It had been years since I hand milked goats, but the last couple of weeks I have done so.
We experienced string after string of thunderstorms. During one of those runs I lost my milk machine.
My milk machine is an antique. It is bolted to the feed room floor, with compressor air forced through PVC pipe, down the other side of the room to the valves and hoses where the milk stands are located. It is a dandy system.
I have 14 dairy does in milk. All but 3 have kids nursing on them. As soon as I lost the machine I dropped my hand milking down to the 3. Problems with my wrists would not allow me to milk over a dozen goats twice a day!
Hand milking really is enjoyable, except when the milk room is nearing 100 degrees. A fan helps. I am wearing shorts again in the barn, forget the long jeans! The humidity and heat has been nearly unbearable. One day as I milked I laid wet cool wash cloths on my legs. It worked.
No complaints here. I chose dairy goats. Milking, picking up loads of feed and hay, tending to kid goats, and a dedicated schedule are all a part of it. I said to my husband one day, “I feel like I am neglecting my soap-making time.” He reminded me that the jobs that I do are, “All a part of it.” It definitely is, the wise-man was right.
I will continue to hand milk until the kids are weaned. Then I will have more than 3 does to milk.
The decision making starts. Do I spend a royal fortune on a new machine, or have one built, buy another one used, or attempt to hand-milk them all? Milking is a peaceful type of thing. I do enjoy it, but it affects me day and night. I will figure it out.
Life on the farm, full of surprises and challenges. All loved.
Have a beautiful day!
Annies Goat Hill Handcrafted Soaps 
Sorry to read about your antique milking machine. I like your husband’s way of stating the sometimes not so obvious, it is ALL part of the process you love. I forget that too, I have a lot to do with my sheep and wool , but I am doing what i love and the work is also part of it, not really work when we think about it that way…labors of love!
We all need a nudge now and then to remind us that it is all a part of it.
Yes, Kathy, I hate to see the old machine go as well. I had been purchased by several owners through the years, 3 that I know of before us. I wonder sometimes where it sat, what it milked, and who used it.
We’ve always hand milked here when we were still milking goats that is, haven’t milked for years now.
I’ll miss milking goats some day. Hand or machine, either one.
In the long run – if it hurts you – don’t do it for the long run. If your hands are painful you won’t be able to do some of the other tasks which result in your beautiful soaps and lotions. Craigslist and pursue other avenues of finding a decent condition used machine – surely as many “why don’t I just try this – it sounds like fun” goat milkers as there are – they must be selling off their equipment after a few years of all that hard work and expense. Yes the heat is difficult – yet another reason we don’t do the goats in any profitable way – they are a tax exemption for our land and a fascinating livestock for us. Bless your heart –
Linda Sue, you put things into perspective. Pain is pain, and it also means a lack of sleep, which definitely affects other things that we (I) do in life. A well-oiled machine means we have the right things in place to make it run smoothly. Bless you!
Is is beyond repair? Maybe you can find another one like it and take two to make one. I know it’s antique, but you never know.
Good luck!!
I actually do have a back up, a twin (for certain parts back up). But the parts needed are not helpful.
Start the machine up and the lights in the barn dim and flash. Not good.