Kick-proof Milk Pail?

[Snemelka]

Is there such thing as a kick-proof milking pail? Maybe with sloped sides like a dog bowl? Or do I have to use a dog bowl ^_^ and will it work? I'm wondering if something like this: http://www.amazon.com/Indipets-Stain...proof+dog+bowl

would save from losing milk. I'd probably have to pull the milk out of the bowl with a turkey baster though.

[arnie]

heres what I use I have heard of people straping the back legs to the back of the milk stand .and holding a pint jar in one hand while milking with the other .

[Cyngbaeld]

If the doe is kicking on a regular basis instead of only occasionally then tie those legs till she learns to behave. I have one that wanted to kick continuously but decided she would rather behave after having the legs tied. Some think they need to hike one leg and wave it around while you are milking. Those need to be tied too. Most of the time mine are good, but once in a while forget themselves and try to scratch at a fly and can catch the pail. I use a pail that is the right height that with most of the does I can milk while resting my arm on the back of the pail. That prevents nearly all of the accidents.

[Alice In TX/MO]

You learn to see the signs of an impending kick and pull the bucket out or block the foot.

You can also spray their back legs with something to keep the flies off, which reduces the number of kick attempts.

[Doug Hodges]

I tie kickers. They don't stay kickers for long. We have the accidents when a cat jumps up in front of the doe or something like that but kickers soon learn around me. I don't put up with stupid.

I milk several (can't remember how many) twice a day and and 3 more once a day. None if mine kick and most are FF's or second fresheners.

[mygoat]

I don't even tie them... I just give 'em a firm smack and a "no". That, and be quick about moving the bucket.

The main thing to reduce kicking is to practice with bred does BEFORE they kid out. I bring them into the milk room 1 month pre-kidding for their gestation ration anyways, so I put them on the stand and play with the udder, pretending to milk. Even FF'ers take to it like old pros.

[Ford Zoo]

Agree with all the above. Another thing I add with new milkers that haven't learned the ropes yet: I milk one teat at a time while holding a mason jar directly under the teat with the other hand. That way if I miss the sign of a pending raised hoof or if the leg comes lose from the tie I am less likely to lose the milk.

[mrs whodunit]

I have Velcro hobbles. Each one has a bit of rope attached to it that in turn is attached to the back of the stanchion thus making it so the doe cant get her foot forward enough to get in the bucket.

Never had a doe get over kicking so hobbles for us are the way to go.

[Cyngbaeld]

Some goats will NOT stop kicking with a slap and a NO. Mine that started waited till she was 4 before deciding to be a kicker and had been milked for all her previous kiddings. Slapping, an elbow in the ribs, nothing stopped her except tying those legs down.