How do I keep her on the milking stand longer?

[NaturalFamiLEA]

The most milk I've been getting is 5 ounces. By then she is done with her two cups of grain and she is all over the place trying to get off the milking stand and I just give up. This morning I gave her three cups, in hopes I'd get more, and I did, but just a total of 6 ounces.

So.....how can I keep her on there longer? I know there is a lot more in there. I have been expressing the milk using only one hand, and I am new to this and I can't seem to get it with my left hand yet. I am sure using both hands would allow me to milk more out of her before her grain is inhaled.

I have tried sprinkling her wormer, etc. on top to slow her down, but that didn't slow her down at all yesterday (it had before). I have seen pictures of hobbles - would that work? Any other advice?

Thanks

[simplyflow]

Is her head locked into the stanchion?

I have heard good things about a goat hobble and would definitely try it out. They sell them at Hoegger Goat Supply.

The combination of locking her head in and the hobble should help.

How long have you been milking her? Maybe she just needs to get used to the routine. Have patience. Good luck.

[suzyhomemaker09]

Just my opinion that 2 cups of grain is not very much for a producing doe.
I second the comment of locking her head in, never really seen a true stanchion that didn't have one. If your milking area doesn't have one perhaps rig something up to tie her collar so she can't run away.

[nehimama]

Hang in there. It should get better. You'll learn as you go along, and your speed will improve.

Above all, she must learn that YOU are the boss. If she gets away with these shenannigans, then SHE is the boss. Hobbles should help, and always try to end the session on a positive note. Good Luck!

NeHi

[LaManchaPaul]

Hi Natural. I've had goats a while now, but it feels like I'm still a newbie. WELCOME !

You could try putting sizable rocks in her bucket so that she has to work at getting to the grain.

As nehimama said, you must win. YOU keep HER in training - not the other way around.

She should never be allowed to think that her behavior gets her what she wants.

Best. Paul

[NaturalFamiLEA]

Thanks, everyone. Yes, her head is latched in. It's possible it is too wide and that is what is giving her more wiggle room? The rocks are a good idea, I will try that.

I know I should be persistent/insistent in milking even if she is done eating, as I am the boss not her, but I am getting nowhere with her rocking back and forth, so I give up as I don't want to stress her out. I will try the rocks and the hobble and go from there.

I feed her more than 2 cups grain a day, this is just her morning ration. I give her some at lunch (1 cup) and some at dinner (2 cups) which should be more than enough. I am unable to milk her at those times since her doeling is on her all day and she is pretty empty.

[The Tin Mom]

One thing I found that helped when I was learning (took me over 40 minutes to milk) was to not give her the grain until I sat down to actually milk. While I brushed her, washed the udder, etc. she just had to wait. Even then, she finished the grain before I finished milking. I am lucky she is very patient.

Now, it only takes me a about 10 minutes total.

It does get better....

[pookshollow]

Something else you could try, but you'll need another pair of hands, is don't give her all the grain at once. Have someone standing by with the grain while you start milking (give her a handful just before you sit down). Once she finishes that, and if she is standing still, have your helper give her another handful, while you tell her "gooood girl". The goat needs to listen to you. Keep milking her, even if she fidgets. If she stands quietly for even half a second, she gets another handful of grain and praise from you. She doesn't get grain if she's fidgeting.

Goats are smart - she'll soon figure out that standing still gets her more food.

[billooo2]

Never let them off the milk stand while they are having a "hissy-fit." That only rewards bad behavior.

[lonelyfarmgirl]

Apparently I am a loner in my methods. I NEVER grain on the stand. EVER. What happens when the day comes when there is no grain? Or as you are quickly learning, when they run out? I milk everyone first, only when I am finished does the grain come out. I have a feeder that hangs on the fence, 4 feet long, and they have to stick their heads through the fence holes to eat out of it. I dont often have a problem, and first freshners take about a week or 10 days to get under control.
Just keep trying, you will get it.

