How to Make a Cow Stanchion

If you milk cows by hand or just need a stanchion to help in administering medicine, they are simple to build at home. The function of a stanchion is to keep the cow restrained while you milk it. Stanchions are also useful if your cow will not hold still when you have to give it medicine or first aid. There are many design ideas for stanchions but the basic framework is the same. They consist of a feed bin and a head-locking mechanism. A stanchion is a small investment but it has big rewards.

Things You'll Need

  • Safety goggles
  • Skill saw
  • 7 2-by-4s, 4 feet long
  • 1 2-by-4, 2 1/2 feet long
  • 2 2-by-4s, 20 1/2 Inches
  • 6 2-by-4s, 6 inches long
  • 2 2-by-4s, 2 feet long
  • 1 piece 1/2-inch plywood, 2 feet by 4 feet
  • Wood glue
  • Nails
  • Hammer
  • Measuring tape
  • Pencil
  • Rope
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Instructions

  1. Feed Trough

    • 1

      Put on your safety goggles and use the skill saw to cut all the lumber into the correct lengths.

    • 2

      Take 2 of the 4-foot long 2-by-4s and run a bead of wood glue down the middle of the 2-inch side. Line one board up with the 4-foot side of the plywood. Flip the plywood and 2-by-4 over and nail the 2-by-4 into place from the bottom. Use one nail every 6 inches. Do the same with the other 2-by-4 on the opposite side of the plywood.

    • 3

      Finish your feed trough with the two boards that measure 20 1/2 inches, . Glue and nail them into place the same way you just did the 4-foot pieces.

    • 4

      Flip the feed trough upside down and nail a 6-inch 2-by-4 on each corner. These will be the stanchion legs. Use three nails in each leg. With the two other 6-inch pieces, add one leg in the center of both 4-foot sides. Six legs will give your stanchion more stability.

    Head Stall

    • 5

      Stand the feed trough on its legs with the 4-foot side facing you. Nail one 4-foot 2-by-4 on each end, matching them up with the legs. Use four nails to secure the boards.

    • 6

      Connect the two boards with another 4-foot board across the top. Use two nails in each side to secure the board.

    • 7

      Secure another 4-foot long board to the right side of the frame, 1 foot from the outer board. Repeat this on the left side. This will help restrict the movement of your cow's head. There should be a 2-foot gap in the center of the frame.

    • 8

      Measure 1 foot up from the feed trough and mark the two center 2-by-4s at that level. Nail a 4-foot 2-by-4 lengthwise across all four frame boards at this point.

    • 9

      Measure another 1 1/2 half feet above the cross board and mark the position on each side of the two center boards. Use only one nail and nail the 2 1/2-foot long board to the right side of the center frame board. Using one nail will allow you to move this board up and down and lock the cow's head into place. On the other side, place 2 nails 1 inch apart into the wood at your mark. Leave these nails sticking out at least 2 inches. This will be a rest for your head-locking board. Tie a rope to the center board here so you can secure the locking board when your cow puts its head through.