I have a just turned two year old nigerian doe who was a first freshener last year with one buck kid. She nursed him fine but was a royal pain for me to try and milk. Even while eating her grain she kicked, jumped and avoided this at all cost. I wasn't able to get a whole lot from her, but I don't know if this was due to congested udder or merely she didn't give me a good situation to try and milk. Can does with congested udders give enough to satisfy kids? Could this doe just be a rare difficult one? She is due to kid again in April and I'd like to solve this problem if possible.

-- moonspinner (moonspinner@bluefrognet.net), January 07, 2002

Answers

Hi Lynn,

If her udder is really is congested, warm wash cloths and massaging will help. I have seen contraptions for cows to stop them from kicking while being milked, but I've never seen or heard of one for a goat. Make sure the area where your milk stand is, is calm. No tractors going in & out, no nosey goats peaking their head through and taking little "nips" from each other.

One of my very first goats was terrible to milk, she never calmed down even after a few kiddings. She was gorgeous, but awful on the milk stand. And I packed her suitcase and sent her on her way just for that reason. Sorry I can't be more helpful.

Charleen

-- Charleen in WNY (harperhill@eznet.net), January 07, 2002.

Once in awhile I will let my does milk an unsold buckling, even does who have only been milked on the milk stand for years, will sometimes fight being milked. They seem to want to keep it all for the babies, and won't properly let down their milk to even empty the udder. Once the kid is weaned and in the freezer they go right back to the calm normal milkers they once were. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), January 07, 2002.

Yes, my does are like that too. They are afraid I'm trying to strave the kids to death! you can trick them by putting the kid on to nurse for a moment, then pull him off right away, her milk will have let down.

But with a first freshener, she knows nothing about being milked except what you teach her. Be gentle, but persistent, keep milking even if she kicked the bucket halfway across the pen! If they ever get the idea that they can get you to stop milking when they throw a fit, it is very hard to break the habit, but it can be done. also do not give them more grain when they start to kick, then they will learn to kick everytime they want more grain, and will figure that once the grain runs out ,you have no right to continue milking!

I hold the leg closest to me with my left hand and milk with the right hand. Hold it just above the hock, and firmly. It makes it a lot harder for them to act up and in time, they will stop trying. I hold the legs on all first time milkers, so that they do not get started in the habit of kicking. After a while it is not necessary any longer.

-- Rebekah (daniel1@itss.net), January 07, 2002.

I used to sometimes tie one leg of a persistent kicker, fastening the end of a short rope or tie-down to the back of the stand.

-- mary (marylgarcia@aol.com), January 07, 2002.

An old cow dairyman told me to put my does on the stand before they are due and get them used to having their udders touched and their bodies handled in these strange ways. I've done that with each doe daily for at least a couple months before they are due and (knock on wood) have never had any troubles.

-- Sheryl in ME (radams@sacoriver.net), January 07, 2002.

OK, here's the awful truth based on my experience, limited though it is. Each of the Nigerians I have milked (3, two were first fresheners) has hated being milked. For months and months and months. They will jump around, kick, lay down, anything at all to avoid the process. I have a second freshener who is in her ninth month of lactation, and although she will usually stand pretty well, she still jumps like she's been shot each time my finger happens to brush her leg, or a bit of milk hits her foot, or I breathe or something terrible like that happens. Lucky for me, she likes to eat more than she dislikes being milked, so she will get up on the stand without trouble. And she's the best one so far. At least she has a good let down response, so the milk will actually come out at a good rate. I sold the one that wouldn't let down well. It just took too darn much of my time to milk her. I also milk an Oberhasli, so I do have some basis for knowing what a goat OUGHT to do on the milking stand. I hope you have better luck with your Nigerians!

-- Laura Jensen (lauraj@seedlaw.com), January 08, 2002.

i agree with what sheryl said , i put my goats on the milking stand from the time they are little doelings, its the only way to get them to love the stand , and the whole process, they eat thier grain , i run hands over thier udder, check feet, rub tummy, even holdo nt thier nipples, not milking them , but simply accustoming them to being handled , you can gentle anaimals with some patience and love , but........

sorry , trying to type around cat ...

if you havent had her long enough to gentle , for milking, some velcro straps around her hind legs , then bungee cord attatched ot the end of the milk stand , wont stop the kicking , but may just slow her down , i had one case , i watched the doe get milked , she stood like a rock , for the owner , new person bought her , and she was a horror for the new owner , it happens.... but , time is everything , there are as many tricks as there are goats :)

-- Beth Van Stiphout (willosnake@hotmail.com), January 31, 2002.

An old timer told me one time to put a rope between her ribs and her hind legs closes to her hind legs as possible, tighten the rope and the goat can't raise her legs just stands there.I tried it and it works.I did not tie a complete knot it was like tieing your shoes.Hope this helps. M Anderson

-- M Anderson (anderson8@planters.net), February 17, 2002.

My does are new to milking also. For one kicking was a problem so my husband added an eye bolt to the floor of my milking stand. It is near the back of the stand so that I can position thier legs to make milking easier. I use an old dog leash through the eye bolt in a figure eight with slip knots in both ends. I'm sure bailing twine would work just make sure she can't get it so tight that you can't remove it. I agree, keep milking even if they spill it. Be master of your goats... I have only one rule with the animals. I feed you, I take care of you, I love you, BUT we are finished when I SAY WE ARE. MY TERMS, not theirs. Good luck.

-- Cheyenne Stallings (roongoddess@yahoo.com), July 12, 2002.