[DownHome]

Alfalfa pellets are good for them. They tend to eat them slower and you could feed several cups at a time which would give her more eating time and you more milking time. Plus they are good for milk production.

downhome

[KrisW]

I gets better, most have said this and is oh so true.
One thing that slows them down a bit (big rocks are good also) is mix chopped up Alfalfa in with the grain.
It takes a while to mix up the feed. It also takes a while to milk, so a little extra effort on your part is worth it if it slows her down.

One other thing is I let the gals fill up on alfalfa before milking time, that way the arn't starving. They still love the grain, but kinda have full bellies.
It's a wonder what a big flake of alfalfa will do.


Kris

[Idahoe]

I mixed alfalfa pellets into the grain to slow down my gal that did this. I also hobbled her. I used a thin wooden shim to wack her on the behind when she started to dance (it made a loud CRACK and startled more than hurt her). I also kept hold of the teat and didn't let go. A lot of it IS showing her who is boss. Goats definitely need a 'boss', that is their natural state of being in a herd. You are their boss, and they will be happier and more secure when they realize you are the one in control.

I did a better job with my current herd, started out right away being "the boss" and now my girls will stand for milking without being tied up or stanchioned at all. 'Course they got to have their grain. They know what to expect 100% of the time from me, I do the exact same routine with them morning and night, and they pay me back by being reasonably cooperative and at ease

[DQ]

I'm for rocks too. some rocks that they have to move and nibble around works fabulous. thats what I do for my boers when I am trying to distract them while trimming feet. they will hunt and hunt through those rocks to get a tiny morsel of grain! milkers get as much alfalfa as they want on the stand.

[Caitedid]

I'm having some similar problems, but mostly because I haven't gotten a proper stanchion built yet. I know too that if you don't approach them firmly enough, you might be tickling her, if that might be part of it. Also, I milk so that I'm reaching over her to the other side, so I'm basically hugging her over the top, if that makes sense? This really makes a huge difference, and it keeps her from wandering off too much. Good luck! Caite

[nehimama]

Yes, Idahoe! Routine, routine, routine! When they know what to expect, day in and day out, they cooperate SO nicely.

NeHi

[AnnaS]

Lots of good advice above.

a couple more things to try-

milk with one hand and grip her opposite leg above the hock with the other hand.

let her prance around on the milk stand until she gets a leg of and almost falls over.

make a sneezing noise. This usually makes a goat freeze.

cinch a belt around her belly right in front of the udder.

put some hay in the feeder over the grain.

Since the OP mentioned that she is new to hand milking... it also takes time to develop a relationship with a doe so that she is okay with giving up milk. Making milk is a huge investment and a ton of physical work for any animal. Try spending time brushing or itching her, or just going out to pasture and reading a book while she grazes.

[SerenityMama]

Like everyone else said you just need to be the boss.

I am new to goats still only had them 18 months now and when I started with my first doe it took two of us to corner her and drag her to the stand, my husband built our stand and after seeing her stop around he took some good rope and made a hobble that would hold her legs back as we milked. We used a lead to hold her head down so whe couldn't get off. There were times when she would throw fits I would leave her there and tend to another goat. She now knows that I am in charge and isn't even tied anymore. I just started milking her girls from last years kidding and both of them stomp a bit but have relized they don't get grain doing that. We are still tying them but hope to stop soon as that adds time.

We also feed about twenty mins before milking- one to destract the non milkers and two so they aren't starving. I also have learned to pet her when giving her another handful, she even leans over for it now.

When we first started milking her I swore she would be dinner if she didn't shape up now I will be very sad the day she goes she is a great goat!!

I like the rock idea--- going to see what I can do with that tomorrow.

[Vicki McGaugh TX Nubians]

I have several does who get very limited grain so I fill the bottom of their milkstand feeder with alfalfa pellets, then put their grain on the top. They aren't happy at all because they can see grain in the other bowls, but it does keep them eating.

But then I also don't tollerate bad behavior on the milk stand, it's your job, you stand there to be milked and you stand there to be shown or appraised, the rest of the time is your free time to be a goat, behave or be frozen I threaten my goats all the time with the freezer, understand or not, they are remarkably good.

Course I don't dam raise, fussing with a doe who is saving milk for her kids, especially young does raising their first kids, just makes it a pain all the way around. Vicki