frustratedearthmother
Herd Master
- Joined
- May 7, 2013
- Messages
- 8,479
- Reaction score
- 16,820
- Points
- 673
One goat enough?
- Thread starter archerobx
- Start date
babsbag
Herd Master
Brat.
I have to tell my husband that too or I may end with only goats in my life.
Goat Whisperer
Herd Master
Wow babs, you make me feel bad 
A life AND milking????????
@archerobx
Personally, I think starting with one doe to milk is best if its a large breed. Its a good practice run before you take the plunge and try to 5,7,10 etc. It really helps prepare you and understand the basics
It also helps as you learn to utilize the milk itself, you don't want to throw milk down the drain.
A life AND milking????????
@archerobx
Personally, I think starting with one doe to milk is best if its a large breed. Its a good practice run before you take the plunge and try to 5,7,10 etc. It really helps prepare you and understand the basics
It also helps as you learn to utilize the milk itself, you don't want to throw milk down the drain.
Southern by choice
Herd Master
Wow babs, you make me feel bad
A life AND milking????????
@archerobx
Personally, I think starting with one doe to milk is best if its a large breed. Its a good practice run before you take the plunge and try to 5,7,10 etc. It really helps prepare you and understand the basics
It also helps as you learn to utilize the milk itself, you don't want to throw milk down the drain.
GW - goats ARE your life
- Thread starter
- #15
Goat Whisperer
Herd Master
I would have to disagree
Right now I am milking 7 does, we get about 40 pounds of milk a day. We have three more does left to kid, they will be getting milked 2x a day just like the other 7 (one doe will be sold several weeks sfter kidding). Oh yeah, I also hand milk.
Let me tell you, there is not way I could from zero to 10 goats fresh without "working up to it" so to speak. You might, but most other folks hands could not handle it.
The average family cannot use more then 8lbs of milk a day. I have seen so many people start by milking one or 2 standard sized goats get overwhelmed because they are getting so much milk and have no time to process it.
The time it takes to milk one goat vs ten goats is very different. If you decided to get a machine and do several at a time that would be different, but that is a big investment to spend 2+ grand on a milker.
Our does aren't total chow hounds, but feed costs will go up.
Again, I just see so many get overwhelmed so I thought I'd chime in
Start with one or 2 and see how it goes There is a reason why most people get out of goats within 3 years.- Thread starter
- #17
3 is a good number for me. Maybe I'll breed her in Dec.
to me this is fun. Chickens, turkeys, game birds and goats. Maybe because I was s beach bum till moving up here. To my wife's family, animals are work and a job.
Please chime in. All opinions are welcome. I want people to tell me things they have learned
to me this is fun. Chickens, turkeys, game birds and goats. Maybe because I was s beach bum till moving up here. To my wife's family, animals are work and a job.
Please chime in. All opinions are welcome. I want people to tell me things they have learned
babsbag
Herd Master
I used to milk only one 2x a day and it was fun. Kind of a zen to it. When I got carpal tunnel from work (not milking) and I started using a machine for milking then I agree with your father in law, one is as much work as 50, still have to clean the machine and that is the hardest part. But when milking by hand one is fun.
