Hand milk time challenge. Don't want to hi-jack another thread!

TRAILRIDER · #21 07/11/12, 01:17 PM

Wow, you all are good! Last year was my first year milking. And BOY was I slow. My dear goats were so patient with me. Now only my saanen is milking, she gives me less than 1/2 gallon twice a day. The hot weather has really cut back her milk. I thought I was doing great when it took me 10 minutes to milk her out. Luckily it takes her 10 minutes to clean up her grain. If my fingers are stiff and slow, she gets a little more grain to keep her happy : ) Seriously when I was learning with my first goat it could take me well over a half hour to get 1/2 gallon from my alpine, poor girl!

DianneIverson2 · #22 07/11/12, 02:00 PM

40 years ago when I had goats I was really fast at milking,I probably still would be even after 35 years without goats, but all my jobs in those years took a toll on my hands with carpal tunnel and arthiritis. I have to stop and shake them out a lot and often milk one handed for a while to rest the other hand, so by then the goats are getting antsy and I have to give them more grain so they wont step in the milk bucket. They sure have me trained.

steff bugielski · #23 07/12/12, 05:41 AM

I must admit that I only have goats that are easy to milk.

Cannon_Farms · #24 07/12/12, 06:11 AM

I dont know how much time before on each but I can go out and milk, feed, hay 25 goats, only 3 are being milked and be back inside in 15 minutes if in a hurry. Most of the time I spend quite a bit more time out there just enjoying them.

ozark_jewels · #25 07/12/12, 10:18 PM

I'll time myself in the morning.

I'm only milking once a day now, and the does generally give 5-8 lbs each. I'm sure there are some that take me over a minute, and some that take a little less.
Keep in mind though, this is me trying to get done before the sun comes up over that hill and I start pouring sweat, and this is me trying to get done so I can go on to the other zillion things my average day needs. This is *not* me on a Sunday morning, enjoying a cool sunrise, and taking my time. I *wish* I had more of that me......I like that me better. I'm sure my goats do too.

And for those of you who are beginners, keep in mind, I have been hand-milking cows for 23 years now, and goats off and on for about 20 years. When you grew up hand milking two Jerseys that give 6-8 gallons each.......a goat seems easy.

mabeane · #26 07/13/12, 05:06 AM

I am milking three Nigies . Depending on the goat and the orifice size It takes between two and four minutes for milking each goat. However between each I walk in the house and put the milk through the filter and go back out hoping they have cleaned up their grain. They all are pokey eaters! I am generally all done the goat chores, including feeding boys, watering and cleaning up in 20 minutes.

ozark_jewels · #27 07/13/12, 08:46 AM

Ok, milking by myself and timing myself with my cell phone stopwatch......so not as accurate as might be I'm sure.
The longest milking time was Shenanigan at 1.21 minutes.
The shortest was Zambia at .88 seconds.
Everyone else was somewhere in between, most around the 1.05 mark.
This is *just* milkout, not dumping, straining or prepping.
All these girls gave between 4.5 and 7 lbs of milk this morning.

And again, this is me in a hurry to get on to other things. This is not me relaxing and enjoying myself with my favorite caprine ladies.

tinknal · #28 07/13/12, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ozark_jewels

Ok, milking by myself and timing myself with my cell phone stopwatch......so not as accurate as might be I'm sure.
The longest milking time was Shenanigan at 1.21 minutes.
The shortest was Zambia at .88 seconds.
Everyone else was somewhere in between, most around the 1.05 mark.
This is *just* milkout, not dumping, straining or prepping.
All these girls gave between 4.5 and 7 lbs of milk this morning.

And again, this is me in a hurry to get on to other things. This is not me relaxing and enjoying myself with my favorite caprine ladies.

Um, not to be a prig, but .88 seconds is less than a second. If you meant 88 seconds that is 1 minute and 22 seconds. Just sayin'......

chamoisee · #29 07/13/12, 06:17 PM

Used to take me between 40-60 minutes to feed and milk the goats, including non-milkers. There were about a dozen milkers, although it fluctuated between 8 and 15. If I had to run up to the house to strain milk halfway through, it took longer. :-/

Pony · #30 07/13/12, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ozark_jewels

And again, this is me in a hurry to get on to other things. This is not me relaxing and enjoying myself with my favorite caprine ladies.

Oh, bull cookies.

I've seen you milk. You are like The Flash, esp when you milk Rachel's does!

ETA: I mean, even when you're "relax milking" you move like lightning!

ozark_jewels · #31 07/14/12, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tinknal

Um, not to be a prig, but .88 seconds is less than a second. If you meant 88 seconds that is 1 minute and 22 seconds. Just sayin'......

OOPS!! That is supposed to be 58 seconds! Now it won't let me edit it, as its been too long. Oh welllllllll..........