Milking

See that blue strap on the back of the goats legs?  That is the "goat hobble" I mentioned in my last post.  This was this goat's first time EVER being milked.  She is just 2 years old, and just had her first baby.  This goat was not bottle raised, and so is not comfortable with people.  Still, her first time being milked literally took me all of 5 minutes (not including catching her, just the "hands on" portion).  See that container I am holding?  That is a 1/2 gallon, and she probably could have given a full gallon judging by the size of her udder, but I am leaving the kid on her for a few more days and will only milk her once per day.

I had to secure her leg with that orange string to keep her from leaning and falling of the stand, but, all in all, with the goat hobble and and a milking stand and stanchion this was a breeze.  In 2 weeks I will bet you that this goat will hop right up, get a snack, and not require the hobble.

This batch was for homemade yogurt, and we plan to make some homemade cheese this weekend.  Plus, I like goat milk in my coffee.

It takes me less than 15 minutes to go "out" for milk and eggs.  My older son helped lead the goat to the stand as my 5 month old daughter looks on.

After a tough day of milking we put up my 2-year-old's tree swing. A couple of neighbors came by to help. I have to say that Country neighbors are a whole different animal than one's neighbors in say, New York City. The 11 year old girl in the picture usually stops over every day when I am in my garden to fill me in on her day, and that handsome young man in the hat is a most gifted country music singer and song writer. I am going to put one of his songs on youtube.com tonight and I will link it here. He is unbelievable.