Wish me luck!

[Dipsy Doodle Doo]

I'm about to milk a goat for the first time EVER!
I'm 'babysitting' 2 bottle-kids and a girl in milk for the weekend. It's an unusual situation.

Lisa

 

[Dipsy Doodle Doo]

Well, the girl didn't behave at all like mama said she should --- that's to be expected in a strange place. Then about the time we were getting started, the husband let our dogs out (and they barked and barked) and that just made her even more nervous and twitchy. But we got some milk in the pail and we'll try again before bed.
The kids are darlings and took their bottles with no problem.
The girl in milk is a LaMancha/Fainting Goat/Nigerian Dwarf mix,
and the kids are a LaMancha/Boer cross and LaMancha/Nigerian Dwarf cross.
They are cute as PIE!

 

[chook pen jen]

When you milk all the time, it gets to be a relaxing nice time with your goat, but I remember the first time, me and the goat were stressed out of our minds and my hands cramped from the unusual use, but I realy miss having goats now, and envy you . When you milk her again later, make sure the dogs dont come and bark, and give her a treat to eat, good luck.

 

[Dipsy Doodle Doo]

Hi Jen! I never raised girl-goats, just boys, but I can see milking would be a special time.
We had a better time of milking today. It was not only the distracting dogs, but all the unfamiliar surroundings. I took her for a walk on a short lead (too many not-goat-friendly plants here) to let her 'look around', and she really settled down after the walk. I have a new-found respect for handmilkers, gosh it's slow (I'm slow). Mom said she gives about a quart twice a day and I'm getting nowhere near that --- more like a cup at a milking. Today, I got almost a qt --- but we *tried* to milk 5 times. I'm slow, but persistant. My aim is off and I miss the pail. She turns over the pail,etc. I think the goat girl gets tired of my fumbling and will be glad when Mom comes to pick her up. She's used to Mom putting her on the milkstand and taking care of business (I can't remember if her teats are too small for the milking machine or what).
Again, a new-found respect for hand-milkers.

Lisa