Experienced doe, or FF?

Shayanna · #1 01/11/13, 03:24 PM

What would you recommend?

Alice In TX/MO · #2 01/11/13, 03:33 PM

Experienced.

Donna1982 · #3 01/11/13, 03:41 PM

Hands down experienced. I have been playing milking with our FF and I get kicked every time by GoGurt. Now Addie who this is her 3 time around she sees the stand jumps up spreads her legs and waits for me to finish what ever in the world I am doing.

harvestmoonfarm · #4 01/11/13, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Donna1982

Hands down experienced. I have been playing milking with our FF and I get kicked every time by GoGurt. Now Addie who this is her 3 time around she sees the stand jumps up spreads her legs and waits for me to finish what ever in the world I am doing.

FFs are interesting, but with patience and hobbles it doesn't take them long to settle down and realize you're not trying to kill them. All of them had to start somewhere; they're not born knowing what we expect of them

mammabooh · #5 01/11/13, 05:54 PM

Mine were first fresheners, but I got them about two weeks after they had kidded. So, they were trained to the milkstand by a very experienced milk maid. I didn't have trouble with them at all that first year. Now, Mudge copped an attitude this summer (I've had them since 2011) and I've had to hobble her since then. For some reason, she doesn't want me to milk both teats at once and she dances around if I do it without hobbling her. I don't know what her problem is, but I'm hoping that a "reset" button is pushed when she's dried off and then kids again.

Pony · #6 01/11/13, 06:24 PM

Experienced, not only in kidding out, but also in being milked by whatever method you will use.

It makes life ever so much easier.

harvestmoonfarm · #7 01/11/13, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pony

Experienced, not only in kidding out, but also in being milked by whatever method you will use.

It makes life ever so much easier.

But isn't it fun when you know to expect a "rodeo?" LOL I bought a FF LM last March that left a 3-day-old doeling behind. She had never been messed with much, and definitely had never been on a milk stand, so I used a soft rope to hobble her every time I milked. I only milked a few weeks before drying her off (she wasn't quite a year old when she freshened, so it was more about teaching her what was expected), and by the end of that time she was a perfect little lady on the stand.

**mygoat** · #8 01/11/13, 07:33 PM

I've only ever bought FF besides one older doe. I always start putting the doe in the milkstand weeks before she kids (usually 4 weeks) and 'pretend' to milk her. I have never had to hobble or had a rodeo even at first milking - EVER. I've had does get confused about order or be startled by a 'new' milkroom procedure (like udder washing, udder shave, or teat dipping)... but nothing dramatic like many people post about. ZERO. I think I've broken in 5 does to hand milking now, will add number 6 to that this year if all went well at her last breeding session...

One or two might be chance but 5 is purty good IMO.

I put the experienced does up in the milkstand too during this time, so they each get a grain ration.

Pony · #9 01/11/13, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by harvestmoonfarm

But isn't it fun when you know to expect a "rodeo?" LOL I bought a FF LM last March that left a 3-day-old doeling behind. She had never been messed with much, and definitely had never been on a milk stand, so I used a soft rope to hobble her every time I milked. I only milked a few weeks before drying her off (she wasn't quite a year old when she freshened, so it was more about teaching her what was expected), and by the end of that time she was a perfect little lady on the stand.

Oh, I've done the rodeo thing... Not pleasant.

Wrangled a Nubian gal who did NOT want to be milked. Pulled a couple of interesting muscles.

Then there was Muffin the Saanen. Man, she HATED to be on that stand. Milky gal, but it was a battle. Culled her when the only way I could get her to let down was with oxy.

Yup, for a new goat owner, a seasoned, mellow old girl is the way to go.

Lizza · #10 01/12/13, 12:04 AM

If given a choice, experienced! One of you should be experienced your first time at the rodeo

By the way this advice is about x 100 for cows.

FF isn't the worst thing in the world but they aren't a lot of fun and it starts off your goat journey on the wrong foot.

Squeaky McMurdo · #11 01/12/13, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by morningstar

If given a choice, experienced! One of you should be experienced your first time at the rodeo

By the way this advice is about x 100 for cows.

