Do you milk from the side or the back?

[Jillis]

I have been milking sitting behind the goat, because my friend does it that way.
But last year, we milked out Nigie from the side.

Which way do all of you sit to hand milk, and why?

Thanks!

[Vicki McGaugh TX Nubians]

We always hand milked from the side....then we started machine milking from behind....now I hand milk from behind also. Sitting to the side you are straining one side or the other of your body and neck...do that for years and you will hurt yourself From behind you also have more control over FF rear legs Vicki

[cfarmher]

Both.
One of my does has teats that are easier to milk from the side, the other has ones that are easier to milk from the back.

[ozark_jewels]

I hand milk from the side, machine milk from behind. I prefer hand-milking when I am milking less that 10 does. Right now we are milking 76 does, so the machine it is.

[suzyhomemaker09]

I started milking from the side as that was the way my stand was set up to work...now with a different stand I milk from behind.

[Jillis]

Originally Posted by ozark_jewels

I hand milk from the side, machine milk from behind. I prefer hand-milking when I am milking less that 10 does. Right now we are milking 76 does, so the machine it is.

Emily, why do you milk from the side rather than the back?

suzyhomemaker09, which way do you prefer, and why?

[moosemaniac]

Hmmmm. I may have to try it from behind. The older I get, the more things hurt. For Mother's Day, though, I got new hoses for my surge milker. I only had one set before and it was only a couple of feet long. Now I have two sets, 6 feet long, and I can milk 2 at a time instead of just one. That sure helps when you have to go to work in the morning.

Ruth

[ozark_jewels]

Originally Posted by Jillis

Emily, why do you milk from the side rather than the back?

?

Sorry about that. I just like the way milking from the side feels. I usually lean into the doe, rest my herd on her flank or side....its just comfortable. And I feel that I have more control from the side if its a problem milker. She has me on one side and the wall on the other...not much room to fidget.

[mary,tx]

I tried milking from the back once. My goat expressed her displeasure with the arrangement by pooping in the milk. We went back to side milking.
mary

[BlueHeronFarm]

Originally Posted by mary,tx

I tried milking from the back once. My goat expressed her displeasure with the arrangement by pooping in the milk. We went back to side milking.
mary

Still laughing.

I'm a side milker. I sit down on the stand with the doe. My husband and I milk together - one on each side - makes it go so much faster. He uses a little stool to sit on.

[Trisha-MN]

We milk all our goats from behind, both the Alpines and Nigies.
The very first year we had goats I think we may have milked from
the side but it just wasn't comfortable for us.

If we are training our FF on the wooden milkstand we use a pail and
sit on it although with the Nigies there is enough room to sit on the
end of the stand. On our double metal milkstand we just sit right on the stand.

We've found it is much easier to train FF that kick when milking from
behind - we can block with our arms.

Trisha

[cowkeeper]

I always milked my goats, sitting to one side, facing the same way as the goat. One hand between rear legs, other hand outside of rear leg. Pail in position in front under the udder (not behind the goat). This way, you have good control of the goats' back legs, and it seems a natural position for the hands on the teats

[CountryHaven]

Originally Posted by cowkeeper

I always milked my goats, sitting to one side, facing the same way as the goat. One hand between rear legs, other hand outside of rear leg. Pail in position in front under the udder (not behind the goat). This way, you have good control of the goats' back legs, and it seems a natural position for the hands on the teats

Now that's an interesting position to try out.

I've always milked from the side--just because that's the way I'd always thought it should be done. HOWEVER, I did learn years back that antsy does, or nutty first fresheners were easier done from the back, but I'd always sat behind them and milked. It kept them from sitting down, and from kicking, or stomping in the pail. My stand is built wide. It was the first stand my husband ever built, and it's still sturdy and standing so I still use it. Although there's plenty of room to sit behind, it's so wide it's a bit uncomfortable. Doing it the way above -- sitting sort of behind, but on the side with one arm through the legs and one around... hum... that might be good. I'll definately have to try it. I have also noticed that 'this time around' now that I'm older, the leaning in from the side underneath is a definate strain on my left side that has to reach in further.

[collegeboundgal]

the first few years I milked from the side because, well, that's how your suposed to milk... right? well last year I started milking from the back. my arms and back are still thanking me. I sometimes do miss what Emily is talking about (snuggling up with the doe) but one or two times milking that way and I do my lovies AFTER I milk. lol.

-Melissa

[cowgirlracer]

I too started milking from the side because "that's how it's done". Then my right shoulder started giving me fits, and I started to milk from behind. The veiw is not so great , but it is soooo much easier on my shoulders, neck and back. My girls done mind that I sit on the milkstand with them

Anne
CGR

[moosemaniac]

I tried from the back. It is a bit easier on the back and hands. But I miss that closeness of milking from the side, leaning on them. I'll probably start to do a bit of both, I guess.

Ruth

[Oldntimes]

I have Nigerians so it is much easier for me to milk from the back.

[CountryHaven]

I tried the 'off to the side in back' thing this morning but it was really awkward. Probably because I'm not used to it. I switched to the side. I think I'll try from behind this evening and see if I like that okay or not.

[Mr.Hoppes]

We milk sitiing at the side but switch off from between the front and back legs ( side ways) to from between the hind legs ( backside) One doe is this way because of the way her teats hang. It also works this way for me because of the wear on my fingers and shoulders. lately I have been getting better with milking in that the goats aren't jumping all over as much and I am getting alot more milk. I do whatever it takes to get the milk the easiest and most efficient. Sometimes it actially works out where they ae one and the same.

[Raftercat5]

I enjoyed reading these answers. Mine is a little different. I do sit on the side, but to get closer so I don't have to reach so far, I spread my knees wide and put them against the stanchion. I also use an old futon cushion between the wall and the goat on the other side, so she'll move closer to me so I don't have to reach so far. It took some training to get them used to the cushion. Now, all I have to do is say "Boot-scoot boogie" and they know to move over for the cushion to be placed between them and the wall. It keeps them from moving away from me when their bowl gets empty. They don't want to be milked 'til they get more food. Smart goats.
- Kathy