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Monday, April 7, 2014
Getting More Milk
When the baby goats are growing and taking more and more milk, it gets to the point that I only get about two cups of milk from three does. That is hardly worth the time and effort it takes to disinfect the buckets and jars. Once the kids are two weeks old we begin penning them off at night. This way when we milk in the morning, we get more than a gallon of milk. We don't let the babies out until the milking is complete. Hungry babies stimulate the does to make more milk, thus increasing their production. We have a larger pen that we initially used to raise our Pyrenees in when she was a pup. We keep the dog house in there for the kids to use. They like having a place to go inside and sleep. The kids generally don't nurse at night, and are fairly inactive so this is a good time to separate them from their moms. It also makes it easier to feed in the evenings when we don't have to milk and there are other chores to be done.
It's good to discover ways to make life easier. This year when I started penning up the babies, instead of following them around, picking them up and carrying them to the pen one at a time, I let the does do the work for me. I'm not sure why I thought of this, but sure am glad I did. When it's time to pen up the babies, I put a fresh handful of hay in the pen, open the gate and call the girls. They walk right in to eat, the babies follow them and I shut the gate. Now why didn't I think of this years ago and save myself some work and frustration? I don't know, but it works great! The does are easy enough to lead out by the collar and that chore is done.
I don't pen the babies off every night. We have had a few thunderstorms lately and I leave the babies with their moms, just for comfort. If we have plenty of milk in the frig, I let the babies have the milk until we need some more. This will change when I wean the babies and milk everyday, then we'll give the extra to the chickens, dog and cats.
I still find milking and watching the herd to be a very relaxing 'chore'. Well, when the babies are penned up and hollering for their breakfast and the does are hollering for their babies, it can be a little annoying. But that will soon be over and the babies will be weaned. They will holler for a while then, too, but it doesn't last long either. So goes the cycle of raising our milk animals. Before long we will be swimming in milk and making cheese for the coming year.
We hear more and more everyday about the hard times coming to our country and world. Do what you can each and every day. Even if you are not where you hope to be one day, learn all you can. Knowledge will get you a whole lot farther than ignorance. Until next time - Fern
Hi Fern! I was wondering how your milking schedule worked. Thanks for the info! We will need a way to pen our babies once they arrive. So much to do; so little time! Have a great week! Blessings from Bama!
You can wait as long as you want to start this routine, Felecia. I just feel like it stimulates the goats to make more milk the earlier I get this started. But, like we said, we don't pen the babies off every night. Sometimes weather plays a factor, but sometimes we just don't need any more milk. It won't be long before I don't have a choice.
There is never enough time to get everything done. Just keep at it.
What a great idea to let the does lead the kids into the pen....I would have done it the other way until I "maybe" figured it out. Now I can do it the better way when we get our goats. Learning always makes me feel better, more invigorated and ready to do things! Its like our silly bucket garden...it is different...odd looking but we have learned how it gives us more food with our limited rental space here. Our neighbor has "learned" too...his wife just painted some of the buckets we gave them last year....she is putting her herbs in them and placing them on their front step. They learned buckets and I learned we can decorate them to make them look civilized! Now I am looking forward to following your goats and how you manage them! God Bless you both!
No, Deb, there isn't a particular goat that has less problems that I know of. Most goats birth just fine and are great moms.....but not all.
We started off with sheep, and I can relate to your anxiety. I bought a couple of books and read and read about sheep. The more I read about birthing, the more I just knew we would have lots of trouble and dead lambs. But, you know what? Those sheep knew what they were doing, even if I didn't. Did we lose some? Yes. Have I learned a tremendous amount? Absolutely.
Every year I go back and read about the birthing process before my does kid again. I have read it so many times, I have just about memorized it. But I still go back each year and refresh my memory and see if there is anything else I can learn.
Fear is one of the greatest factors that keeps people from realizing their dreams. You really can raise goats. They will teach you a lot every day. I know they do me. You can do this.
What a great idea to let the moms lead the kids into their night pen. I've found that eventually the kids will run into their pen once they learn that there is grain in there.
I'm looking forward to a post on cheese-making. I've only made soft cheeses.
Isn't learning great, Kathi? My kids are young enough that they aren't attracted by the grain yet....but they will be before long.
There are several posts on making cheddar and mozzarella cheese on the page titled 'The Things You Can Do With Milk'. The pages are on the upper right hand side under 'Things To Read'. Please let me know if you have any questions. I am still a novice, but the cheeses are getting better as time goes on. The last wheel of cheddar we opened recently was waxed on July 2, 2013. It's really good!
What a great post on managing your goat herd! Lots of valuable information. Thanks so much.
Now...about that woodpile pictured on your masthead. Seriously..is that YOUR pile? Holy smokes. That's the most impressive pile I've ever seen....well, outside of a professional woodcutting business with 500 cords stacked up on pallets in the back forty.
