Kicky Milker

[Windy Pond]

Hey guys! Thanks for all of the fun advice. I read the goat journal that BBH posted on another website about 3 weeks ago and have experienced pretty much all of it. I intend to be the boss goat, patient and persistant. I did cry a little last week and decided to find some goaty friends, so, here I am. Glad to know this is all part of the process.

Just got in from milking Fern (all my does are named after plants). Yes, I do hobble her up above the hock to make sure she cant kick, but then she bucks. So, in addition to hobble, I devised an contraption using bungees. One bungee loosly around her hips and belly and the other around the milking stand, I connected the bungees and now she cant buck. She didnt seem to mind and was actually a little better tonight. I hope in a few days this will train her just to eat her grain and be good.

Wish me luck!

 

[freemotion]

(laughter in commisseration....)

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

(laughter in commisseration....)

same for me, friend... ugh!

a couple times my hubby came around the corner of the barn only to be narrowly missed by a hurled then-empty milk bucket and me having a total 'milking break down'

honestly it gets better.

we also have some distraction techniques for hoof trimming which may work for milking - he'll stand in front of her and sing her a little song or tap her on the head or feed her shelled corn one kernel at a time....whatever will keep her attention away from me.

this also works for house cats when we have claw trimming day... you should see The Big Man singing Little Mo the 'one pink toe' song... its hilarious.....

 

[freemotion]

Um, hey, Windy Pond, I think you owe us a picture of that bungee contraption in exchange for all the effort we put forth answering your question in such an entertaining way......please???

 

[big brown horse]

By the way, I never said:

 

[Windy Pond]

Hey New Goaty Friends! Thanks so much for answering my questions and making me laugh! I will perfect bungee contraption tomorrow and post pictures. I used bungees so she can move, not feel trapped but train her to be still. It seemed to work, time will tell. Hopefully I'll stop doing this

 

[big brown horse]

You can't have animals without -> or

 

[freemotion]

Or sometimes at yourself, not the critters....

Let's not forget this one, especially the first time you see a buck in action:

 

[big brown horse]

Or sometimes at yourself, not the critters....

Let's not forget this one, especially the first time you see a buck in action:

Are we talking about Mr. Stinky?

 

[Windy Pond]

Thanks for the welcome! Let me introduce myself. My name is Tracy Fawley. My hubby and I found our dreamstead last spring and are in the process of setting up a small dairy goat operation. We live in the mountains of Northeastern PA. I have 5 Nigerian goats 4 does - Fern, Thistle, Willow and Jewel Weed. 1 buck - Gandolf. Gandolf is bottle raised and is more human than goat. He's always yelling about something. Spoiled!

Thanks for all the advice! Will post pics.