It has been more than three weeks since the babies were born. Tuesday marked the first day of milking Brown Sugar.
Monday night Michael locked the babies in a carrier so they would not drink any milk through the night.
They are eating some hay now and do not need to be feeding through the night. This means we get to take some of that milk in the morning for ourselves. Yeah!
It was a family affair. We woke the boys up and they came out to the barn to help. We still have all the morning chores to do in addition to milking. One person could do it all but it would take a long time and if that person also happens to be the teacher than we would be starting school much later in the morning.
Because Brown Sugar is a first time freshener, her teets are very short. With each freshening they will get longer. It is difficult to milk such small teets. I’ve done it before so I know that my hands and fingers will eventually find their rhythm.
One of the things we did prior to milking was put those red straps on Brown Sugar’s legs. It is called hobbling and I have never done it before. I still need to figure out the best position for the straps. The point of hobbling is to prevent them from (1) kicking over the container the milk is in (I’ve had that happen before), (2) putting their filthy feet into the milk (I’ve had that happen before), or (3)trying to lie down because they don’t want to be milked any longer (I’ve had that happen before).
You can see in this picture that Brown Sugar is trying to lie down.
The plan is for everyone to learn to milk. Since it has been over a year since I last milked my hands tired out pretty quickly. Michael stepped in for me.
When he was a teenager and he worked summers at his uncle’s ranch he would occasionally milk cows. The tiny teets of a Nigerian Dwarf Goat take some getting used to. He did a great job.
We didn’t milk her dry. Only took just over a cup so we could leave a lot for those babies. Brown Sugar did a very good job for her first time being milked.
I wonder if she knows we will be doing this every morning from now on?
Enjoy your day,
Karen
Brown Sugar, she don’t know what’s comin’! HA. Yes, she will be sharing. So what did you do with your cup of goat’s milk? So I have not milked a goat or a cow before, and I am learning so much on this adventure! Great pictures and love the new look of your site. 🙂 (P.S. Was it Brown sugar who ate the raspberry plant?)
Yes, it was BS who ate the raspberry plant.
Well, I ruined the milk. I had to throw it out.
I’m so used to doing this all by myself. Now I am teaching my husband.
What happened was this….after you wipe the udder with a germ killing wipe your “strip the teets” meaning you squeeze a few squirts of milk out of each into a container. You look for lumps which would mean she has mastitis and then you throw it out (it won’t taste good since it has been in the teets instead of the udder.) I don’t throw it out, I save it for soap making. Well, back at the house while getting ready to filter the milk (get the hair out) I was explaining stuff to my hubby and I accidentally poured the good milk into the container of the bad strip milk. Down the drain I poured it. We only took about 1 1/3 of a cup from her so that isn’t much of a loss.
I’m glad you are enjoying the blog. I really enjoy writing about what we are doing/learning.
We will probably put another video of the goats up soon. Hopefully Hudson and his siblings will enjoy it.
My wonderful hubby re-designed the site based on some of my wishes. He is such a sweetie.
Take care,
Karen
Too bad about the milk, I was curious what you’d do with it. I knew you would do something! Ha. Yes, the boys would love to see another farm video. In your spare time. (?) Perhaps Brown Sugar will give you raspberry milk. (Sorry, I just couldn’t resist that one.)
That would be great to get raspberry milk from her. Maybe then Nicholas would drink it!
Take care,
Karen
The legendary Brown Sugar. The world should be following “On the Banks’…. it’s educational and fascinating. So thankful to be able to enjoy your posts.
love to you all
I am sooo looking forward to goat cheese and soap!!! Your farm life is such a reminiscence of my childhood with cows, hockles, my brothers bringing in the cow milk morning and night, mom and I straining and cooling , separating the fat from the milk, using the cream for whipped cream, and I don’t remember what else.
I love what you and Michael. are doing with your lives not only because it is a heritage continued from my family, but also because you are so joyful because of it. In the process it gives me Joy
GOD BLESSES ME. THANK YOU, M OM, KARREN AND GRANDMA
We do enjoy it!
Love,
Karen