MamaGoat is our only source of fresh milk now. She's still giving just a tad over a quart, once a day. Just enough for cereal & the occasional baked item that calls for milk. MamaGoat is due to kid on March 21st, so I'll stop milking her right after Christmas in order to give her a three month break. I'd give her the full three months if I stopped on the 21st, but I just couldn't fathom the idea of Christmas cookies without fresh milk.
When I suspected the milk flow was ebbing, I started freezing some of the milk in empty water bottles:
They are the perfect size for thawing just enough to get Rhiannon (and me) through the looooooong milk-less hump before Spring kidding.
Every year I dread the thought of the milk spigot being turned off. And maybe one day I'll actually spread out the kidding dates to give us a year-round supply of milk. Nettie is due on February 24th or March 2nd, so we'll be back in the milk business soon afterwards. But until then, we'll just enjoy what fresh goat-goodness we have now and ration the frozen supply. And I can "enjoy" two months of not having to freeze my buns off in the milk parlor.
Ah, yes, I can remember and relate to the "no milk" or "no milking" unhappy happiness! So wise of you to stash those bottles of the good white stuff in the freezer . . . oh, Wise Woman.
ReplyDeleteNot so much "Wise" as "Hungry".
DeleteI miss really good goats milk....we grew up on goats milk. I enjoy reading your posts thanks for sharing...
ReplyDeleteThe first time I had goat milk was when we got our goats! Good think I liked it, hugh?! :)
DeleteI had no idea you could freeze milk -- great idea. On a similar note, I wish I could freeze eggs...the hens have just about stopped laying until spring hits.
ReplyDeleteI occasionally freeze extra milk for making goat milk soap (then just defrost it when I need it), but usually only freeze the extra near the end for getting us though the two or three dry months. I find it easier to freeze them in the smaller bottles because sometimes we don't go through a whole gallon quick enough.
DeleteI am down to milking one doe as well. I am getting just a tad under one quart in the evening. I have a lot of milk frozen in Ziploc bags. They stack up nice but are a pain in the butt when you thaw them as they always, always leak. Wish I had room for the water bottles. Tonight is my last milking night. My girl is due in March too along with 13 others. (I don't spread my does out either) It's just easier having kids all the same size. Maybe next year.
ReplyDeleteWHY can't they make zippy bags that DON'T leak!?! That drives me NUTS! Thriteen pregnant goats?! Wow. And Paul thought I was crazy for having eight kiddings.
DeleteI think we may have finally caught up with you guys in the snow department up here.
ReplyDeleteLeast it's not as cold :)
Ha ha! (oops, did I say that aloud?)
DeleteHope it melts sooner than later.
Ours should be gone by Monday afternoon.
Your milking situation sounds the same as mine now. I think it's time to dry Surprise off. I've not had much luck freezing milk however, so it's down to the bulk food store for raw cows milk until kidding starts.
ReplyDeleteThat's what I am trying to do with the Jersey heifer, who, btw, still hasn't calved! But I will have to change her calving date from what it currently is.
ReplyDeleteI almost quit drinking milk when Willow was dry.