patience

The goats I milk have had to learn patience on the milkstand. I'm a slow milker at the best of times, but I hurt my first finger on my right hand this spring. Now my other hand is getting sore because of overuse.

I give them their ration of feed, tell them thatthat's all they get, and start milking. Most of these are first fresheners (tiny teats), but they are learning.
Start teaching them patience whether or not you need to, you never know when something will happen.

Sorry about your hands Liz!  I hurt my thumb and forefinger a month or so ago and it was SO frustrating trying to get anything done.

My goats are a meat goat, and I don't milk them (although I have tried a few times).  They were obviously not cooperative.  

I just watched an amazing video about Mongolian herders.  The woman milked a dozen or more goats in a few minutes, right in the pen with about a hundred goats milling around.  She would just grab a leg, pull it out of the group, and give it a quick milk from between the back legs.  The goat just stood placidly while she worked.  I was in awe.  My goats don't stand placidly for anything!

I've had to get quite inventive with how I milk now. 😊

You know, I think it hurts worse because I was being stupid😢. This is the 2nd year in a row that I've hurt that same finger on the same goat. I doubt it will ever be the same again. At least it doesn't look like a link sausage anymore!
I've got to watch that video, maybe it'll give me MORE HINTS. I need them. The woman who owns the goats milks so fast that half of the milk in the bucket is foam.