UPDATE: there’s a newer post with a picture of the device being used, for anyone who wondered exactly how that worked.
In keeping with the already established aesthetic of our livestock equipment and housing, I built a milking/hoof care stand and stanchion out of old pallets and scrap wood.
Here’s the overview:
With the stanchion open:
Though it looks like a medieval torture device, the blue bucket full of treats keeps goats happy and distracted during milking, hoof trimming, etc.:
Goat’s-eye view:
Teri pointed out that it would be disasterous for a goat’s body to slip off the side while her head was in the stanchion, so I added side rails. One can be flipped out of the way to release the goat (goats don’t like to go in reverse)
Locked closed:
Open:
Old lawnmower wheels make this weighty contraption sort of portable:
It may look slapped together, but typical of my engineering, it’s sturdy enough for a small elephant. I studied various sets of plans, made a few sketches, and adapted what I had in my imagination to the supply of old pallets and scrap we had lying around.
Here’s proof that I didn’t major in drafting (or penmanship, which has continued its downhill progress through almost 30 years of computer use):
looks good…baby goats?
any day now…
Awesome example of simplicity and creativity..
Great idea!! We looked and looked and see this is the best and most simple design so far. We are giving it a try and get started milking several goats up here in the mountains outside San Diego, CA. Thank you for your creativity and love of the goat.
Barbara and Solomon Quimba.
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Hello. I have two goats, that I am going to start milking soon. They both gave birth lately.
How can I deal with the other goat coming and trying to eat the grain too? Is there any thing simple that I can built that I can have my other goat being around with no tense – that I won’t have to push her all the time. I is easier for me when they are both at the same place, and I change between them. Thank you. Sorry for my bad English and spelling mistakes. HILA.
Hi Hila – even after working with our goats for several years, the one getting grain always has to be guarded – any other goat that can will try to sneak in and “help.” Eventually, we want to have a few separate areas, but right now we have just the one milking shed so we bring them out one at a time.
Dear Peter. Thank you for your quick answear. I must find a way. I will try to think of something, and if it works out I will take some pictures. It is more than a hobbi for me. HILA.
Dear Peter. I haven’t build the stand yet. I liked the one on – http://thegoatspot.net/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=4797&start=15 – It folds. But it seems that my goat with swing too much to the sides.
If you can please send me the me measurements, that I can order the woods at a carpentry shop.
Another question: Is it easy to clean? Don’t you prefer one made out of aluminum / iron? It makes it more difficult to built.
Thank you. HILA