Post by paisleypastures on Oct 27, 2012 19:32:26 GMT -5
I finally figured out how to make the Perry Milker work and took it to the barn today for our first go round.
I was thrilled that Ms Moo stood for me. She was milked in a dairy by a machine for 3 years but since her calf was stillborn hasn't let me milk her by hand-something I did from Feb-July of this year. We learned together how to milk by hand. After birth she just wouldn't stop kicking me so I got two bull calves and she would tolerate them but she had recently becoming less than thrilled with that I was really wanting my share of her milk!
So I didn't bother with a teat wash or even washing the bucket. I was able to get the inflation tubes on her without much issue but twice the line from two different tubes came off. Not the line with the milk in it but the line that must do something with the air.
Her milk flowed fairly well but she did not empty at all. The quarters did not empty evenly and on her largest teat I had the worst time getting the tube off of her. I had to stand behind the gate because she was back to kicking but I understand-it must have hurt awful with me pulling on that teat cup. When the entire thing finally fell to the ground she promptly pooped on it. I was on my knees behind a huge wooden gate so I couldn't retrieve it in time.
I am unsure on a few things and can't seem to find a video to help learn.
How do I transition from milking to stopping the milk flow to remove the inflation tubes without exposing the milk in the bucket to the air? I ended up out of desperation removing the 8ft long plastic tube from the pump with the switch just for easy handling but I didn't like taking the entire thing apart. As soon as the vaccuum stopped the lid on the bucket popped off and there was all my milk exposed to the air.
Does anyone use anything besides bleach to clean the parts? I would really rather not use that much bleach. Twice a day seems like so much-and I don't have a place to pour that water as I don't want bleach around the house.
I turned up the pressure a bit because the milk didn't seem to be flowing as quickly as I expected. When I bought the machine I was told she should be milked in about 5 minutes. It was about 3x that long and she still had milk in her udders when I decided to unhook her.
This has been one heck of an experience-that's for sure!
Thanks!
I was thrilled that Ms Moo stood for me. She was milked in a dairy by a machine for 3 years but since her calf was stillborn hasn't let me milk her by hand-something I did from Feb-July of this year. We learned together how to milk by hand. After birth she just wouldn't stop kicking me so I got two bull calves and she would tolerate them but she had recently becoming less than thrilled with that I was really wanting my share of her milk!
So I didn't bother with a teat wash or even washing the bucket. I was able to get the inflation tubes on her without much issue but twice the line from two different tubes came off. Not the line with the milk in it but the line that must do something with the air.
Her milk flowed fairly well but she did not empty at all. The quarters did not empty evenly and on her largest teat I had the worst time getting the tube off of her. I had to stand behind the gate because she was back to kicking but I understand-it must have hurt awful with me pulling on that teat cup. When the entire thing finally fell to the ground she promptly pooped on it. I was on my knees behind a huge wooden gate so I couldn't retrieve it in time.
I am unsure on a few things and can't seem to find a video to help learn.
How do I transition from milking to stopping the milk flow to remove the inflation tubes without exposing the milk in the bucket to the air? I ended up out of desperation removing the 8ft long plastic tube from the pump with the switch just for easy handling but I didn't like taking the entire thing apart. As soon as the vaccuum stopped the lid on the bucket popped off and there was all my milk exposed to the air.
Does anyone use anything besides bleach to clean the parts? I would really rather not use that much bleach. Twice a day seems like so much-and I don't have a place to pour that water as I don't want bleach around the house.
I turned up the pressure a bit because the milk didn't seem to be flowing as quickly as I expected. When I bought the machine I was told she should be milked in about 5 minutes. It was about 3x that long and she still had milk in her udders when I decided to unhook her.
This has been one heck of an experience-that's for sure!
Thanks!