Post by Lannie on Mar 12, 2011 12:56:46 GMT -5
Finally, after all this time, through all the preparation, frustration, and agony, tonight I'm going to use the belly milker on Cricket. I've been putting the surcingle on her at every milking, and running the pump, and she's totally used to that, but tonight I hang the bucket on there and attach the inflations. I actually don't foresee a problem with it, but I wanted to run this by you guys first. I was going to put her in the stanchion with her pellets, put the surcingle on, hang the bucket on it, turn on the pump, and then wash up her udder. I figured this way, she'd have a minute or two to get used to the weight of the bucket hanging on the strap, and if she DID fuss over it, at least I wouldn't be trying to get inflations on her while she was doing it.
Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but I should let the inflations just hang while the pump works up to the correct vacuum, right? THEN put the inflations on? As I lift each one to put it on her, it will lose suction, right? But once it's up against the end of her teat, it should suck on, right? I've never really seen this done, so I'm guessing at all this, and if there's some serious flaw in my thinking, let me know so I don't screw up too badly the first time I use this.
Please don't tell me to pinch any hoses, because this is new rubber (very stiff and inflexible) and my hands are shot. I've tried to pinch these hoses, and I don't have the strength in my fingers anymore. If a pinch is REQUIRED, it will have to be done with pliers, so tell me if I need to bring some kind of tool with me, OK?
~Lannie
Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but I should let the inflations just hang while the pump works up to the correct vacuum, right? THEN put the inflations on? As I lift each one to put it on her, it will lose suction, right? But once it's up against the end of her teat, it should suck on, right? I've never really seen this done, so I'm guessing at all this, and if there's some serious flaw in my thinking, let me know so I don't screw up too badly the first time I use this.
Please don't tell me to pinch any hoses, because this is new rubber (very stiff and inflexible) and my hands are shot. I've tried to pinch these hoses, and I don't have the strength in my fingers anymore. If a pinch is REQUIRED, it will have to be done with pliers, so tell me if I need to bring some kind of tool with me, OK?
~Lannie