Maggidan's Minis Farm

Breeder of Quality NPGA Registered Pygmy Goats

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[ Maggidans Milker ] Maggidans Maternity Kit ] Fecal Test Kit ]

Maggidans Milker and Accessories
and
A Book by Maggie Leman
Eating Our Curds and Whey, Simple Cheesemaking

  

 
The Original Maggidans Milker, Milker with Optional Half Gallon Receptacle and Inline filter, Pint and Half Gallon Receptacles


Using our Maggidans Milker

Milk nearly any breed of livestock with ease!

There is no collection jar to empty, the milk goes right into your milk bucket, or container!

Manufactured with all food or medical grade components.

Collect and save lifesaving colostrum and milk for orphaned newborns.

Now there is NO EXCUSE not to enjoy your own goat’s milk treats.

$45.00

This milker works best on goats with normal cylindrical teats with no teat spurs, extra teats, fishtail teats, etc.  The teat cup must be able to firmly contact the udder at the top of the teat, very much like a regular milking machine inflation.  For misshapen teats it may be possible to use a larger teat cup to make it work.  The teat cup that comes standard with your Maggidan's Milker is sized for pygmies and other miniature goats.  It may work for other goats, but for just $2.00 we will include a larger teat cup.  We also carry a pump repair kit and replacement hose.

We warranty our Magidans Milker for 30 days after purchase.  If you don't like it for any reason we will refund your money less postage when you return the Maggidans Milker in clean condition.

Helpful Suggestions

Try moistening the top of the teat cup to get a good seal before putting the teat cup on to get a better seal.

Milk a squirt or two out by hand to signal the doe to let down her milk.  You might also massage or gently bump the udder like their kid does to help milk let down.  If they are nursing their kids you might hold the kid in front of them. 

I find that once I have the teat cup firmly on the nipple if I squeeze fairly quickly but release the handle more slowly some does will milk better. 

I find that some does milk better if you gently pull downward on the teat cup once it is firmly on the teat. 

It does take a good bit of suction to get a good flow of milk.  A regular milking machine will dang near pull your finger off. You will not see the teat move up and down in the teat cup once you have sufficient vacuum to get milk flow, so if you are seeing the teat move with each pump you do not have enough suction.  The teat cup should be on tightly enough that you have to break the suction at the top to get it off, it won't come off just because you stop pumping.

If you have a filter on your Milker you might try it without the filter.  The filter can change the vacuum level and it may be easier to learn to use the Milker without the filter first.     

There should be at least an inch of clearance from the tip of the teat to the bottom of the teat cup for milk to flow.

Does with conical teats (wide at the top) may like the larger teat cup.  You can get a 35 cc teat cup (from your vet and at many feedstores, or give us a call...) that has a wider barrel for milking miniature goats with conical teats.

Troubleshooting Tips

We have had a few people have a problem with suddenly losing suction.  This is most often due to a tiny hair or bit of milkstone holding the one of the pump valves open.  For a quicky fix you might try holding the blue tipped nozzle and the teat cup under water and pumping 5 to 10 times to clear the problem.  This usually works.  If it doesn't then further investigation is needed to figure out exactly where the problem lies.  Detach all of the hoses.  Remove the blue luer nut from the nozzle end of the pump too, exposing the metal  tip.  First put you finger over the nozzle (where the milk comes out) and squeeze the pump. If you can't compress it all the way then the the piston valve is working as it should.  Squeeze the pump and hold it, now put your finger over the rear inlet hole (where the tubing from the teat cup fits) and release the pump.  It should hold a vacuum.  If it doesn't then the nozzle valve is stuck open.  Most often you will find it is the nozzle valve that is malfunctioning.

Try this, immerse the entire pump under warm soapy water pump the handle several times.  This will often dislodge the obstruction.  Now remove the clear barrel and thoroughly flush it in case the obstruction has been sucked back into the barrel just waiting to block the valve again.  If this doesn't do the trick, remove the clear barrel and look down inside it toward the nozzle end.  You will see 3 tiny holes, insert a toothpick through one of the holes and "work the valve" while flushing to dislodge the obstruction.  Sometimes you can even see the hair stuck in the valve.  If you still have a problem PLEASE call us, we will do everything we can to get you back in operation.

Occasionally the inline filter makes it difficult to maintain adequate vacuum for goats that are slow to milk.  If you are having problems milking certain goats try removing your inline filter.  This allows for a faster build up of vacuum and for a higher vacuum to be maintained.  This may be necessary for those goats that have slow let down or a restricted flow as well as those goats that milk very well with a strong flow.

Click Here to Watch The Video!

Using Your Maggidan's Milker

 

Eating Our Curds And Whey

Simple Cheesemaking
A Book By Maggie Leman

$9.00

Ready to venture into cheesemaking?  It's simple, fun and delicious!  I wrote this booklet to go with a simple cheesemaking course I sometimes teach.  It focuses on simple to make cheeses like yogurt and yogurt cheese, queso blanco, cottage cheese, chevre, ricotta and feta.  It also includes over 30 recipes using your homemade dairy delights!  Order it today for just $9.00.

