How early is to early to stanchion train?

Ferguson K

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Hi all!

I've recently started working with Aelia on jumping up on command. Onto dog houses, stumps, anything about the same height our milking stand will be. She's four months old. Its an easy process when sweet feed is involved, but, she's still wary about being handled too much.

Is it to early to start teaching her to place her head as well? What about accepting teet touching? Or, is there no such thing as to early? Our Boers start being handled as soon as they're sound on how to stand and we start push training them about Aelias age for show prep. Are NGs different, mentally? Our three seem a lot less friendly in the handling department. It takes time, I'm aware, but... I just don't want to do to much to fast with the little lady.

Thanks!
 

animalmom

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Bravo for you not wanting to push your "little lady" too fast considering her shyness.

Are you also training her to walk on a lead? If so you can add walking to the milking stand, jumping up on the stand and getting brushed and having her feet, legs and udder handled and a quick raisin or other treat, and then back to walk on the lead to her pen. Once she is comfortable... has associated the milking stand with something she likes, then you can start putting a wee bit of grain in the bowl and asking her to put her head through the holder. All things in good time. I think you are doing fine, much better to be doing little bits now rather than wait until she is in milk and you want to milk her. You will have enough going on at that time that you don't need to compound the situation with getting her used to the stand.

I don't know much about Boers, but I do have lots of Nigis, most are quite mellow with the occasional doe that just doesn't seem to get with the program. Given time all of them come around to trust you and what you are doing. They may not always like what you are doing, but they do need to learn to stand still. If you act the boss they will come to appreciate that... or one could say that love conquers all but don't accept bad behavior. (something often easier said than done)

The best to you and Aelia, and please don't forget the pictures!
 

Ferguson K

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Once she's caught she's easy to handle. It's the getting my hands on her without a game of chase I'm having a hard time with. She's doing pretty good and has learned to free leash with us during browse times. I bell my alpha doe and take them on walks. She's learned to follow Prudence. Hopefully this evening I'll get updated pictures. This is miss Aelia last week. She's come so far, but is still so fat!!!

IMG_20150824_091613.jpg
 

Ackthecat

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My Song is hard to catch too, she is 6 months. She jumps on the milking stand with no problems and I can lock her in. She is better than the goat in my profile pic about her feet. She lets me touch her all over too. Have trimmed her hooves easily. Think the hard to catch is a kid thing, she thinks its all a game. I do walk both on a leash and she does well. I agree, small steps
 

goatgurl

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time and patience and it sounds like you have that going. put her up on the milk stand, give her a little grain so that she associates it with good things and as she settles in with it start playing with her belly and udder gently. let her adjust to being touched all over and she will be fine. good luck
 

Mini Horses

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Raising mini horses for years I always imprinted each foal. It was normal for me to be there at birthing and at drying off, they were touched all over, a couple times a day for first few I'd enter stall, hold them gently, if they resisted, held until they stopped, then rubbed all over, lifted feet, etc By time they were a week old, not an issue.

I find my goat kids will respond similarly. Worked with my Boer goats (and you really NEED gentle with their size!) and now my dairy ones. Even those imprinted and then not handled much were far more trusting and easily worked with later.

Once they "give in" and find not being hurt, they learn to enjoy it. Kids always want to jump, of course, but, once they tire of that, they will let you handle them, LOL.
 
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