Well done! Neat stacks...evenly cut and split. Wow. It's a work of art.
I stacked about 1/3 cord by myself today and I went inside feeling pretty good. Maybe I was supposed to see your photo tonight to encourage me to keep going.
There are many people in our neck of the woods that cut and sell firewood. We bought this delivered and stacked and consider it to be part of our preparations for the future. It's good to hear you are preparing as well.
I'm glad you find the information on goats useful. Too bad the internet wasn't around when we started up with animals, there is so much information out here that increases our success everyday.
We have a larger pen that we initially used to raise our Pyrenees in when she was a pup. We keep the dog house in there for the kids to use. They like having a place to go inside and sleep. The kids generally don't nurse at night, and are fairly inactive so this is a good time to separate them from their moms. It also makes it easier to feed in the evenings when we don't have to milk and there are other chores to be done.
I sure enjoy reading your blogs....you tell it like it is! Keep it up!
ReplyDeleteSometimes, M.E., I have been known to be too blunt. Not everyone likes that characteristic in people. I'm glad you enjoy it here.
DeleteFern
Hi Fern! I was wondering how your milking schedule worked. Thanks for the info! We will need a way to pen our babies once they arrive. So much to do; so little time! Have a great week! Blessings from Bama!
ReplyDeleteYou can wait as long as you want to start this routine, Felecia. I just feel like it stimulates the goats to make more milk the earlier I get this started. But, like we said, we don't pen the babies off every night. Sometimes weather plays a factor, but sometimes we just don't need any more milk. It won't be long before I don't have a choice.
DeleteThere is never enough time to get everything done. Just keep at it.
Fern
What a great idea to let the does lead the kids into the pen....I would have done it the other way until I "maybe" figured it out. Now I can do it the better way when we get our goats. Learning always makes me feel better, more invigorated and ready to do things! Its like our silly bucket garden...it is different...odd looking but we have learned how it gives us more food with our limited rental space here. Our neighbor has "learned" too...his wife just painted some of the buckets we gave them last year....she is putting her herbs in them and placing them on their front step. They learned buckets and I learned we can decorate them to make them look civilized! Now I am looking forward to following your goats and how you manage them! God Bless you both!
ReplyDeleteIt's great you and your neighbor are learning from each other, Fiona. Thanks for sharing.
DeleteFern
I’ll pass some of that on to the wife. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI hope it proves useful.
DeleteFern
I want milk goats but I am terrified about birthing. I have read horror stories about it! Is there a goat that doesn't have problems?
ReplyDeleteNo, Deb, there isn't a particular goat that has less problems that I know of. Most goats birth just fine and are great moms.....but not all.
DeleteWe started off with sheep, and I can relate to your anxiety. I bought a couple of books and read and read about sheep. The more I read about birthing, the more I just knew we would have lots of trouble and dead lambs. But, you know what? Those sheep knew what they were doing, even if I didn't. Did we lose some? Yes. Have I learned a tremendous amount? Absolutely.
Every year I go back and read about the birthing process before my does kid again. I have read it so many times, I have just about memorized it. But I still go back each year and refresh my memory and see if there is anything else I can learn.
Fear is one of the greatest factors that keeps people from realizing their dreams. You really can raise goats. They will teach you a lot every day. I know they do me. You can do this.
Fern
What a great idea to let the moms lead the kids into their night pen. I've found that eventually the kids will run into their pen once they learn that there is grain in there.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to a post on cheese-making. I've only made soft cheeses.
Isn't learning great, Kathi? My kids are young enough that they aren't attracted by the grain yet....but they will be before long.
DeleteThere are several posts on making cheddar and mozzarella cheese on the page titled 'The Things You Can Do With Milk'. The pages are on the upper right hand side under 'Things To Read'. Please let me know if you have any questions. I am still a novice, but the cheeses are getting better as time goes on. The last wheel of cheddar we opened recently was waxed on July 2, 2013. It's really good!
Fern
What a great post on managing your goat herd! Lots of valuable information. Thanks so much.
ReplyDeleteNow...about that woodpile pictured on your masthead. Seriously..is that YOUR pile? Holy smokes. That's the most impressive pile I've ever seen....well, outside of a professional woodcutting business with 500 cords stacked up on pallets in the back forty.
Well done! Neat stacks...evenly cut and split. Wow. It's a work of art.
I stacked about 1/3 cord by myself today and I went inside feeling pretty good. Maybe I was supposed to see your photo tonight to encourage me to keep going.
Just Me
There are many people in our neck of the woods that cut and sell firewood. We bought this delivered and stacked and consider it to be part of our preparations for the future. It's good to hear you are preparing as well.
DeleteI'm glad you find the information on goats useful. Too bad the internet wasn't around when we started up with animals, there is so much information out here that increases our success everyday.
Fern
No matter how that woodpile got there, it's a beauty!
ReplyDeleteJust Me