Post by organicmommy on Oct 29, 2009 10:03:49 GMT -5
So our Miss Bessie is only 2 years old and with this being her first calf, and our first time milking we are trying to prepare for this as best we can. Every day we take her into her stanchion and feed her, and I sit beside her petting her, talking to her and recently I started washing and drying off her udder so that she is prepared for that as well. However since I started doing that not just trying to get her accustom to having them touched she has started kicking more. Now I am all for teaching her that this is not acceptable and I think that as time goes on and she gets used to it all will be good. However, I have 3 young children (all 5 and under) and I will be the primary milker so I have to be able to do this with a certain amount of cooperation ( I know that may be asking a lot from a new mama right)
So I am trying to figure out what I should do about the kicking. I am not fond of having to use a device for this but I am wondering if I should start that way and as she gets used to being milked I think she will do find without it. She has such a beautiful personality and has done so well with us.
So I guess my question is what would your recommend to me as a new milker and a heifer that is still learning as well.
Oh we are going to be using a bucket milker to start and hope to go to hand milking over time. That is my preference but dh is leary of me starting that way with her since I will have the kiddos around all the time for starters and we need to figure out how Miss Bessie is going to deal with it.
Hugs and thanks for all the help
Jessica
So I am trying to figure out what I should do about the kicking. I am not fond of having to use a device for this but I am wondering if I should start that way and as she gets used to being milked I think she will do find without it. She has such a beautiful personality and has done so well with us.
So I guess my question is what would your recommend to me as a new milker and a heifer that is still learning as well.
Oh we are going to be using a bucket milker to start and hope to go to hand milking over time. That is my preference but dh is leary of me starting that way with her since I will have the kiddos around all the time for starters and we need to figure out how Miss Bessie is going to deal with it.
Hugs and thanks for all the help
Jessica