Training to jump up on the milkstand

sunshinemama_k · #1 05/03/09, 09:27 PM

I have a FF who won't jump up on the milkstand. The one I milked last year was already trained when I got her so I am not sure what to do to get her back end up. Once she is up she stands well and milks quite nicely.

She will put her head in the head part and allow me to lock her in, but she expects me to lift her two back feet up.... my fault, I guess I am training her to wait for me to lift her back end up.

I appreciate any ideas because I don't want to keep training her to wait for me to lift her hind end up and I don't think my back can take it much longer.

chamoisee · #2 05/03/09, 09:43 PM

I would not give her any grain until she has her back legs on the stand (with you lifting them). If this doesn't work, then put just one leg (the rear leg farthest from you) onto the stand and simply wait, grain can in hand, until she puts her other leg up. Then immediately give her the grain.

I generally trained my doelings who were bred to kid as yearlings to hop on the stand before they kidded. It is much easier to teach a 7-8 month old doeling than a yearling milker who is all fretful about her kids and the whole milking procedure.

Idahoe · #3 05/03/09, 09:45 PM

Make it so she can't get her grain at all until both ends are up on the stand. I am still having problems with one FF, who tries to get at her grain every other way besides getting her WHOLE self up there. She does the front end thing too.

I have a stand in the goat yard against the fence, no set up in a barn yet. So I block her access to the feed from the front and the front side, I keep grabbing her collar and pulling her around to the rear and mixing the food with my hand until she gets up all the way.

She only gets to eat it when up on the stanchion, so outwaiting her and outstubborning her is what I'd suggest. I lifted mine's back end for a while and that was too much.

LOC · #4 05/03/09, 11:35 PM

I have a FF this year that's trying to lay down on the stand. When we approach it, she stretches out her neck and then lays her head down on the stand and lays down on the ground with her head all stretched out on the stand.

It drives me batty lol. This morning was the first time I was able to get her on the stand without her doing this. Of course I had her in a head lock all the way up until I had to untangle my arms to put her head through the head piece lol. But hey it worked.

If one doesn't want to put her back end up, I usually just take a squirt bottle and squirt the feet until she puts them up to get away from the water. After a couple of days of this, they usually get pretty quick about jumping up there. Though the really stubborn ones may take the lift one leg up and wait her out thing...

Good luck, she'll get the hang of it eventually.

sammyd · #5 05/04/09, 12:06 AM

We had to pick a couple up for a few days, but they soon figured it out. Occasionaly we have to tap them to remind them.
We also say "hup hup" or "up (insert their name here)" while we work with them. Something else to give them the cue to get up on the stand.
No grain till they are fully on the stand.

Madfarmer · #6 05/04/09, 07:36 AM

If she can get her head in the stanchion with her back feet still on the ground, either she's getting on from the side, or your milkstand is a bit too short. Or, it may be too high. I built mine a bit higher than normal, for the sake of my back. Then I built a stool that sits at the end of the stand to help the goats step up. Most of our goats will follow you anywhere for a dried banana chip. But yes, as said above, no grain 'till all four feet are up there!

Madfarmer

LaManchaPaul · #7 05/04/09, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunshinemama_k

I have a FF who won't jump up on the milkstand. The one I milked last year was already trained when I got her so I am not sure what to do to get her back end up. Once she is up she stands well and milks quite nicely.

She will put her head in the head part and allow me to lock her in, but she expects me to lift her two back feet up.... my fault, I guess I am training her to wait for me to lift her back end up.

I appreciate any ideas because I don't want to keep training her to wait for me to lift her hind end up and I don't think my back can take it much longer.

I like to think of it as: "She's training you to lift her back end up." hehehehe We're all in training...

Paul

woodsman · #8 05/04/09, 08:39 AM

I made a little ramp with slats nailed across. Takes about two tries to teach them how to use it. Once they know where the grain is and that the only way to reach it is through the stanchion they run up on their own.

southerngurl · #9 05/04/09, 09:06 AM

Try holding the grain in your hand out in front of the head gate to where she has to get on to try and reach it. Also, lead her on by the rear of the stanchion, not the side.

Alice In TX/MO · #10 05/04/09, 09:54 AM

We also have a ramp.

sunshinemama_k · #11 05/04/09, 01:17 PM

Thanks, these are great ideas. I wondered if she needed a stool or ramp to get up. I'll keep working on it.

terry stewart · #12 05/10/09, 07:42 AM

dont know why your goat is doing this. mine just scream as they are running to the stand get out of the way there food in that cup

Chaty · #13 05/10/09, 08:09 AM

I start working with mine before they kid also. I also trim feet on this tand and they know what they are supposed to do. If she is short she might think the stand is to high and might need some help. I have Nigi's that can get on the stand and 1 had triplets. She just hops up there with no problems. They know they dont get the grain till on the stand. If you let bad habits start they dont foget...

Starsmom · #14 05/10/09, 10:15 AM

I have one that will try to get to the grain from the front and I just tell her no get up and she runs around and gets up. But for some reason this year, she didn't want to, I had to lift her front legs up and then her back legs the first week. Not sure why, maybe her udder hurt as it was filling up. Can't say for sure, but now she jumps right up. I train them to get up young, I use the stand for hoof trimming as well, so everyone gets on it.

ShyAnne · #15 05/10/09, 10:18 AM

I put side rails on my milk stand. with just the rear open. They learned real quick to follow the food up. The rail on the side I milk on comes off once they are locked in. I have already trained my young doe to go up. I dont need the rail any more.

Alice In TX/MO · #16 05/10/09, 10:29 AM

Need pics of side rail.

DairyGoatSlave · #17 05/10/09, 11:46 AM

I dont feed grain while I milk(if find it spoils them) I grain when they eat.
as for getting rotten ones on the stand You hold thier head in the direction you want them to go in and pull(gently) on the tail. They learn really fast!

Chaty · #18 05/10/09, 03:59 PM

I always feed mine while they are being milked and they do alot better that way and are easier to train to get on the stand.

ShyAnne · #19 05/10/09, 04:35 PM

I feed my goats the alfalfa pellets every time I milk them. They like it, keeps them busy AND I know they are getting what they need.

Here is a pic of my milking stand, my hubby built it for me and I asked him to add the rails as Gretta was a bit unhappy in the beginning about getting milked.
Forgive the dirt, My goats got it dirty...
Here is Nana demonstrating...

http://i423.photobucket.com/albums/p...n/MAY10007.jpg
http://i423.photobucket.com/albums/p...n/MAY10006.jpg
http://i423.photobucket.com/albums/p...n/MAY10008.jpg