Difficult to milk

[FreyasMom]

Help! My goat is terrible to milk. She is a large breed (alpine mix), and she does everything in her power to stop me from milking her. She absolutely hates being milked! I started just by tying her up to some fencing. I would use a halter lead to tie her head, and then a leash for her back legs. A technique I saw from another goat owner online. Well this made her really low to the ground which made things difficult on it's own. Also she learned that she could kick, jump, and act a fool and eventually get loose. So I built a milking stand! She can wiggle her head through the smallest of gaps, so I also (try to) secure her with a leash and collar. Her back legs I try t secure by tying down to the back of the stand. This works for only a minute or two. She is so strong that she is able to kick, jump and get loose. She is actually able to lift that heavy stand off the ground with her nonsense! Anyways I feel like I've tried everything and I'm almost ready to give up and not milk her at all. I have bought an suction milker but I have issues with that as well. She still act ridiculous with it and it only gets about 1/4-1/3 quart of milk and stops. And since she is acting so crazy it's hard to keep the suction cup attached and not pulled off.
Does anyone have any ideas on how to get her to not freak out? Or even better ideas to restrain her? Anything really...

 

[SA Farm]

Are you feeding her when you milk her? Grain, a favorite hay, or some other treat to make it a positive experience for her? The first step is usually getting her comfortable and even excited to go to the milk stand, then add the handling and milking. It may be a good idea to start off milking by hand until she's more comfortable, then once you have a routine going try the machine again - especially if you're having issues with it.
Hope that helps

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I'm milking a twelve year old goat that has never been milked before. I've found that besides just trying feed, I can squirt a bit of milk on my left hand and use that hand to give her a little feed while I'm milking with my right hand. She sniffs the milk, licks it a little, and then eats the feed from my hand. For some reason that calms her right down and with in a minute or so she stands like a rock and I can milk her with both hands. Why it works....

Does she still have babies at your place? If so, you might try separating them over night and then putting her on the milk stand. Let the babies on the stand with her to nurse. Do that for a couple days until she knows the routine.

Other than those two ideas - the only thing I can say is to hobble her.

Oh, almost forgot. One time I put a slick piece of plywood under a goat that just refused to stand still. I'd get the plywood wet and it would be slippery when wet. The more the doe fought, the more she slipped around and the first time she nearly fell off changed her whole attitude.

Good luck!

 

[FreyasMom]

Yes I've tried treats and different food combos. She loves to eat, but she will stop eating to act up. And once she eats it all there is no hope.
I started milking her by hand to begin with and I do end up milking by hand once the milker stops but it really doesn't seem to make a difference she doesn't want to be touched there! She does fight so hard that she falls doesn't seem to bother her she just looks at me like see?! Do u see how ridiculous this is?!
As far as the baby idea. She never really wanted to nurse the baby either. At first I'd have to restrain her just to nurse then she got where she'd nurse but she hardly lets the baby nurse. Could it be weining time and that effecting my milking?
I'll try the milk in hand thing... I'll try anything lol but she acts so crazy there is no way I'll collect any milk with one hand cause I usually hold a cup in one milk one teat with the other.

Note: if words r weird or misspelled I typed this quickly on my autocorrect phone lol

Thanks everyone keep the ideas coming!

 

[goats&moregoats]

is there a particular goat she buddies around with/ maybe tying that goat near her will help calm her.

 

[MsDeb]

I haven't had the opportunity to milk yet. I'm honestly very sorry for your troubles and I realize how awful this sounds (misery loves company) but it does help to know I'm not the only completely frustrated person in the group right now. I hope you find something that works for you.

 

[doxiemoxie]

Try putting some large rocks in her food bucket so she has to eat around them; it will slow her down a little bit. Sometimes people have just focused on milking and letting the milk spill to the ground while they get their doe used to being handled (so you don't have to worry about a bucket spilling too). Patience, perseverance, and don't give up when she backslides.

 

[Azriel]

What kind of milker are you useing on her? If it is the kind with suction only and no plusation it could be hurting her and that is why she is acting up.

 

[goatgurl]

the only other thing i can suggest is to set your milk stand against a wall or fence so she can't jump off one side and you sit on the other side. hook the hobbles to each side of the milk stand so she can't raise either back leg and patience, patience, patience. i would also hand milk her until she settles into the idea that milking is ok. good luck.

 

[goatgurl]

the only other thing i can suggest is to set your milk stand against a wall or fence so she can't jump off one side and you sit on the other side. hook the hobbles to each side of the milk stand so she can't raise either back leg and patience, patience, patience. i would also hand milk her until she settles into the idea that milking is ok. good luck.