My Nubians refuse the milk stand

[Guest guest]

Hello, My big Nubian Does absolutely refuse to get up on the stand. I finally started just tying them to it and grabbing my little stool to milk them. Is there a trick to getting them up there? They don't even care if there is grain for them. The young does jump right up there after a few times of lifting them. But the older does are killing my back trying to get them up there so I stopped fighting them. Is there anything I can do differently to get them to jump on the milk stand of their own free will?  Thank You for any suggestions!

-- Best Regards,                        Val

[Guest guest]

I don't feed my girls until I'm milking them, that way, they are hungry and

eager to get up on the stand! My back aches for yours! I hate picking up my

occasionally stubborn Nigerian Dwarfs!!

>

> Hello, My big Nubian Does absolutely refuse to get up on the stand. I

> finally started just tying them to it and grabbing my little stool to milk

> them. Is there a trick to getting them up there? They don't even care if

> there is grain for them. The young does jump right up there after a few

> times of lifting them. But the older does are killing my back trying to get

> them up there so I stopped fighting them. Is there anything I can do

> differently to get them to jump on the milk stand of their own free will?

> Thank You for any suggestions!

>

> --

> Best Regards,

> Val

>

[Guest guest]

We have a milking set up requiring the does to go up a solid wooden ramp that’s about 15in wide , across a wooden platform about 38in off the ground, and inside the parlor onto an expanded metal milking platform that’s about 38in off the floor. The only doe we’ve had trouble with was also a Nubian, and a big’un. Her cruising weight was over 190, and she could be impossible to budge when she chose to stop. We tried it all, from come-alongs looped behind her rear to siccing the dog on her. Each thing worked once and then that was it. It was obvious she was just completely freaked by the height, especially when she got inside. After two weeks of every manner of bribery and force during which the doe faired pretty well but we put our our backs and shoulders, I just said, guess what old girl, you either get up there or you don’t eat (grain that is). Eating was her very best thing.

After two milkings of not eating (she was not a huge milker due to her age, but she was still a champion eater) she walked up that ramp and into the parlor like she’d done it all her life. No problems after that. Other than this one situation, she was the sweetest baby ever.

As for your does, I’d do the same. Milk them on the ground, but no grain unless they get up on the stand.

Good luck,

OakMoon Farm & Creamery