FF isn't the worst thing in the world but they aren't a lot of fun and it starts off your goat journey on the wrong foot.

Yep. Cocoa sure sent me through the ringer as a new goat owner. I was imagining goat roasts for a while for all the insanity she put me through. It was understandable, she was 2 months into her first freshening when I got her and had never been milked. AND I didn't have a stand at the time *que the Benny Hill Theme*

nehimama · #12 01/12/13, 04:14 AM

If you're not experienced, it will be *much* more pleasant for both of you if the doe IS experienced.

mekasmom · #13 01/12/13, 04:41 AM

You want a doe that has been milked before and is experienced to birthing kids.

Shayanna · #14 01/12/13, 10:02 AM

well, i wasnt going to get more goats till spring, and then i was going to switch to alpines. however, i had birdie posted on cl since i thought it would take a while and in the spring i would find 1 or 2 does. but birdie just sold to a family really in need of a goat. and now i am down to one. onyx has our steer to keep her compny and will probably kid in another month or two... but i need another goat now. if any MI folks know of any alpines for sale... i don't need registered, or even dehorned. but hopefully i can find a decent milker. i am willing to pay up to 150 for one goat. that way when i buy it i can do all necessary testing. hear that guys? i am gonna test for cae and johnnes. i can afford it. i'm excited to do things right this time. also, we have way more hay than we are going to be able to use up this winter and it needs to be used. pm me if you know of anyone.

GoldenWood Farm · #15 01/12/13, 06:36 PM

I am the odd ball out, I say it truly depends on the doe. I have had FF's I prefer milking over more experienced does. Experience doesn't always mean easier milking it can sometimes means they had time to learn bad habits. That isn't always the case by any means but I have seen it before

.

I will say FF's tend to not have easy to handle teats (they can be small suckers!) where as more experienced does are "stretched" a bit and have more to hold on to (again not always the norm). If I was you I would research different breeders in your area and see if they have any does they are parting with for less money. Sometimes people want to "retire" a doe but she still has some good years left or they are just cutting back on the herd.

I will caution you that you pay for what you get. If you buy a cheap goat you can end up with just that, a cheap goat. Also test BEFORE you buy! Don't buy a goat then test it otherwise you have already brought any nasty things it might have onto your land and around your animals. Ask the owner to either test the animal themselves (offer to pay if they get stingy) or look for already tested animals.

Good luck with your search! I love looking for new stock (I window shop for goats...what can I say?)

Justine
PS: Just a few more parting words promise! Ask how easy the doe is to hand milk, you do NOT want to get a hard to milk doe (example: a doe with small orifices or a doe who always lifts her leg during milking). Oh! And one more thing! I have noticed in FF does if you pull the kids at birth their first kidding you have a MUCH easier time milking them. I have done it both ways and I always get a rodeo the first year from a FF who kept her kids.

Shayanna · #16 01/12/13, 06:58 PM

i've been looking for clean herds only. i found an experienced, cae free doe (they have proof). born 2009, has freshened twice with twins, and when in milk she produces over a gallon/day. they are asking $125. i think i will check further on that. what questions should i ask? its hard to find a alpine herd. especially one that tests. vets up here are dumb and tell people that the testing is inaccurate. there is one herd selling does that says the goats have the antibodies for cae but they dont have the disease. *slaps forehead*.

"SPIKE" · #17 01/13/13, 10:48 AM

Why deprive youself of the joys and bonding that occurs during milkstand training!?

You both get to go through a learning experience.

SPIKE

CarolT · #18 01/13/13, 12:46 PM

I got Poppy cheap ($40) when she was 3 days old, made sure to handle her udder regularly. She freshened with triplets that I let her raise until the girls sold and I weaned the buckling. Bottle raised FF doe and an owner who had pretty much only milked the doe from Hades before that... Never a kick, never a buck, always easy to get onto the stand. You have to milk from the front because her orifices come out the backside of the end of her teat and squirt into your palm if you try from the rear, but I have to recommend one like my FF if there's a choice LOL

ETA I would so be getting a doe today at $125 for a tested doe!