[goosepimple]

This is a bit of a tangent - could you use it to keep the goat in position for feet trimming - we have to 'deck' ours with me holding the head end and other half 'sitting on' them (not quite of course).  It's not ideal and every month when we do it I think there must be an easier way?

[Dogwalker]

definately, even my awkward one I can do on my own,  shouldn't be a battle, food bribes work well too.

[Penninehillbilly]

This is a bit of a tangent - could you use it to keep the goat in position for feet trimming - we have to 'deck' ours with me holding the head end and other half 'sitting on' them (not quite of course).  It's not ideal and every month when we do it I think there must be an easier way?

We used to have a battle with mine, but now they stand reasonably quietly. best if someone holds head, push against wall, lift feet like a blacksmith would a horse, (but not too high) stand rump to rump with goat for back feet, hold hoof firmly between your knees, be firm and don't let go when they struggle (unless their falling over of course). GIVE A TREAT AFTER. They eventually realise it's not such an ordeal and there are goodies when they've been good  .
If you persevere I'm sure you will all be happier then being 'decked' 

[goosepimple]

Oh yes!  We have kids so we know about bribes of treats!    Now I've just shown OH Jaykay and Plums' pics and said I was going to give it a go at which he looked like    and I looked like    and I will no doubt look a bit    after its made up!     Will I be confident enough to show the results    hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm ..... we architects like fiddling about with bits of wood - its all in the detail...see it in 6 months I think...

[little blue]

our milking stand consists of ...... my o/h kneeling on the floor with his jug (sometimes on a kneeler pad, not always), the goat with her head in her bucket and me sitting on a little stool holding a saucepan!

but one day.... 

[jaykay]

Goosepimple, did you find the pattern on the Fias Co Farm website? It really wasn't too difficult to make - good luck 

[goosepimple]

Yes, just got that Jaykay, many thanks - we were lucky enough to inherit a workshop with built in tools so I've no excuses!  We're living in deconstruction city at the moment but it will all have to stop when our kids come off at the end of june, so a project for a day with the kiddies I think.  That and felting our fleeces - hopefully it will stop raining for a couple of days 

[smudger]

Inspired by all (plus being a bit desperate), we made one!

[jaykay]

That's excellent - good job 

[jinglejoys]

Very nice!

[Lesley Silvester]

There are some talented people on here.

[goosepimple]

Well done!  I've no excuses now 

[Anke]

Well done!
 
 
Not sure what your surface material is - put some lino or something easily wipeable down. I have one girl who is an expert in multi-tasking - she's having her breakfast (or dinner) while being milked and is doing her business the other end too if I am too slow...

[little blue]

Geraldine is abit like that.... though she usually wanders off to do her business, and have a look round while we wait  for her!

[Penninehillbilly]

Well done!
 
 
Not sure what your surface material is - put some lino or something easily wipeable down. I have one girl who is an expert in multi-tasking - she's having her breakfast (or dinner) while being milked and is doing her business the other end too if I am too slow...

Wouldn't lino be a bit slippy if they come in with wet feet?