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Barnyard Buddies:  Milking Chores  |
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SandraM
True Blue Farmgirl
295 Posts
Sandra
Coldwater
Michigan
USA
295 Posts |
 Posted - Apr 25 2013 : 6:14:47 PM
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Just curious what you use for milking. I seen a milk bucket in the Hoeggers Magazine I would love to have. I just use a stainless Steel pan right now that has a lid.
I have heard of some bringing coolers out and putting the milk right in a cooler when they are done milking. I have never thought of that.
Would love to hear how you handle your milking chores? Does anyone have the Hoegger Milk bucket? What do you do with your milk after you milk one goat and are getting ready to milk another. Do you keep it in one bucket? Do you cool it down right away?
I did buy their natural wormer (hoeggers) to put in their feed once a week while we are milking.
Thanks for letting me pick your brain. Trying to see if I could improve our milk handling.
Sandra
www.mittenstatesheepandwool.com |
Edited by - SandraM on Apr 26 2013 06:58:01 AM |
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crittergranny
True Blue Farmgirl
1096 Posts
Laura
Lindrith
NM
USA
1096 Posts |
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wincrestnubians
True Blue Farmgirl
76 Posts
Jennifer
Ohio
USA
76 Posts |
Posted - Apr 26 2013 : 05:57:13 AM
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My mom bought me a stainless steel pet food bucket at TSC. It holds about a gallon and a half, and fits just right under standard size goats, but of course has no lid. But if you really brush off your doe before milking and strain well after, you should minimize any dirt getting in your milk.
Only those with an open mind can learn from ones own mistakes. |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - Apr 26 2013 : 7:49:06 PM
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Sandra, I got my 2 1 gallon stainless steel buckets at TS too. In the dog section. I also have a 2 gallon. And I ordered the big milk tote with the lid from Hoeggers. I used to have a fridge in the milk room to put the milk in while I was milking other goats. I need another one now.
When I first started out milking, I was very meticulous about everything. I swept the stanchions and cleaned them off after every milking. I was very organized and weighed after each goat and recorded everything. I had charts and graphs and all that. But now, I'm good to get the floor swept or the stanchions every day. I do make sure my buckets and hands and the udders are really clean before I milk. I use a spray bottle to clean the udders and a paper towel. Then squirt out several squirts and give that to cats and dogs. I hand milk, so I go as fast as I can and get the bucket in the fridge as soon as I milk. If I needit fast, I'll put it in the freezer or in a bucket of ice water. I use one of those coffee filters that are reusable and a funnel to strain into glass jugs. I also always put the date on the lid.
I am giving my does fermented grain with kelp mixed in. They also have a goat mineral block. And they always get sunflower seeds too. And I also mix in diotemacious earth for a more natural worm control. I am hoping this will work so I don't have to use other wormers.
Kris
The good beekeeper is generally more or less cranky. C.P. Dadant
www.kris-outbackfarm.blogspot.com
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crittergranny
True Blue Farmgirl
1096 Posts
Laura
Lindrith
NM
USA
1096 Posts |
Posted - Apr 27 2013 : 10:00:41 AM
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In the past I have used old pressure cookers and other steel pans. I use the ice cream bucket now because it has a lid and my goats are quite a ways from the house. I also like to have a lid on it in case I have to set it down for a minute. It is also light weight. I have read that plastic can harbor bacteria but we've never had a problem with any bad bacteria making us sick or anything. I always brush and wash my whole goat with a wet rag starting with the teats then the rest of the udder and finally the whole goat. I then use a little dry towel to dry them off. Again teats first then udder then the whole body. They like it and it keeps crud from falling off the goat. It really only takes a few seconds to do. Sometimes I will take out a soapy rag also and use it first, then the rinse rag, then the dry. The rags all get washed with bleach. I also keep their hair especially around the udder trimmed. And also the hooves trimmed. I feel that clean milk begins with a clean and healthy goat. A clean pen helps too.
Laura
Horse poor in the boonies.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/CrittergrannysLair
www.creamofthecroptrailrides.webs.com |
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magnoliakathy
True Blue Farmgirl
453 Posts
Kathryn
Magnolia
Texas
USA
453 Posts |
Posted - Apr 30 2013 : 07:12:40 AM
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I use an EZ-Milker, I have extra bottles and caps for it. I change them out as they get full, carry them to the house in a plastic bucket, pour the milk trhough a strainer into a quart canning jar. I put the jar in a bowl of ice and water in the fridge, the next morning, I remove "yesterday's" milk to the shelf and put the "new" jar in the bowl. I change the ice and water every other day. I brush the hindquaters, then clean the teat and udder with a bleach/dish soap solution.
When you free your mind your heart can fly. Farmgirl # 714, |
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SandraM
True Blue Farmgirl
295 Posts
Sandra
Coldwater
Michigan
USA
295 Posts |
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magnoliakathy
True Blue Farmgirl
453 Posts
Kathryn
Magnolia
Texas
USA
453 Posts |
Posted - May 01 2013 : 07:33:06 AM
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It is a hand pump for milking. Go to their website EZ animal products products or just type in udderlyEZ milker. I had carpal tunnel surgery on both hands, making hand milking hard to do and an electric milker is too expensive for my small tribe. I have had mine for 4 years and replacement parts aren't that expenisve when needed.
When you free your mind your heart can fly. Farmgirl # 714, |
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SandraM
True Blue Farmgirl
295 Posts
Sandra
Coldwater
Michigan
USA
295 Posts |
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kristin sherrill
True Blue Farmgirl
11303 Posts
kristin
chickamauga
ga
USA
11303 Posts |
Posted - May 05 2013 : 3:53:03 PM
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I just got a Maggiedan hand milker for Zarah. I cannot milk her by hand and this works for her. It's only $45.
Kris
The good beekeeper is generally more or less cranky. C.P. Dadant
www.kris-outbackfarm.blogspot.com
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Barnyard Buddies: Milking Chores |
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Milking Chores
