I have a new Nigerian mama who is a difficult milker. Her kid is now almost 4 weeks old and I have been milking for nearly 3 weeks 1x a day. My problem is she does not want to get on the stand so I have to lead her over on a leash. Lately she's even running from me when she knows I'm coming to get her on the leash. I have to lift her front legs onto the stand to kind of force her on it then get her head situated in the headlock with her grain. She then will kick when ever I try to touch her udder. I purchased a hobble and have been using that but she can still kick and actually will flip her back legs straight up into the air above her head into a hand stand and just fights me the whole time. I'm able to get about a quart out of her but it's very frustrating fighting with her the whole time. I would also like to use two hands and be able to leave the milk bucket underneath her to finish quicker without risking her kicking it over. Any ideas of how to train her to behave better? Or do I just have a stubborn girl who will eventually give in?
Training a new girl to milk
- Thread starter imtc
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Georgiamainers
Ridin' The Range
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Are you using the hobble correctly? You use it differently than what the pics usually show. My girls are real hungry when it's time to milk and they just want to eat!! They start dancing when the food bowl is empty and we give them a refill. I had first time fresheners this year and it just took some time. At first the doe would not let me near her. Now she reaches around and gives me nose kisses when I'm milking her. 
http://fiascofarm.com/goats/hobble.htm
http://fiascofarm.com/goats/hobble.htm
ksalvagno
Alpaca Master
Keep in mind she wants to keep her milk for her kid. When my girls were nursing their kids, they were not as willing to milk. But I do have one female that just doesn't like to be handled. She gives me a harder time and I think it will always be that way. But all my other females are fine to milk. You do have to give the first timers some time to adjust to the whole thing. Some can take up to two weeks or more.
Ariel301
Loving the herd life
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Is she hard to handle at other times than milking time, or just when you are trying to milk?
- Thread starter
- #6
before I bought the hobble I was using a rope and just tying around one ankle to keep her from kicking, and would tie the other end around one leg of the milk stand which seemed to work ok. But she tends to tighten the knot by kicking so it's hard to untie sometimes which is why I bought the hobble. I put it it up higher like the fias website says (just above the knee joint) but her kicking actually rubbed a raw spot on the back of her leg so I need to figure out how to make it comfortable for her yet tight enough where she can't kick it off or hurt herself. I guess I'll also try to tie the middle of the hobble to the leg of the stand somehow so she can't kick up in the air like she does. She is a very spoiled girl and has been a very social and friendly pet so it's not foreign for her to be handled now. Since being pregnant she's just been really touchy about her udder and doesn't like me to touch it. Guess I'll just stick it out and keep working with her and hope she eventually gives in and lets me do what I bought her for...lol.
freemotion
Self Sufficient Queen
helmstead
Goat Mistress
Also make sure your technique is good and you're not actually hurting her when you milk...or that the kids haven't made her teats raw by nursing. I've never had one go that long fighting the idea like she is - but I also don't 'share' with the kids, they're pulled at birth.
Mzyla
Ridin' The Range
freemotion
The link you posted, it was not only educational, but in most part very entertaining
I read it all with utmost interest!
The link you posted, it was not only educational, but in most part very entertaining
I read it all with utmost interest!
freemotion
Self Sufficient Queen
Hee-hee-hee.....Mzyla said:freemotion
The link you posted, it was not only educational, but in most part very entertaining
I read it all with utmost interest!
I end up re-reading it every time this comes up and I snicker every time!
