difference in milk supply and quality
6. make sure she has goat friends to pal around with
7. read everything you can
8. dont be embarrassed to ask for help

and dont forget - chickens love goat milk! i make 'cereal' for my hens by mixing the milk with crushed corn. they cant get enough of it and i can already tell the difference in their eggs.

we figure we are going to reduce our hen feed costs by 50%... and we've been using the milk for us, we've made cheese, and our proudest moment was when we used our milk, our eggs, our bacon, and our lard to make a quiche! bad economy? who knew?? this farming thing is really working...

good luck!

 

[silverfilly]

Thanks, My FIL is going to help me make a milk stand. When he was little they had milk goats and he is excited as I am now. I would like to find one more milk goat so I have 2 milking now. But that wount happen untile next month. I do have 3 other goats, one is a lamancha mix and the other a pygmie/boar cross and her baby sired by a nigirian dwarf. Im hoping to breed him to my lamancha and train her to milk but I have a ways to go till he is even ready to breed and then the 5 month wait for her to deliver.

Anyone know how old a buck needs to be before he can breed? he is about 2 1/2 months right now.

 

[ametauss]

They're randy at 2mths... I've heard stories of 3 mth olds doing the deed but you run the risk of bad sperm and defects/miscarriage....

I know before my buck became a wether, he was sniffing at the 2mth old does.... not a pretty sight....