Devonviolet Acres

[Baymule]

Got any kiefer for sale yet? LOL

 

[Devonviolet]

Got any kiefer for sale yet? LOL

Actually, no. What most people don’t know, is that goat milk has an “off” taste for the first couple of weeks. Usually after it starts foaming, the taste improves. I tried it yesterday, and it had that taste. So, I am waiting for another several days, until it is two weeks. Then I will be able to start making kefir.

 

[Baymule]

Actually, no. What most people don’t know, is that goat milk has an “off” taste for the first couple of weeks. Usually after it starts foaming, the taste improves. I tried it yesterday, and it had that taste. So, I am waiting for another several days, until it is two weeks. Then I will be able to start making kefir.

 

[Mini Horses]

What most people don’t know, is that goat milk has an “off” taste for the first couple of weeks. Usually after it starts foaming, the taste improves. I tried it yesterday, and it had that taste. So, I am waiting for another several days,

Since I have 4 in milk, right now, I tried some of the milk I HAD to take from the one "over producer" of them. At 3rd day from kidding, it was still sweet, heavy cream, and no bad taste. I have Saanens -- the BIG girls, LOL -- and this one is 50/50 Nubian. Her production is so that if I don't milk she can hardly walk well! The twins are nursing well she is just an easy 1.5 gal a day girl. Another is nursing trips & still "looks" like I need to milk...which I will begin doing as they kids are now almost 3 wks. With these in milk, well, almost like having a cow!

I hope to start some hard cheese this Spring and fill my freezer with the softer ricottas, butter, etc.

LOVE my goats!!

Calendula has such a sweet face. She's a really nice looking girl conformationally. Would be hard to sell but -- we can't keep them all!!! Can we? I have a few more than I need.

Didn't your DH make a milker for you? Seems I remember that but . On the hunt for one myself. Couple options out there. Looking at COST.

 

[Devonviolet]

At 3rd day from kidding, it was still sweet, heavy cream, and no bad taste.

I'm glad, for you, that your milk is sweet, heavy cream. Every goat I have milked has had that off-taste for the 1st couple of weeks. The milk IS like heavy cream. But, it just tastes awful! I dunno Maybe it's just LaMancha's.

Calendula has such a sweet face. She's a really nice looking girl conformationally. Would be hard to sell but -- we can't keep them all!!!

Yes, she does have a sweet face. She makes me melt when she puts her head on my shoulder. it IS going to be hard to sell her. But, as you say, we can’t keep them all.

Didn't your DH make a milker for you?

Yes, he made me a really nice milk stand.

We are going to have to figure out a way to extend the length, though. Our Nubian is out growing it before I even started milking her. The last time I put her on it, to trim hooves, she was stepping off the back. I think we are going to disconnect the stanchion, from the front end and extend it out that way, by adding some stacked 2x4’s and then reattaching the stanchion.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

The milk IS like heavy cream.

Could be traces of colostrum....I hear it tastes pretty icky.

 

[Devonviolet]

Could be traces of colostrum....I hear it tastes pretty icky.

That's what I was thinking.

 

[Mini Horses]

Well, yeah, It is still a good amount of colostrum but, it wasn't a bad taste. It surprised me but, had to taste. Plus it is true that some goats give milk of a different taste. Just like butterfat is different. I consider myself fortunate however it happened.

2X4 at front, even a piece of plywood over and angled support from stanchion legs to out edge of extension should be fine. You sure want to keep the "rear" open with the metal base you have -- things can fall thru Yep, those Nubians are usually larger than LaManchas. Mine have been good disposition wise.

Now, the "milker" I was referring to was a milking machine. I believe you said DH made you an electric on with pulsator...am I dreaming? (That does happen). If so, any details?

ETA: Glad you have a little more time to post and join us of late. Hope your surgery is healing well now...you deserve "no pain".

 

[Devonviolet]

Yep, those Nubians are usually larger than LaManchas. Mine have been good disposition wise.

Now, the "milker" I was referring to was a milking machine. I believe you said DH made you an electric on with pulsator...am I dreaming? (That does happen). If so, any details?

Yes, Rosemary is considerably bigger than my LaMancha’s. All of our goats are gentle. Even Danny Boy has learned that being aggressive isn’t profitable. Violet won’t tolerate him head butting us and he either gets his toes stepped on or an ear pulled, if he tries it on us, when we aren’t distracted. That being said, Rosemary is a sweet girl. Although, she doesn’t take much cr@p from the twins. I have to wonder if she knows she is my favorite? I do tend to hand her treats first.

ETA: Glad you have a little more time to post and join us of late. Hope your surgery is healing well now...you deserve "no pain".

Awwww, thanks for noticing. I am healing ... slowly. My foot is still puffy, and if I am on it too much it swells a bit more and is sore. The doctor wasn’t able to fix everything (like nerve damage) so I will always have shooting nerve pain and arthritis.

I am still wearing the post-surgical shoe, that the doctor wants me to wear, but I am still having having some of the same pain in my ankle that the surgery was supposed to fix - which is concerning. I have a followup appointment, on Tues. so I will ask him about that at the appointment.

ETA: Duh! I forgot to answer the question about the milking machine. Yes, DH did make me a milker. Right now I’m just hand milking, because I am only getting about a quart. This morning I got five cups though. I am going to have to start using it pretty soon, though, because I have essential tremors, and the shaking makes it hard to hold a jar and milk into it. Also, my hands tire easily. I used to be able to type really fast, but my typing has slowed down considerably, because the tremors cause me to double and triple type letters. And I have to go back and delete duplicate letters. GRRR!

 

[Devonviolet]

I started making Kefir, using our local Jersey Girl's milk , back in February.. So, my new Kefir grains have been multiplying & increasing in size.

Up until yesterday I was feeding Angelica' milk to the dogs & cats, because it had that weird taste early milk gets. So, yesterday was the first day I made goat milk Kefir.

In the past, I used dehydrated Kefir grains, and they made good Kefir, nut they never multiplied or grew, the way I had seen them grow in youtube videos.

This new batch, that I bought in February, are growing like gangbusters! I am so excited! I started with 1 tsp of fresh Kefir grains & the following pic shows what I have this morning.

ETA: No, @Baymule. I don't have enough Kefir to sell yet. I'm still only getting 6 cups of goat milk a day, which i just a little over our needs. So, maybe next week, I will have enough Kefir for you.