Table of Contents

MAY I INTRODUCE MYSELF?
CHEESEMAKING EQUIPMENT
    List of Equipment
    Preparing Your Utensils
DIFFERENT KINDS OF CHEESE
CHEESEMAKING INGREDIENTS
    Milk
    Cultures
    Rennet
    Acid Coagulation
QUESO BLANCO
NATURAL COTTAGE CHEESE
YOGURT CHEESE
CHEVRE, FROMAGE BLANC, OR LACTIC CHEESE
YOGURT
FETA CHEESE
RICOTTA
MAKING CHEESE IN MAGGIE’S KITCHEN   
VANILLA YOGURT
FRESH FRUIT YOGURT
FRUIT JAM YOGURT
FROZEN YOGURT
TROPICAL FRUIT POPS
DILL CUCUMBERS AND YOGURT
SPINACH AND FETA CHEESE DIP
GNOCCHI
MAGGIE’S CREAMY CHEESE SAUCE
WARM POTATO AND GOAT CHEESE SALAD
PASTA WITH HERBED GOAT CHEESE AND ASPARAGUS
STRAWBERRY CAPRI PIE
SMOKED SALMON AND GOAT CHEESE OMELETTE
STIR FRIED QUESO BLANCO
JOE CASTRO’S KENTUCKY SPOON BREAD WITH GOAT CHEESE AND COUNTRY HAM
PASTA WITH SHRIMP AND SPINACH
CHILLED CURRY CHICKEN
FROMAGE BLANC APPLE BUTTER CHEESECAKE
GILBERT’S FAVORITE RECIPE
FETTUCCINE CASSEROLE
GOAT CHEESE TORTA
GOURMET LUNCH
QUICK AND ELEGANT
GOAT CHEESE BLINIS
CHEVRE DESSERT
BAKED CHEVRE
MEDITERRANEAN FETA CHEESE DIP
GRAVLAX
SPINACH AND FETA QUICHE
RESOURCES

Buy instantly and securely on line using PayPal  You do not need a PayPal account to pay!  For other shopping options or if you live outside the US or Canada see the bottom of the page for instructions.

Maggidans Milker  $45.00  Click here for details and to watch a video
Includes a small teat cup for milking miniature breeds of goats, most sheep and most llamas and alpacas

Items Sold Separately:

Softcover Book - Eating Our Curds and Whey by Maggie Leman $9.00 Click here for details
Ready to venture into simple cheesemaking?  Its easy and fun and very tasty!
SPGC 2008 Pygmy Goat Gestation Calendar  $5.00  PRICED TO MOVE!
Featuring cute pictures of pygmy goats from the SPGC members' farms.  Of course the gestation dates work for any breed of goat, based on a 145 day gestation period.
Pint Milk Receptacle with vented lid and connector hose $8.00
Ideal for collecting colostrum
Half Gallon Milk Receptacle with vented lid and connector hose $12.00
Great for everyday milking
One Gallon Milk Receptacle with vented lid and connector hose  $15.95  NEWLY REDUCED!
Even Bigger!
Larger Teat Cup  $2.00
For standard dairy goats, meat goats, sheep and other livestock
Replacement Smaller Teat Cup  $2.00
This is the size that comes with the Maggidans Milker.  But it is always good to have a spare!
Pump Repair Kit  $10.00
Includes clear barrel with valve tip and plunger o-Ring
Replacement hose fittings  3 for $2.00
These fit on the teat cup or on the pump nozzle
Replacement Receptacle fittings  3 for $2.00
These fittings are the ones that are inserted through the receptacle lid.
In Line Milk Filter  $3.95
This custom designed filter goes in the hose between the teat cup and pump to prevent clogging the valves in the pump
Replacement Tubing  $3.00
22 inches standard length
Replacement Tubing  $6.00
Approximately 4 feet
Hose Cleaning Brush  $7.95
2 feet long all stainless steel with nylon bristles.

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Click Here for a Printable Order Form

 

Still need help?  Call us at (919) 596-0984 Everyday 10:00AM to 7:00PM EST or email for help placing an order.


Email Us!


We Hear From Our Satisfied Customers!

From Donna Elkins:
Okay, my friend's doe kidded yesterday and last week when I showed them my milking machine they laughed when I told them I paid 45.00 for that.  Skeptics!  Or maybe they haven't spent much time wrestling does for an hour to get 8 oz of milk only to have them put their hoof in it on the last squirt!
But I am writing to tell you they are believers now after a doe that kidded with triplets lost two of the babies and needed to be relieved of some colostrum.  The doe reclined leisurely as I put the syringe up to the teat and noticed slightly when the suction began, but laid down through the whole process while the milk remained clean and flowing into our awaiting receptacle where we effortlessly collected 14 oz. of colostrum in less than 10 minutes.  I was so thrilled and they were so amazed as how well it worked.  I just had to write you and offer to attest to the amazingly simple and effective use of the hand milker.  Thank you Dan for designing it and thanks for bringing it to the meeting since I have little to no time to surf the web for such items.
 
