We bought our second Nubian milking doe yesterday — her name is Honey — and she is such an easy milker. She didn’t come with her kid, so we can have all the milk. 
She loves us already, or at least we think it is love. Perhaps we are confusing it with security and loneliness. 
When we’re not with her, she circles the house calling to us. I think she is probably calling her baby, too. But it is funny, because she stays tight to our sides when we’re out there with her. Boy, is she vocal, too ~ staring right at us through the window and bellowing as loud as can be. We’re sure the neighbors LOVE it!
From now having the benefit of milking two different does in the last week, comparing the two gives me an assessment of sorts.
I think Belle (our first milking doe) has been stressed by the move and caring for her babies and not eating enough. I also think we messed up by not giving her evening feedings. However, last night, we did feed her in the evening. This morning, she gave an additional 1/4 cup of milk. Also, we narrowed down that she doesn’t like the alfalfa pellets, which is why she hasn’t been eating up on the milking stand even if we do feed her. So I’m adding just a few alfalfa pellets mixed in with her grain mix, and hoping that over time, she’ll accept them. Ultimately, I’d rather feed her more alfalfa and less grain, so that’s where I’m headed…
After milking Honey this morning, whose udder was so full, I can tell now that Belle just doesn’t have much milk to give us. Like I said before, I think is partly because she’s stressed, partly because she’s feeding two babies, and partly because she’s not eating enough to sustain that kind of production. And partly because of my inexperience, though that is improving rapidly as regards the milking.
I got almost 4 cups of milk from Honey (our newest doe) this morning in almost no time. Her udder was so full. And she didn’t push back on me, so it wasn’t so exhausting. We’re beginning to wonder about Belle – for so sweet and mild mannered a goat, why is she so difficult during milking? I have to say though that today, since we made sure she had her beloved oat mix during feeding, it went much better.
My goodness what an experience! We love it though. It was so incredibly satisfying to bring in 5+ cups of milk this morning. After I milked Honey, I said to everyone, “This quart of milk cost us $200, do you think it was worth it?” Over time, I think it will. Gallons of raw goat milk around here are $7 each. That can add up quickly. So can feed, so it is important that we figure that out the healthiest, most economical way.
Thanks for listening ~ I appreciate all the comments and suggestions I’m getting. It means the world to me that you’re all cheering us on and offering helpful suggestions as we go.
Oh, she is so sweet! I think she’s simply beautiful!
Naomi
Wow, you guys are going through a getting-to-know-you period!
It will get easier, I’m sure!
I don’t have a lot of experience with milking animals, but isn’t it true that the girl you are milking has to “let down” her milk? If she is feeling stressed or crabby, she won’t relax and let her milk down, and you won’t get much (nor will her babies right afterwards if she’s still feeling annoyed). Though certainly it’s necessary for her to learn that milking is mandatory, I think you just have to accept the physiology that goes along with that kind of disciplinary wrestling match!
Not to mention, if YOU are are feeling anxious by the situation, that’s only adding to the dilemma. You’ll have to try to communicate calmness and confidence. 
I think you have to get her to calm down and kind of be in “mommy mode” where she’s feeling affection and letting her milk flow, similar to the state she’d be in if she were nursing her own young. And find some way to really reward her when she does what you want (which may be ending the milking session, in the short term).
Also, I think that many people leverage the fact that if you pull her young completely, you are the only one who can offer her relief from a full bag. So, she’ll learn that milking is a good thing. But that’s after she gets over the other stressors.
Maybe you can work separately on improving your relationship with her, with massage and petting, and find some sweet treats that she loves (apples? carrots?), for extra training reinforcers. For the short term, even wet (molasses) grain might be worth the sugary awfulness, just to get her trained? A literal spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down…
Massage, I find, goes a long way towards settling down an upset animal. It triggers endorphins and naturally relaxes, as well as gives you a chance to show that you’re not all bad, that you do nice things too!
Bottle-fed babies are usually much easier to work with in this regard, because they are so tame and bonded to humans already. I’m sure that’s another reason why people consider that a “selling point.” Perhaps even though Honey was not a bottle baby, she may have had more handling growing up, making her easier to handle now. And maybe her temperament is just calmer-something to consider when making breeding decisions in the future, on sire choices and whose babies to keep!
Don’t give up, goats are smart, you’ll get Belle trained and liking you! I don’t doubt Naomi will put in the time required to make her into a star milker!
Michelle
I’ll be honest that I do not know anything about farm animals other than chickens. We are not “farm” people, I just do not have what it takes to do that life style though I am enjoying reading about how this is all working for you and your family. I wish you all the very best as you work toward a more healthy way of life.
This is the crux of the matter with all animal raising, throw in time involvement too, this is where my head and heart are – the balancing act. This is why we need to learn to work with the land to support us in our efforts in this regard – I wonder what Joe Salatin would have to say about goat raising *grin*
Michelle – your post is full of such wisdom, I really enjoyed reading it.
Honey looks very smart! Her color isn’t as pretty as Belle’s, but pretty is as pretty does.
Belle is probably just stressed and you’ll have to take extra care of her. Poor Honey – sounds like she talks her stress out!
My friend said a quart per goat was normal in a milking. I continue to pray for your milking success! Thanking Jesus for 5 3/4 cups!
Honey is beautiful! So is Belle! Great work, Wardeh, Jeff, Haniya, Naomi and Mikah! Miss being there. Love, Mom
It’s so exciting! I’m glad that Honey seems like a good fit for you. She’s a beauty!
We buy goat yogurt occasionally but not raw. I took the children on a field trip to a goat farm and they milked a goat and we drank the milk raw. It was wonderful, so sweet and creamy with hardly no goat taste. I believe they were nubians too. The Farmers used lamas as their shepherds.
How fun, they look so cute!
missing you all
Michelle –
Thank you so much for sharing so many ideas. I don’t think the milk letting down is an issue. I have heard that, too, but her milk is there. She’s not holding it up. She just doesn’t have very much. I’m almost completely sure of this – and the fault lies with her not getting enough to eat – I’m almost sure of this too. We are now grinding up the alfalfa pellets in the Vita-Mix (!!) and she’s eating them and much more content during feedings. But she’s so picky! The oats mix IS coated with molasses and she doesn’t much want it. (We are using up old feed and making some decisions about future feed right now.) Watching her last night while eating, I noticed that she seems to eat only what her tongue will pick up – weird? I don’t know! So the smaller oat flakes and the ground up alfalfa passes her “tongue test”! We are relieved that she really likes the alfalfa now. I guess it was just the size.
It was good of you to point out the bonding. We have been spending much time with Belle and her babies. They seem to be happy and they like us, come up to us, want to be petted, stay near us, etc.
When going through this, it is hard to know what is going wrong – we’re dealing with a transition, babies, food, and then newbies at milking, too! In general everything is going well, but I keep coming back to (kicking myself) not realizing how important it is for the goat to have a good feeding twice a day in order to support milking such as we have in mind. We don’t intend to overburden her, but we’d like to get more than she’s giving now!
Mindy, Jami, Elaine, Mom, Mary, and Christina — hello to you all and thanks for your encouragement!