My new doe won't let me milk her...

[RedTartan]

I never thought this would be a problem. I thought the only problem I would have would be getting the milk to come out. Well, I can get the milk to come out, but my goat hates me.

Everytime I touch her udder at all she runs away. My husband is building a milk stand as we speak, but she jumps around so much that I kind of doubt it's going to help. Last night dh held her and I was able to milk out about a third of what she has. This morning she's really full and I can't even get her long enough to start the milk flow.

I've searched the boards and everyone says don't hold her. Well, then how do you get her to stop jumping her butt all around? We tie her head and she spends all her time twisting her back-end this way and that. She has NO interest in the grain I'm trying to feed her while I milk her

I'm really frustrated. Please help!

RedTartan

[sancraft]

The milk stand really will help. You also need to hobble her. SHe'll eventually calm down.

[bumpus]

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Be patient and don't get in a hurry.

She is new and afraid of you and if she has never been milked before she does not know what you are going to do to her.

Tie her against a wall so that she can not run sideways from you.

Always milk her with someone helping you.

Do not try to milk her out all the way now.

Only milk her out about a 1/3 and no more than half way to start with.

Just watch and milk her when you see she is getting full again.

Her milk builds up under pressure and it hurts her, until you milk her.

When you re-leave that pressure she will feel better.

The reason you don't milk her out all the way is to keep the pressure coming back more often, and you can relieve it more often and she will get used to that help and will start wanting you to come back and do it more often.

After she calms down and gets used to having the pressure removed you can start milking out more and more each day until she will let you milk it all out.

When most baby goat suck milk the mother will not let them drink all the milk, they only get to drink until the preasuer is releaved enough from the utter that it does not hurt her any more, then she walks away.


bumpus
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[BlueHeronFarm]

There was a great thread in this forum about "hobbling" them - with velcro ties...try to do a search. There were detailed photos and everything. Should be very helpful.

[topside1]

Red, forget the milk bucket and the feed. Just tie her up, turn on the radio, and get to know each other. Simply put keep placing your hands on her udder, teats, legs, back wherever, let her buck till she's exhausted, then milk her onto the ground or into a towel. Eventually she will learn that she's been demoted from BOSS to EMPLOYEE...Granted it will be frustrating at first, but with tons of patience on your part she'll get tired and become your subordinate....Good luck....Like others have mentioned a milking stand is a great tool. Place it up against a wall so the doe can only move in one direction....Good luck and keep in touch.

[holleegee]

Originally Posted by BlueHeronFarm

There was a great thread in this forum about "hobbling" them - with velcro ties...try to do a search. There were detailed photos and everything. Should be very helpful.

http://homesteadingtoday.com/showthr...ghlight=velcro

I found it!

[Patty0315]

Hobble or tie a of her back legs to something solid. haveing them so they cannot go from side to side is also helpfull. Give a pan of grain and have at it. Don't expect to save any milk for a few days. It might be easier to just milk into nothing then wash the stand when your done.

I do not agree with not milking her out all the way. Not only will it hurt her production for this whole lactation but also might lead to matitis. Make sure you clean the udder before milk and teat dip when done.


Patty

[RedTartan]

WE DID IT!

We didn't really have any problems after we finished the milkstand. My dh built one with sides. She couldn't move and seemed relieved to give up

We milked her completely and will do it again tonight at 7:00

Jeepers.

RedTartan

[BlueHeronFarm]

That's great. They'll still find other ways to frustrate you, but keep at it. They are SO worth it.

[ozark_jewels]

Great to hear. Some does you can milk them anywhere...and some wonderful milkers simply *demand* a stand.

[southerngurl]

Awesome!

If she does act up, don't stop milking, even if it goes everywhere. When she stops putting up a fuss, then stop. Don't reward bad behavior.