Stand Training Stubbornness

[Rechellef]

I have two FF who are due in 3 and 4 weeks. I am trying to milk stand train them, but one in particular is very stubborn and would rather climb up the front of the milk stand than get up on it to eat the grain. She is a beautiful specimen of a LaMancha and if she weren't so dang stubborn I would probably show her. She has never led well and up until recently was an escape artist (we had to tack down the bottom of some chain link fence she could squeeze under). I have stand trained FF in the past for the stanchion with success, but have never run into one who is so reluctant.

[Sherry in Iowa]

Don't exactly know how to help you. I had a stubborn girl..I had to make sure that the feed was not in the holder on the milk stand before she was up on it. She would just tritzy around to the front and start eating..to heck with milking..lol. So once she figured out she had to be ON the stand and head locked and THEN eat..it went real well.

Good luck and don't give up. She sounds like a really milk goat.

[coso]

Leather Pronged Collar |...

I use a collar like this if I have a goat that gets stubborn and will not lead. After two or three times using this collar try leading her with out it. That is usually all it takes, in my experience. Had a FF to do this first few times on the milk stand this year. Now she comes in the door and jumps up on the stand without me having to touch her like an old pro.

[Hollowdweller]

It's hard to say because I don't know what sort of milk stand you have.

The first thing you can try is let the goat into your milking area. Then put your feed in a scoop and stand in front of the milking stand. Put your hand thru the staunchion with the scoop and then get the doe eating the grain and then withdraw your hand lock her in and put the food in the feed pan.

The second way would be to use plywood or something and then just block off the sides so she can't get to the front of the milk stand.

If you can get her even to jump up with 2 feet and put her head thru the staunchion and then lock her in you can lift her back 2 legs up and put them on the stand and in a few days she will get with the program.

[chamoisee]

Originally Posted by Hollowdweller

It's hard to say because I don't know what sort of milk stand you have.

The first thing you can try is let the goat into your milking area. Then put your feed in a scoop and stand in front of the milking stand. Put your hand thru the stanchion with the scoop and then get the doe eating the grain and then withdraw your hand lock her in and put the food in the feed pan.

(snipped here)

If you can get her even to jump up with 2 feet and put her head thru the stanchion and then lock her in you can lift her back 2 legs up and put them on the stand and in a few days she will get with the program.

These are the methods I used, particularly the first one. It is absolutely imperative that you not upset, frighten or traumatize the doe at all while training her to the stand. Remember: you want her to be relaxed on the stand so that she can let her milk down and you want getting on the milking stand to be something she looks forward to.

Stay patient, calm, gentle and consistent and she will catch on quickly.

[mygoat]

I coax them at first. Then I put the front feet up and coax some more. If they don't go, I give a pop on the rump. Still don't go? I grab the tail and with a few tugs usually they'll hop right up. Usually food makes it all OK. Then I rub the udder, and sit next to them and pretend to milk. Though they usually kick at first, by the time they kid all of my does (I've broken out 4 FF and one doe who had never been milked before) took to milking like experienced girls.

I'd say the best thing you can do is teach her to lead. IF she plants her feet, grab that tail. They get wise to that pretty quick, and start listening.

[chamoisee]

If the tail breaks, it will count against her in a show. :-(