When to keep the milk?

[MoCrafter]

I have a first time Saanen who just had a baby on the 1st. He is half pygmy and she is giving way more milk than he is drinking, so I have been milking her once a day. I have been freezing this milk in case I need it later. Anyway, how long before the colostrum is all out and we can start using the milk? I know you can drink the colostrum, but I'd rather not.

Also, I am thinking about locking the baby away at night and turning him out with his mama during the day. I figured I'd wait till he is about 2 weeks old to start this. Does that sound about right? Would you milk her out at night too after the baby is locked up? I just think she is going to have way more milk than a single, half pygmy baby is going to drink. I don't want to ruin her bag.

I picked him up this morning, and he is like a little fat butterball.

Thanks to anyone who answers my questions. Just reading on this site has helped me so much.

Winona

[Tracy in Idaho]

Colostrum is usually gone in 2-3 days. When it starts to foam in the pail -- it's milk (colostrum will not foam)

Tracy

[Patty0315]

You would do better to milk her out am & pm . I wait at least a week before i drink the milk , but thats just me.

Patty

[goatkid]

Commercial dairies add the milk to their tanks when the doe is 3 days fresh. My hubby likes to wait a week until he drinks our does' milk. I am not a milk drinker so if I can't taste colostrum when I cook with it, that's all that matters to me. Your Saanen will make more milk than any size single kid can drink if she's true to her breed character. I have a Saanen/Nubian who freshened tthree days ago and is now making more milk than her robust twins are eating. I milk her down some twice a day, but like to leave some milk in her for her kids.

[nehimama]

I have a doe whose milk tasted "off" until the kids were three weeks old. Now it tastes good. Another doe's milk was delicious four days post-kidding.

I put the babies up at night, milk the mamas in the AM, then turn the kids loose and they have at it all day. In your case, you may want to milk PM as well as AM. Sounds like your gal has tons of milk.

NeHi