Having a small home dairy can bring out some crafty and practice idea's out of need. The small barn I built was intended to be like Noah's arc sorta with a little bit of this and that in regards to animals for the wife as a hobby, while I have other things to occupy my time. The small barn originally started out 8' x 12' and divided into sections. One section was for a handful of chickens and the rest was for a goat or two, and that was also divided so that each could have its own stall. Also needed an alley way to get to the stalls in bad weather. As it turned out we got another goat and added another section 4'x5'. As it happened, the eggs really turned out well in that, we could sell eggs and at least pay for some of the grain, but if we had 10 times more to sell.... it would be sold just as quick, as the demand for farm fresh eggs is in high demand. Hence a separate hen house, and eventually taking over the present space they use and turn it into a Kid infirmary once its been sanitized. Now, having said all this......in a small barn like this, and home dairy....space is at a premium. Goats have a natural hierarchy and tend to put each other in the place in line according to age and strength of the animal. Sometimes it seems down right cruel with each other, but its natures way but we try to keep things a little more pleasant by separating everyone into stalls, so it doesn't end up in a food competition and only the biggest and badest get to eat.

Now that Sarah started milking, we needed even more room to take care of the dairy side of things. Trying to milk an udder that is so close to the floor twice a day can be hell on the back, and keeping mamma still while she's being milked can be a challenge as well. Enter the "Milking stanchion". Now this is a clever device that holds the goats head in place as she's being feed so she can't back out, and its elevated off the floor so that a seat can be used during milking, thus making it comfortable for everyone involved. Commercial units can be had for around 300.00, but one also has to have the dedicated space to put it and in our small barn, that is at a premium right now and don't intend on adding anymore!!

So?... its build something that can be folded out of the way when not in use and after some thought, this is what I did.

I cleated a few 1x's together so that I had about a 16" width 5' long (width of stall), then hinged one end. I put a cleat on the bordering stall dividers 14" off the floor so the platform can rest on. Hinged another 1x6, and fold out support for the seat to sit on while milking. The goat walks up on to the platform, sticks her head through the opening where a food dish of grain awaits and a moveable bar can be closed in on her neck with just enough room for comfort but not enough to pull out, then locked in place. The seat is at a slight angle so that one can sit comfortably

close to the udder while milking. Once the milking is complete, the neck restraining bar slid open and the goat dismounts, and the stanchion is then lifted and attached out of the way till next milking, and the stall is back to being a stall again. The stanchion can also be used as a grooming bench for taking care of hoof's, without the back breaking.

Here are some other shots. One of the neck restraint bars is on a pivot so that when the goat slides her head in, I just close the gap and flip that T-hinge over and it prevents the moveable bar from opening, and allowing her head to pull back. That feed dish is one we ordered so it attaches to a 2" x 2" and can be removed for cleaning, as well as out of the narrow 2' alley way

Here's a down view standing on the stanchion.

looking down. You can see the hinge flips over for easy in/out for the goat.

In this next shot, you can see you it all looks during milking. I glued down a black vinyl runner to the stanchion platform for easier cleaning. Milk is often spilt while milking and soaked up in the rough sawn wood. I also figured it would be more comfortable on Sarah's feet standing.

Here's another little handy space saving must. A fold away shelf. The support is on a hinge and folds to the side, and shelf drops down. Having just a narrow 2' alley way I can always just drop it down and out of the way, yet its close enough to grab anything from inside the pen where the milking is going on. That piece of plywood seen on the wall to the right is a make shift door. I put a couple of small shelves that fit in the wall framing, and just enclosed it with a door to keep any medicines for our livestock.

Back to sawing.......

I got a set of skidding tongs with a 2' jaw opening. Man...... does this ever make it slick for dragging logs out. One is a 20" Hemolock, and the other is an 18"

Here's a closer look, opened

The shorter chain helps stop them from digging in. The plow is on so I can grade afterwards. Pulling with an ATV, all 4 wheels dig in for traction. I can just pass the blade over and fill in the ruts when I'm done

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