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04/20/11, 11:54 AM
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: California
Posts: 371
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Pumping???
I have two does and one of them I am training to the milk stand while the other is putting out a good gallon a day. Anyway, my hands are really starting to hurt and she is done with her grain before I am done milking. I was thinking about getting a hand pump but I didn't know if it would be harder on her udder.
I don't have enough does to milk to purchase a milking machine so I thought I would look into the hand pumps. Any advice?
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04/20/11, 01:03 PM
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More dharma, less drama.
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Join Date: May 2002
Location: Texas Coastal Bend/S. Missouri
Posts: 30,482
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Don't bother. Not that much different than hand milking and NOT faster. It will take a month or so for your hands to adjust to milking. Hang in there!
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Alice
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"No great thing is created suddenly." ~Epictitus
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04/20/11, 02:24 PM
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Caprice Acres
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: MI
Posts: 11,230
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Steady milking is just like exercise. Practice the motion rather slowly and work on getting a thick, long stream. Speed comes with experience. Essentially, each time you milk it's repetitions of a workout - you'll build muscle and stamina eventually. If your hands cramp, give it a break for a second, then go back again.
If the doe is running out of grain, put free choice alfalfa pellets in front of her while you finish. They can't hurt anything, and will keep her busy.
Another bad thing about little hand pumps is that they are constant vacuum, unlike milking machines, which alternate vacuum/release, which reduces tissue damage and mastitis... constant vacuum is not ideal. They are mainly good for emergency uses, like for harvesting colostrum from pygmies or kicky boers, etc.
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Dona Barski
"Breed the best, eat the rest"
Caprice Acres
French and American Alpines. CAE, Johnes neg herd. Abscess free. LA, DHIR.
Last edited by mygoat; 04/20/11 at 02:26 PM.
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04/20/11, 02:39 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Texas
Posts: 3,486
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I agree with the previous posters.
I have an Udderly EZ for my tiny teated Mini and it's a life saver....BUT, I only use it for the first part of milking when she's really full, then do the rest by hand. Plus my mom is here at least 3 days a week, so on those days she milks Tootsie for me (without the Udderly EZ) 
It hurts, but it's getting easier as I get more practice.
I can't milk with my left hand (though I'm trying, lol), and my right hand was stepped on and crushed by a horse several years ago (had 23 breaks/fractures in my hand and fingers) so I don't think hand milking will ever be completely pain free, but with practice it does get better.
I have my eyes set on a 2 goat milking machine from Hamby Dairy Supply, and since my b-day is in January, I'm thinking that milking machine will be the perfect Christmas/Birthday combo gift EVER!. Already put the bug in hubby's ear about it, lol 
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04/20/11, 02:52 PM
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More dharma, less drama.
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Join Date: May 2002
Location: Texas Coastal Bend/S. Missouri
Posts: 30,482
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If you're going to get a 'real' milker, talk to this guy. Mike Perry - he's been building them for years at a much more reasonable cost - 337 275 6816
http://www.perrysmilkers.com/
http://cgi.ebay.com/Complete-milker-...item2c5c18c304
__________________
Alice
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"No great thing is created suddenly." ~Epictitus
Last edited by Alice In TX/MO; 04/20/11 at 03:29 PM.
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04/20/11, 03:32 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: California
Posts: 371
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO
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Thanks for the resource. Took note of it for future years. Thanks for the encouragement too. I needed it. It's been tough but I am pushing through
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04/20/11, 03:46 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Texas
Posts: 3,486
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO
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This is the one I was looking at Alice..... I didn't *think* it was a bad deal, but then again I know NOTHING about milking machines......
http://cgi.ebay.com/Bucket-Milker-Sh...80603628364493
Everyone keeps telling me I could build my own cheaper, BUT since I've never even seen a milking machine in person, let alone know how they work, I couldn't possibly build one.
I've read lots of stuff on building your own, but it's all in Chinese to me as far as I'm concerned. If I could see one, have someone physically point out the parts and show me how each thing works a few times, I might be able to build my own....But, that's not happening anytime soon & I'll have 4 does to milk next year.....So I shall try to buy one
Will definately look into the perry milkers....if its a better price, I'm all for saving a buck or two 
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04/20/11, 03:51 PM
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More dharma, less drama.
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Join Date: May 2002
Location: Texas Coastal Bend/S. Missouri
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Crystal. There's no vacuum pump included in that Hamby deal. Overpriced with no pump!!
I've bought one system (complete) from Mike Perry, and then built one with parts and a pump from him.
__________________
Alice
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"No great thing is created suddenly." ~Epictitus
Last edited by Alice In TX/MO; 04/20/11 at 03:57 PM.
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04/20/11, 04:05 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Texas
Posts: 3,486
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO
Crystal. There's no vacuum pump included in that Hamby deal. Overpriced with no pump!!
I've bought one system (complete) from Mike Perry, and then built one with parts and a pump from him.
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Well.... I would have been miffed to pay that much and not use it right out of the box!!
Can these milkers be used on both mini's and standards? I only want to buy one machine, not one for each variety of goat....And if I bought a two milker system could I milk a mini and a standard at the same time?
