Milking a Dexter?

[whinnyninny]

Since Dexters are so short, is there any special way to milk them, or can you just do it on the ground? I know goats are often milked on a stand, but my husband swears no stand will be sturdy enough for a Dexter. Are they milked while standing on the ground, like a full-size cow?

[CountryHaven]

I have a friend with dexters and she milks the 'normal' way you would any cow. They're short, but not that short. She did say it can occassionally be tough on the back, but she sits on an overturned bucket and does quite well. They are pretty heavy for something like a goat milk stand even if it were built wide enough to put one on. On the plus side, the Dexters seem very complacent and agreeable, hers stand for milking without a stanchion or anything, just a bucket of grain in front of them.

[darbyfamily]

I was just reading about this last night... check out this site and you'll see this lady uses a platform http://kheartdexters.homestead.com/HERDBOOK.html

[whinnyninny]

Thanks!

[Timberline]

My stanchion is raised about 6 inches. Scroll down for a pic of it from the side.
http://www.lazyj5dexters.com/Milkingart.html

[darbyfamily]

Chalk creek, I love your write up, but the pictures are over some of it. Do you think you could email me a copy of it? where I can read it all without pics?

[rzrubek]

Okay, maybe this sounds stupid-but it might work. My dad has metal ramps that you can drive up on to give him about 2 feet clearance to work under the car. One for each tire. You could walk you cow up on these-they are sturdy and heavy. your dexter won't hurt them and it would give you more clearance to milk you cow. And ... when you're done, your husband can use them to work on the car.He He he Randy's wife

[freeholdfarms]

We milk 2 short legs. Used to milk just straight on the ground while sitting on a bucket. Lately I have them putting their front legs up on a solid pallet, where the feed is. Gives just a few more inches clearance.

[Slev]

Okay rzbek! before you go getting any crazy ideas going here, perhaps, (and I'm just thinking out of the box here) maybe you should have your husband work on the car FIRST, before you milk your cow. Because I'm thinking, the cow will be less offended of say an oil slick, than your husband will be of a cow pie...... LOL

Originally Posted by rzrubek

Okay, maybe this sounds stupid-but it might work. My dad has metal ramps that you can drive up on to give him about 2 feet clearance to work under the car. One for each tire. You could walk you cow up on these-they are sturdy and heavy. your dexter won't hurt them and it would give you more clearance to milk you cow. And ... when you're done, your husband can use them to work on the car.He He he Randy's wife

[Patt]

Originally Posted by CountryHaven

I have a friend with dexters and she milks the 'normal' way you would any cow. They're short, but not that short. She did say it can occassionally be tough on the back, but she sits on an overturned bucket and does quite well. They are pretty heavy for something like a goat milk stand even if it were built wide enough to put one on. On the plus side, the Dexters seem very complacent and agreeable, hers stand for milking without a stanchion or anything, just a bucket of grain in front of them.

That's what we do too. It can put a bit of a crick in your back but it's not too bad.

[Timberline]

Darby, I think I have solved the problem. Thank you for bringing it to my attention. Please let me know if you still cannot read it, and I will see if I can email the text to you.