Milk that is getting filtered and then off to the freezer for a quicker cool down.We started milking the goats on Monday. I knew that dealing with Blackberry (a boer/nubian cross) was going to be interesting. We didn't raise her from a baby like we did the other three. She is a bit more untrusting of humans though she has come a looooong way since we got her. She has an excellent udder though and I wanted to milk her. We also have Taffy to milk (a Lamancha). Her udder is shameful to say the least...lopsided, tiny teats, tiny orifices! I'm not going to enjoy doing that one. She was supposed to be the best milker of the three I purchased.
Monday was interesting...they both kicked a bit. With Blackberry, we had to hold her back leg up to keep her from putting it into the bucket and kicking the mess out of us and everything near her! She ended up with feet in there anyways...she bucked and rocked...it was crazy. I also realized that I'm building a little milk stand. It will be cheap and from some recycled wood, but I am not bending over to milk anymore. Taffy's udder is as I expected. Slow to milk from and hurts my hands.
Tuesday was a bit better. I rigged up a milk stand of sorts and introduced them to it. Of course my goats don't fuss about getting on since they are always on the tall spools in the paddocks. They only get fed when they are on the stand during milking so they are warming to the idea of being there getting milked pretty quickly...goats are all about the food! Blackberry still stepped into the pot at the very end and spilled half the milk...oh and yes, I milk into a stainless steel pot! It's small, I can hold onto it really good, and well, I already had it in the kitchen! I would like to buy a little milk bucket, but they are hard to come by here. We do have a Tractor Supply opening up soon (about 7 miles from us) and I'll check there.
Today was very nice. I was done milking in about 20 minutes. Not bad. I got 600 ml total this morning and 2 cups yesterday. Blackberrry stood still almost the whole milk time. I got quite the pot full and she only got fussy towards the end. Her udder is nice to milk; it comes out fast and her teats are big enough that it doesn't cramp my hand to milk her. Taffy was so stinking full that I had a hard time getting her started. She stood like a champ and didn't blink an eye. Don't mind the blue bandage on her...poor girl. I trimmed feet yesterday after milking. As I went to make a cut she rocked back and I really cut her good. I had to put some styptic powder on it to help it stop. I wrapped her heel up in a baby diaper then vet wrap. I keep diapers around for all sorts of wounds. They soak up great and they act as cushion...
I am taking this mornings milking to a friend. He wants to try it.
We also have dog class this evening. I was supposed to start Hunter's class a while back, but I just missed out on it, so we're starting tonight. He's gonna be thrilled to see all the dogs and I'm sure he'll be the loudest one there besides Maggie. I think we'll take her too. Little Man is supposed to work with her and Sweet Girl is supposed to work with Hunter. We'll see how that all goes! LOL.
Good grief would you look at Farmer Jane! Those flip flops are half chewed on by Hunter, the socks...well, it was chilly this morning and I hate wearing my 'farm sneakers'-they're too tight. How do you like that Hillbilly Milk Stand!? It'll have to do until Steve and I work on one this weekend. It does work though! They do stand nicely on it and the fence gate is attached to the shed corner and milk crates so they can't get off from that side. Not bad for recycling materials into something useful! LOL.