I want to buy stock in your new company!
 
 
From Sharon Levasseur: 
I got my milker today and it seems to work very well. I have a doe milking through with really tiny teats. I did not even have to change ends as the small one worked fine on her and I think this was even faster than my milking machine! You have a great idea here and I am happy you invented it! I will be showing it off to all my goat friends!
 
 
From Theresa Robbins:
Oh man I finally got to use the milker and I LOVE IT! I milked out 8 oz out of my pygmy doe on one side. Happily she had twins but by 2 days old we figured out one wasnt doing well and sadly found he had a cleft palate. We had him put down and this doe has tons of milk and only one baby to drink it all so I decided to milk her on the one side that the doeling won't use hoping as she grows she decides she likes both sides. Thank you Maggie you are a life saver oh no a hand saver. LOL -----
 
 
From Lynn Kachmarchik:
just wanted everyone to know, that i received my milker from maggie and i got to try it yesterday. it works wonderful!! there is another similar milker on the web-but it is more complicated and pricey-$200!!the only plus was it had a closed container for the milk to be drawn into. maggie, i am very pleased. i have full size dairy goats-lamancha and togenberg, and the large cup worked great. this will make it sooo much easier to go out and milk every day and to get help from my kids and when i want to go on vacation, to know that my girls will get milked out and properly. the video was extra helpful for us that are visual. thanks!!

Instruction Sheet from Maggidans Milker:

Using Your Maggidans Milker

The Maggidans Milker makes it simple for anyone to milk nearly any type of livestock.  It is a great way to collect colostrum for emergency feeding or for freezing for later use.

High quality food grade and medical grade parts are used in the construction of this device.  While this method of milking is likely to be more sanitary than hand milking, no claim of safety for human or animal consumption is made for the milk obtained by using this milker.  We do recommend pasteurizing.  Please use your own discretion.

The 20 cc teat cup should easily fit any Pygmy or Nigerian Dwarf goats, many sheep and some regular meat or dairy goats.  A larger teat cup is available for $2.00 and will be included along with the original size.  It can be substituted to easily fit for milking dairy goats, sheep, llamas or horses.  The teat should not fill the teat cup completely, it must be at least 3/4 inch from the bottom to keep from blocking the orifice.  A teat cup that is too narrow can cut off the milk flow, be sure to use a teat cup of adequate size.

To Use Your Milker:

Wash and dry the udder and teats.

  Hand milk one or two squirts out.  Examine for stringiness, blood or clumps that may indicate mastitis.  The first one or two squirts contain the most bacteria.  See the How to Handmilk instruction sheet.  Any method of milking takes practice.  Your results and the goat’s comfort with the procedure will get better every day.

 

You will need a food grade container to hold the milk.  I recommend a plastic container with a lid for when you are finished.  Be sure the pump is set to 12.5 cc.  Hold the teat cup firmly onto the teat and pump to establish vacuum and start the flow of milk. The teat cup will stay on by itself once vacuum is made. See Figure 1.

Pump and release slowly to maintain the flow of milk until it stops.  You can bump or gently massage the udder downward to encourage milk letdown until the udder is emptied, removing the teat cup temporarily may help too.  Do not over milk. There is no need to strip the udder, especially if the doe is nursing kids.  Press the udder with your thumb where it meets the teat cup to break the vacuum before removing it from the teat.  Do not pull it off without doing this.   See Figure 2.

When you are through, wipe off the teats and use a teat dip unless the doe is also nursing kids.

To Clean Your Milker:

Fill a 2 to 4 cup container with lukewarm water, place the teat cup opening into the water and pump to rinse out the milker.  See Figure 3.

To wash, pump warm (not hot) soapy water through the milker, dish detergent works well.  Thorough washing and rinsing is necessary to keep the tiny one-way valves in the tip and pistons working properly.

To disinfect, add ½ teaspoon bleach to 4 cups of warm water and pump that through the milker.  More bleach is not better; it can harm the o-rings and plastic.

Finally, pump lukewarm water through to rinse, pumping to remove as much water as possible from the milker.  If you are planning to use the milker again within the next 24 hours you can set it aside to dry without disassembling.  Hanging in from the handle letting the tube and teat cup hang downward will promote better draining and drying.  It is recommended to completely dissemble and wash the milker at least once a week.  See Figure 4.  A drop of vegetable oil can be used to lubricate the piston (apply it to the felt insert), do not use mineral oil!  Allow to dry thoroughly, and reassemble carefully before storing your milker.


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