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04/25/11, 12:49 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: California
Posts: 226
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Hobbles
I was doing some research on goat hobbles, Sabrina is being such a pain on the milk stand that Im considering investing in some. She is kicking before her grain is even done…grrr!! Unless you guys have a better suggestion...
So, looking at the Fiasco Farm site and another site I ran across it indicated that hobbles aren’t supposed to be put on the ankle, they are actually supposed to be on the upper leg, just above the knee and its the pressure of the hobble in this area that keeps a goat from kicking…
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Is this true?
-=Sarah
www.beewench.blogspot.com
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04/25/11, 01:05 PM
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Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 839
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IME, hobbles don't work on a goat who is very bad. They can easily jump with both feet. I found that if I tie the leg closest to me to the stand or something on the other side of her it works beautifully.
Let me see if I can explain it...
We made a noose knot, slip her foot in it and place it above the knee (on that tendon), at the same height or higher(8"?) tie it to something solid (one of our stands has a post as a corner that works well). Tie it so that it keeps her foot from going forward, but can go backwards (and away from you). This is the best thing we've ever come up with for this. We had 2 goats that were a nightmare, but no more. One is almost ready to stand w/o being tied now. I like them to feel no pressure unless THEY act up, hobbles apply pressure all the time--not really allowing them to be comfortable and relax, even when they are being good.
For one that lays down, you could put an upside down bucket under her chest.
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04/25/11, 01:10 PM
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Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: South Central Missouri
Posts: 283
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front leg hobble?
Okay, does anyone hobble the front legs? I have a doe that stands great until the feed is gone then she tries to climb into the feed pan. If I let her down and tie her to fence she is fine, but then is down low for me and it is uncomfortable. Her back feet are fine, I just don't need her getting her legs stuck. Any ideas?
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04/25/11, 01:33 PM
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Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 839
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I'd just give her more feed, maybe mix it with some alfalfa pellets to make her dig for it longer... Have heard of people mixing rocks in with the feed, but I've never been comfortable doing that. Be sure to not give her any feed until you actually start milking (don't let her be eating while you are prepping...)
I wouldn't hobble her front legs.
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04/25/11, 04:38 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: California
Posts: 226
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I should clarify, she isn't a nightmare by any means, just mischeiviosly kicking her one leg. I'm sure it's my fault, maybe I'm milking her to slow...but I'm trying! It takes a bit to milk out 1/2 gallon, 10 minutes max. Regardless, can't I expect her to be well mannered on the stand for at least that long?
As far as putting more food infront of her, she has started doing this mid-meal...just a irritated stomp every couple of minutes. I'm gonna try the "hobble" that tenneseemomma suggested and we'll see how it goes.
-=Sarah
www.beewench.blogspot.com
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04/25/11, 04:46 PM
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Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 839
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My 2nd post was for colmangirly (telling her to give hers more food) because she said hers acts up when the feed is gone.
Maybe some like real hobbles, but I hate them. They make the poor mama's legs too close together, they like to spread them out when your milking. I was very surprised that only one rope is needed for mine, they were pretty bad, but only seemed to really kick on my side, and my bucket usually is sitting toward me more and if they occasionally move that opposite leg, it doesn't hit it. Let me know how it works for you 
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04/25/11, 04:59 PM
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More dharma, less drama.
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Join Date: May 2002
Location: Texas Coastal Bend/S. Missouri
Posts: 30,482
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Make sure you don't have flies! A fly on a back leg can cause chaos.
__________________
Alice
* * *
"No great thing is created suddenly." ~Epictitus
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04/25/11, 05:44 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: northern Kentucky
Posts: 696
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I've had some that hobbles work fine for but the newest one I'm no using any on her cause she was so wild I was afraid she was going to break her leg.
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04/25/11, 05:45 PM
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Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 839
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Alice In TX/MO
Make sure you don't have flies! A fly on a back leg can cause chaos.
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 Yup.
When I milk in shorts I feel their pain... I can't keep still, don't expect them to.
It's annoying to lose a whole bucket of milk because of a stupid fly.
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04/26/11, 11:11 AM
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: California
Posts: 226
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I am so frustrated this morning I just want to cry  I guess the "hobble" wasn't tight enough because Sabrina just picked her leg up and stuck it right in the bucket! 1/2 gallon of milk literally to the dogs...I think I need to shorten up the hobble and hve the milk bucket further forward. I'm glad I can ---- and moan to you guys, nobody else understands. My mom says, "well just stop milking her then,she obviously doesn't like it and you STEALING from those poor babies anyways!". It took all of my willpower to hold my tounge! Ugghhh!!
-=Sarah
www.beewench.blogspot.com
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04/26/11, 11:20 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: northern Kentucky
Posts: 696
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Milk into a smaller container and pour into a larger container every little bit.
Gotta love mom's. What is that saying about picking your friends and being stuck with your family.
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04/26/11, 11:33 AM
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More dharma, less drama.
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Join Date: May 2002
Location: Texas Coastal Bend/S. Missouri
Posts: 30,482
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My (former) idiot Nubian had to be hobbled, PLUS, I bungied one back leg down to the leg of the milk stand.
She is no longer in my herd.
__________________
Alice
* * *
"No great thing is created suddenly." ~Epictitus
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04/26/11, 12:00 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: California
Posts: 226
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Quote:
Originally Posted by freedomfrom4
Milk into a smaller container and pour into a larger container every little bit.
Gotta love mom's. What is that saying about picking your friends and being stuck with your family.
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That's another good idea...maybe I'll try milking into a smaller pot and then pouring it into the milk bucket.
And yeah, I've about had it with my mom's advice about stuff she has no clue about! She has never owned a goat in her life and yet she is giving me advice and questioning what I'm doing with my herd!!
Thanks for lamenting with me!!
-=Sarah
www.beewench.blogspot.com
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04/26/11, 12:09 PM
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Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 839
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It's got to be tight enough she can't move her leg forward any. Also you must make sure they aren't standing too far forward to start with, if the are they can back up, get slack and cause problems. Try to tie her leg while she is standing as far back as you can--she can still stand and hold her weight comfortably, but her leg is a little farther back than normal.
Y'all will get it, you just need some tweaking
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04/26/11, 02:22 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 2,231
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I always tie the leg clostest to me to the stanchion pole on the opposite side of me(with the goat and the pole closest to me(with the cow). They'll jump around a bit, but if the jump too much they'll knock themselves over. After a few minutes of struggling they realize it's stand still or don't stand at all.
I do this with the cow and goats. With the cow, I use a lead rope(she's never offered to kick, but I still don't ever feel comfortable with that leg completely free. I do it with the goats because they like to do their little jig, one leg, other leg, two legs, buck!
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