Thank you all for all the helpful tips! How much grain should I feed them daily? My building project is coming along on schedule but a few more ?s I forgot to ask; Does anyone have any specific recommendations for building a simple milking stand. I'd like to sit on a bucket or folding chair with the goat elevated so my back doesn't have to take a beating. Also, whats the routine for milking? Do you tie them off to something? Do you feed them grain while milking to keep them occupied? Kick prevention? Getting these freebie does was a little earlier than expected so I'm not nearly as prepared as I'd hoped to be so please excuse the dumb questions.

-- john leake (natlivent@pcpros.net), March 08, 2000

Answers

I too was thrown into early milking this year, before I was ready. I am in no way an expert... but the past 3 weeks have gone smoothly for me. I just have my doe jump up on an old bale of straw, which is sitting snug up against a wall. I put a ring in the wall and tie her to that. I feed her her daily grain there while I am milking. At milking time she jumps right up there for me. I read 1/2 lb of grain for every pound of milk you are getting. I do that and my doe is doing well. Of course that will depend on your hay/pasture quality, more grain if poor roughage. My doe has only started kicking once, and I spoke to her quietly which didn't work, so I held her back leg up for a minute while I milked with one hand. That seemed to work. I think usually they enjoy the one on one of milking, and the relief from their udder and stand quietly.

-- Marci (daleb@kent.net), March 09, 2000.

Here's a site that will be useful to you:

helpful hints

there are milk stand plans here too along with a lot of other good info for you. The plans don't show a seat, but you can just add that by allowing a 14 x 14" square seat at the front of the stand...Enjoy.

-- Jim Roberts (jroberts1@cas.org), March 09, 2000.

Well i am milking my does, and they are on the milking stand they get as much grain as they can eat. But it only takes maybe 4 or 5 min. each. It keeps them busy. When i train a first Freshner I will just use a piece of twine and make a simple hobble around the hind legs. In about 3 days they will learn to stand. Hope this helps.

-- Linda Hess (hesscat@cot.net), March 09, 2000.

You should feed them 1 pound of grain plus 1 pound for each 2 lbs of milk she is producing. A pint= a pound of milk. So if your goat is giving a gallon a day she should be eating 5 lbs of grain a day.You will want to weigh the grain in the scoop you will be using- I use a gallon vinegar jug that has the bottom cut out at an angle. Then when you give her a scoop of grain you will know how many lbs of grain are in that scoop. Build a milking stand that has a built on seat, and if you can, put it in an area that is away from the mud and manure and flies but under a roof.Most good stands will have a head stanchion to hold them in there that locks.A chain is too flimsy for some goats- they will move around and make you mad.The routine is done twice a day,twelve hours apart, with half the grain fed per milking while the doe is being milked. You should brush her first and wash her udder after she hops onto the stand and has her head locked in.Then pour the feed into the feed tray on the stand and milk her.Do you know how to milk? If not you will want to get another goatkeeper to teach you. Do not yank on the teats like they do in the movies and cartoons- it will hurt them and damage the udder.Also resist the temptation to grab part of the udder if the teats are short or small- only grab the teat, not any other part of the udder. If you are gentle and patient with them they shouldn't kick much. If they do, keep milking and talk quietly to them in a soothing voice. Try not to get mad at them- you want them to get the idea that being milked is a pleasure not an ordeal that they have to endure or struggle against. If you train a first time milker right she will settle down and be your friend for the rest of her life. If you scare her or force her,etc, she will dread being milked, will not produce as much as she would if relaxed, and will get more difficult as she matures. It will not hurt you if they kick, mainly it is annoying or messy if they kick the bucket over. On a new goat or a first freshener,I hold the rear leg nearest to me with my left hand and milk with my right if they act like they are going to kick. Often it is only needed when you first grab the teats and then they are fine and you can milk with both hands. If you have more questions feel free to e-mail me.

-- Rebekah (daniel1@transport.com), March 09, 2000.