When should I be able to get a little milk? Update* 5 squares!*

[DLee]

My maiden mare is at day 329. I'm all ready with my test kit. :yes: Her udder is what I would say....smallish/medium? The teats are not really pointing towards each other so much any more, if that makes sense. I have been fondling her for months which she doesn't mind, but she's not so keen on anything resembling a tug... how hard is it to get any fluid out, or am I too early to test? From reading other threads I didn't think I was too early, maybe I'm just not trying hard enough to get anything? :confused:

[Laurierace]

You should be able to get some out now. Its more of a kneading motion than a tug, start at the top of the nipple, and make an O with your thumb and forefinger. Snug the O up against the bag and close your O around the nipple. Now knead down towards the bottom of the nipple like you were squeezing toothpaste out of a tube. You only move your O a tiny bit down the nipple before moving your hand back up for another knead. You don't want to go near the end of the nipple as you can introduce bacteria. It takes a little practice if you don't know what you are doing, but it sounds like your mare is willing to let you give it a try. Best of luck to you both.

[Fairview Horse Center]

Some maiden mares won't give you a drop until the night before they foal.

[alliekat]

My maiden mare is "due" on the 16th. She has no bag at all. All i have noticed is theat her teats have relaxed and let down from her. I was worried and had my vet out to look but he said to try not to worry to much, because she is a maiden and she can develope "all of a sudden". Easy for him to say. Good luck with your mare.

[okggo]

My maiden didn't get milk until 352 days. She foaled at 356 and she is a MILK MACHINE! So. No worries yet :)

[alliekat]

OKGGO. That sure makes me fell alot better!!!!

[DLee]

Whew. Thanks you guys. I will try again in a couple of days.

[Fairview Horse Center]

Try at least twice daily, and yes, you will irritate her. Growl and let her know that she absolutely must tolerate a little discomfort, and ears pinned/snarky faces are not acceptable, period.

[DLee]

Getting better. :yes: Thanks for the description, Laurie. I've used three of my strips and tonight we are up to two squares turning. Yay!

[copper bay farm]

My maiden pony mare foaled last weekend. On Thursday late ~11:30pm I finally got a few drops of "wet", by 9am Friday morning we had syrupy yellowish liquid, by 6pm we had opaque white that registered 350 on my one and only chemetrics test, and by 1:15am we had a colt! and milk was pouring out.

She had a nearly full udder for weeks but I could not get a drop out before that.

[Sugarbrook]

Copper Bay Farm: Thats how some of mine are. Nothing until the very last. Others you can get milk from for a long time before they foal. But, if you taste it, before the test, you usually know its just saline like. Not sweet like just before they foal. YEA, I know, I am the great taste tester along with the Chemetrics. Weird......ok......I admit it.

[DLee]

She went from turning only two squares two days ago, 4 squares last night, 5 squares immediately tonight and the milk has gone from clearish yellow to white... can this go on for very long? Her tail has gone limp, but no wax and no dripping milk.... :eek:

[Signature]

You should be good to go!! I would be on full alert - every mare we've been able to test that has tested 5 squares has gone that night except for one last year who went about 36 hours at 5 - but, as she progressed the change got quicker and quicker.

Good luck!!! :)

[aspenlucas]

If you have opaque white milk sounds like you may have an Easter foal. I've been breeding since 2001 (not too many years, but 3-7 foals a year), though I have some mares that turn from sticky yellow to opaque in hours. Once opaque every mare has foaled within 24 hours.


She went from turning only two squares two days ago, 4 squares last night, 5 squares immediately tonight and the milk has gone from clearish yellow to white... can this go on for very long? Her tail has gone limp, but no wax and no dripping milk.... :eek:

[chrissymack]

Exciting!! Let us know!!:yes:

[Lesley Feakins]

Sounds like its close. Good luck!