How to Milk a Goat, for the 1st time

Pictures would come in handy here

Last night was our first try at milking Patch. We do not have a stanchion built, yet. My husband did pull out the supplies to build one last night however. We tempted Patch with some food, and lead her up the ramp that the other goats use to get drinks from the cattle tank.

I used warm water like I do on my cows, and washed her udders as good as I could, then dried. The entire time being kicked by little hooven feet. I scratched her belly like I do with my ladies before milking them, and that seemed to calm Patch down a bit, until I attempted to grab me a handful of teat. I was kicked. Patch apparently needs dinner and a movie before I am allowed to get fresh with her. She continued to side step away from me, until she was in my husband's lap. I was having a real difficult time getting her started. I did it just like the family I bought her from did, well, I guess not. My husband however, got it the first try. So I allowed him to get it going. But then he didn't stop.

I held Patch's collar as my husband got fresh with Patch. No, I'm good, I wasn't jealous of Patch. She would kick him, then slowly raise her leg like a dog about to spray, and stand there for a few seconds, before kicking. I don't know if she yet knows if we are to be trusted. It is a lot like milking a cow, except you have to gather more of the teat in your hand, and there is really no pulling down, just squeezing.

We got almost 2 quarts of milk from her last night. I filtered it and placed it in the freezer for 1 hour, just as I was told to do to help with the goaty flavor. It doesn't smell any different than cows milk. It's even a brighter white than what my ladies give me. It is in my coffee right now. I will bring up the courage to do a shot of it here shortly. I know, wuss.

This evening a stanchion shall be built.

on another note. My husband discovered the "OH MY" spot on Lott. He likes to be scratched really roughly behind the horns. We have a slight issue with him trying to get into the barn when I am milking in the mornings, so I have taken on tricking him with feed like I have to do with Mama (who should be going into heat any day now) We are also prepping for a harvest dinner. If you would like to join us, email me, and I will tell you how to get here, and when it is. The only thing I ask is that you bring a locally made beverage, and a chair.