"Breaking" a goat to be milked

[popcornchicken]

Hi All,

We're entering our 3rd season w/ goats (Thanks Roll ) and the previous 2 we've left the kids w/ their Mama and didn't milk at all. Then when it was time to wean, we'd seperate them and dry out the doe at the same time.

I did attempt to milk our 2yr old (at the time) Togg, and lets just say it didn't go so well. I stuck with it for a week or so, but it was like I was auditioning for the WWE or some mixed martial arts cage fight. We have a nice stand that we use to trim hooves and groom them, ect.
She'd get up on the stand to eat her grain, but as soon as I'd try to milk her it was on - kicking, jumping, stomping, she'd choke herself b/c she was moving around so much, and it was always the same, everytime I'd touch her udder, she'd start up again. I'd manage to get a few strips in between all the "wrestling", but never enough to do anything with. I was tempted to use some kind of harness and "hang / support" her rear end (just in front of her udder) from the floor joist above, I think I have an old tow strap that is 3-4" wide that would do the trick. That would keep her from sitting down, but I'm sure the kicking and stomping would continue.

So,,,,this year we have all 5 of our does (3 boers and 2 toggs) that should be kidding and I want to try to milk them at least after the kids are weaned. So that brings us to my question of "breaking" a goat to be milked.

Please all you goat people of BYH, I need your wisdom in this matter!!!

Thanks in advance, PCC

 

[quiltnchik]

Start feeding them on the stand before they kid and get them used to you touching them all over, including massaging their udder. When it comes time to milk (I'm going to leave the kids with the does for 2 weeks and then start locking them away at night so I can milk in the morning), have someone help you by holding a hind leg. You can also tie the hind legs to the stand using hobbles (there are videos on YouTube) until the does get used to being milked. It's instinct for them to want to push you away, as the milk is supposed to be for their kids. Just hang in there - it takes time and patience - but goats aren't born knowing we silly humans are going to "steal" their milk

 

[popcornchicken]

Thanks quiltnchick, we'll give that a try and start feeding 1 or 2 on the stand.

I have been "petting" and rubbing them down for the last month or so, thinking that they might get used to being handled, but they still get pretty jumpy when I get near their udder.

And all this time I thought that the kids where the little milk stealers

 

[CrazyCatNChickenLady]

I have no advice yet but will be seeing what others say! I have a pretty shy ND who will eat from my hand and run right up to me but won't let me touch her yet.. I just got her recently. I have until May if the breeding took to work with her. I was thinking about making a milking stand (with rails) and start feeding her in it and letting her get used to me.

What about a harness instead of a collar of she's choking herself? Anyone think this is a bad idea?

 

[Roll farms]

Ohhhh Mikey....lol

The best / easiest way I've found is to steal / bottle raise the kids (then the mom bonds to YOU and 'wants' you to milk her).
If you attempt to milk later, some goats think you're 'stealing' the baby's milk...or are so tired of being nursed they don't want ANYONE taking milk.

I have a hobble you can borrow if you want to try it, or just want to see it so you can try to make one. Jeff's been known to slide a 5 g bucket under a doe who wants to squat on the stand, but I've found patience, a calm voice, and the hobble will usually get me there.

You guys are welcome to come over for a milking lesson if you'd like a refresher some time.

Levi, Lilly's sister, loves to be milked, seriously. She'll hop on the stand when she's dry.

I think you'll prefer the taste of boer milk to togg. I'd be interested to find out when you try.

 

[popcornchicken]

HI Kim

I alway mean to talk to you about this, but we get to talking about who knows what and my short term memory "ain't what she used to be"

I thought about the 5 gallon bucket, maybe I'll try that.

Hopefully Lilly turns out like her sister!!!

I need to come for a visit anyways, Kathy told me about Jeff's new bunnie barn and I think I need to see it

 

[Melissa'sDreamFarm]

You can read my Journal here. I had two that were trained to eat on the milkstand and when they freshened I tied them every which way to Sunday to milk them. They would jump, stomp, kick, tear the headstall off the milkstand, etc. I just gave up, I would put them up there and get a little milk and let them eat. Then one day it was like magic, Millie quit fighting me and she is so sweet now and when I finish milking she doesn't want to get down, lol. Skye it took longer and was a more violent process. This week was the magic time for her. She understands now that in order to get grain, you have to be milked and she stands still.

I'm sure everyone has different experiences, but as a first timer working with "first fresheners" this was my experience. BTW I left my babies with their mom too. My next in line to have kids is my mini-nubian. I'm bottle feeding and saving myself the trouble, lol.

eta link
http://www.backyardherds.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=12194

 

[Queen Mum]

I have one word for you. HOBBLES.

OK, more than one word. The first time you milk, put on the hobbles and don't use a bucket. Milk right onto the stand, don't cry over spilt milk, the object is to show her that you are going to milk her and she is going to allow it, whether she wants to or not. The hobbles are to keep her there. Lots of soothing talk, but it is going to get done.

The next time try to have the bucket under there and empty it frequently into a jar, but keep on milking regardless of her fussing. Make sure she has food to eat, but keep it up. Keep at it. It will get easier with time. BE PATIENT.

 

[slikchik]

I have one word for you. HOBBLES.

PLUS ONE! I'm a first timer working with first timers too. Two nubians (only one bred successfully). One month prior to kidding, they went on the stand and we started doing the mexican stomping dance. Slowly but firmly we worked around to them letting me near their udders, then massaging them. Even though we left the kids on them full time for the first two weeks, they still had to get on the milking stand every morning to eat and get a massage. I got a set of hobbles too and she's never been a day without them, they're great. It also helps that my folding stand is mounted to the wall so only one side is open. I lean up against them, standing up, and kind of put a bit of my upper-body weight on them while I'm massaging to further control them.
Now, with the hobbles on, my milker has never kicked over the bucket. I also milk from behind and next to them, facing the same direction they are and can defend the bucket against kicks. But my bucket is really heavy - I have an 8qt. SS pail set into a solid block of ice in another bucket that stays in the freezer.

Only thing with the hobbles - you've got to remember to take them off when you're done. Otherwise they look real funny hopping back to their pen.

 

[eweinHiscare]

I wish I would have known then when I was in the same predicament as you, what I know now!
Here's what you should try:

Clip her collar to a firm place, do not give her an inch to move but not choking either.
Clip her so that if she stands calm she is not choking.

Get two velcro strips that are about 12 inches in length, and at least 1 1/2 inches wide...wider is better.

I looped the velcro around a baling twine that is tied around the board the doe stands on, (did NOT tie baling twine to the goat!)

Only the velcro gets wrapped around the doe's feet, it is soft and gentle but she can't raise her feet anymore.

She is immobilized fore and aft. She might try to struggle but she will soon give up. This works great! and cheap!

I'll post the photo here again:




Added a close up pic of the feet.