After my fence is done, I'm hoping to weld up one more milk stand (I have enough scrap to build 3 more) and after that I'm putting my funds towards a machine, as my hands cringe at the idea of milking 4 does twice every day!
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04/20/11, 04:33 PM
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More dharma, less drama.
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Join Date: May 2002
Location: Texas Coastal Bend/S. Missouri
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I couldn't milk four twice a day, and I haven't had the hand injury that you have!
Ask Mike if he can set it up for minis on two inflations and full size goats on two.
What are you going to do with all that milk??
Edited to add: this is from his website. He has the setup!
Set up to milk full size goats and mini goats (DP504MR)
When you get the shipment, it's still going to be overwhelming, and you are like me, you build things all the time. It's hoses and tubes and funny looking parts that are unfamiliar.
I wished you lived closer to me.
__________________
Alice
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"No great thing is created suddenly." ~Epictitus
Last edited by Alice In TX/MO; 04/20/11 at 04:37 PM.
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04/20/11, 06:53 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Texas
Posts: 3,486
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO
I couldn't milk four twice a day, and I haven't had the hand injury that you have!
Ask Mike if he can set it up for minis on two inflations and full size goats on two.
What are you going to do with all that milk??
Edited to add: this is from his website. He has the setup!
Set up to milk full size goats and mini goats (DP504MR)
When you get the shipment, it's still going to be overwhelming, and you are like me, you build things all the time. It's hoses and tubes and funny looking parts that are unfamiliar.
I wished you lived closer to me.
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Oh joy......lol hopefully he can send me instructions!!
If all else fails Alice, you'll find me haggard, with an arm full of hoses and parts, on your porch, in tears!!!
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04/20/11, 07:13 PM
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More dharma, less drama.
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Join Date: May 2002
Location: Texas Coastal Bend/S. Missouri
Posts: 30,482
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Do you have Skype on your computer?
__________________
Alice
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"No great thing is created suddenly." ~Epictitus
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04/20/11, 07:27 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Texas
Posts: 3,486
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Oh and all that milk....... lol
I really don't know! Hopefully I'll have cheese/yogurt supplies.....and we plan on getting a feeder pig, so he'll get some...share with the chickens, might even take a twice weekly milk bath too
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04/20/11, 07:30 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Texas
Posts: 3,486
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO
Do you have Skype on your computer? |
Nope...no home internet, I do all of my internet off my cell phone.
Our previous internet provider raised rates to $119 per month for internet alone so I turned it off over a year ago when hubby was laid off for a few months.....
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04/20/11, 08:04 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Southern Idaho
Posts: 4,032
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We can easily milk two a day, but three or over is our limit. Although we're used to milking, DH cannot stand on the cement floor due to degenerative disc disease and neither of us has the hand strength (even though we know how to milk). We purchased a vintage Surge milker, reconditioned it and we're good to go now that we've got three in milk and more due in June/July. It's so much more quiet and a bit cheaper too, than the newer model milking machines (which we've owned before).
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04/20/11, 08:47 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: northern Kentucky
Posts: 696
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I made the hand pump from a syringe body, hose, and heavy duty comfort grip horse sprayer. I followed the directions from Alice, but the drench thing was $60 and the horse sprayer was $5. It was really good for tonight. My doe with the hurt teat is really kickey (I would be too) when I milk. This took half the milking by hand away and was easier on her and me.
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04/20/11, 09:34 PM
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More dharma, less drama.
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Join Date: May 2002
Location: Texas Coastal Bend/S. Missouri
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I'm milking two minis and one Saanen/LaMancha, and we are DROWNING in milk. I made feta and chevre today, gave away 2 1/2 gallons, and I'm back up over two gallons in the fridge. Four full size goats in milk??? I'd have to get another fridge.
__________________
Alice
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"No great thing is created suddenly." ~Epictitus
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04/20/11, 10:15 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Texas
Posts: 3,486
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO
I'm milking two minis and one Saanen/LaMancha, and we are DROWNING in milk. I made feta and chevre today, gave away 2 1/2 gallons, and I'm back up over two gallons in the fridge. Four full size goats in milk??? I'd have to get another fridge.
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It would be Bleuberry, Sabrina and depending on growth, Lilly (all full sized) and then Tootsie (mini). Mom is having Keys (her mini) rebred by the breeder for fall kids I think, but hopefully by then she'll have everything in order and will be living back at her place, so I won't have to milk Keys. Depending on timing, Tootsie may go stay with mom until she has keeper kids and milk of her own, so that would cut my milking chores, especially since Tootsie takes the longest to milk...
I figure since the whole cheese making seems daunting, I'll have plenty of milk to practice with!
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04/20/11, 10:41 PM
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Join Date: May 2002
Location: Texas
Posts: 5,408
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Crystal, I just went to your blogspot. I had an uncle who loved in Noodle, Tx back in the '50s and '60s.
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04/20/11, 11:17 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Hereford, Az
Posts: 92
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Alice do you still have to hand milk them to empty them after the machine?
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