Got Milk?

Hmmm, I think milking is a bust this season. There is so much that we don't know.

It's been hard to get more than a few ounces out of Hyacinth. In my reading on goat websites yesterday, one of the dairy owners said that she doesn't even bother to milk her first time "fresheners" (to freshen is to have a kid and start producing milk) because they often only produce enough to feed their kids. She waits until their second or third freshening. Then she can usually get up to a gallon a day from the good milk producers.

So, I should have gotten a doe that has had kids before if I wanted milk this season, which I did. I'm wondering if after the kids are weaned, I can continue to milk a little from her until it's time to dry her off?

Also discovered that you cannot stagger the does so that you have one in milk all year. They are seasonal breeders, so after they are bred, you have to stop milking them until after their kids are born. Basically, there is no milk production during the winter. Which is a good thing, actually, because who wants to get up on freezing cold winter mornings to go milk goats? Not me. Also, the milk can be frozen up to a year, so it is possible to store up milk for the winter.