Modifying a Milking Stanchion

[YuccaFlatsRanch]

I have a cattle milking stanchion or some call it a head gate. The kind that you find in a cow milking parlor that is suspended from a chain and attached by a chain to the floor.

It needs to have the wood pieces that fit against the cows neck replaced. Since I don't want to milk cows, but would like to use it to restrain sheep and goats I would like to modify it to hold the sheep and goats heads/necks. When closed the metal parts are 8 inches apart. This would allow a 2x4 to be attached to each side with maybe a half circle cut out of each side at the proper height for sheep and goats. What would you all figure for the diameter of this hole?? 2x4's are 3 1/2 inches so there will be a 1 inch space between them. Would a total of 6 inches be too much to trap their heads?? Maybe I should just go measure the diameter or circumference of my largest sheeps neck - now there is a good idea. I also need to figure out how high from the ground to place the hole, but that can be variable by extending or shortening the chain holding it up.

I would like to be able to restrain my sheep easily so I can sheer them standing up and also trim feet easily and less stressfully. We trimmed goat feet the other day with DW holding the head and horns and me playing farrier or whatever you would call someone who trims goat/sheep feet.

I will be posting pictures of my stanchion contraption later, and I will also post pictures of the clippers I use for trimming their feet. I use "tile nippers" that I got at Lowes last year. They are smaller duplicates of what farriers use to trim Horses. These allow you to cut at right angles to the hoof and they are so much easier to use than the "pruners" that are sold for trimming goat and sheep hooves. I can trim all four feet on a goat in about 5 minutes or less and its easier on my hands and on the goat. The angles you have to cut at are much easier with the nippers.

[michiganfarmer]

there are adjustments for width on the top and bottom of most stanchions. I think you might still need 2x4s though. I guess Id measur the thickness of your goats neck to find out how narrow to build the stanchion.

[YuccaFlatsRanch]

Nope mine must be a cheap older one (it definitely is rusted and looks old). It is either all the way open or all the way closed. It pivots on the bottom and clicks shut at the top. I want to be able to completely trap their head not just the neck. I don't even want them to be able to raise and lower it.

[next61]

Originally Posted by YuccaFlatsRanch

Nope mine must be a cheap older one (it definitely is rusted and looks old). It is either all the way open or all the way closed. It pivots on the bottom and clicks shut at the top. I want to be able to completely trap their head not just the neck. I don't even want them to be able to raise and lower it.

That sounds very painful! Are you shure you want that?

[fordson major]

we tore apart cattle stantions too make our sheep milking head gate, will try and get the mod of the sheep board too post a pic . can send complete dimensions if you like.

[YuccaFlatsRanch]

please send dimensions and pics if you can. Thanks

[Ross]

It might be more accurate to say we scrapped cow stauncheons to build self locking headgates ....... Are you handy with a welder? I have some pictures on this computer but I can't get the villagephoto site to connect this evening. I'll try tomorrow.

[Ross]

Ok so it loaded after i posted just fine. Here's some photo's. The headgates just clamp into the bottom two 2x4's and with one bolt into the top rail. Meant to be fast and easy to swap out one that broke.

[YuccaFlatsRanch]

Your stanchions are way more eleborate than mine is. Will post a picture of what I have and then we can go from there.

[fordson major]

they may look elaborate but work well, takes about an hour to cut drill and weld the metal. we had another one made of wood but it took 2 people to lock in the sheep, this one is automatic and 1 person milked 200 sheep in 1 1/2 hours! will give ya a gap space when i get back out side, pouring here today!

[ericjeeper]

when we raised Oxford sheep. we had a platfor with expanded metal on top. Out of this rose a vertical post on the front with a U sahped strap iron and a chain that fastened over their neck. The post was adjustable up and down. for different sized sheep.

[YuccaFlatsRanch]

This is the "stanchion " I have. I placed 2x4's inside the metal. I will have to either cut a hole 1/2 out of each 2x4 or just trim the 2x4's to the proper width leaving the appropriate opening.

[Ross]

The gap we used was 4 inches, I know you were thinking of a hole and I'm not sure if 4 inch round would do. I'd think it would need to be a taller oval.