Kidding season is an exciting time for goat producers. If you are new to raising goats, it’s incredibly important to know what to expect during labor and how to take care of your pregnant doe after she delivers her adorable new babies.
Most of the time goats will kid all on their own without assistance. Many times I've gone out to the barn during kidding season to find babies already standing and nursing from mom. However, if you live in a climate like ours where the early spring can hold freezing temps, it's a good idea to be available when your goat goes in labor. Kids can't regulate their body temperature so it's very easy for them to slip into hypothermia. There are also a few things that need to be done within the first hour or two after a kid is born. Knowing that your goat is in labor can help you be sure to get these things done so you have the most success with your kidding season.
Whether you are a newbie raising goats or you’ve been at it a few years, it’s always good to be prepared for kidding season. If you aren’t new, you know goats like to throw you wild & new surprises. They don’t always follow rules like they should haha! We’ve been raising goats for 3 years now and I learn something new from each kidding we experience.
Here's what you need to know to prepare for the goat kidding season.
Kidding season is a very exciting time for most goat producers, but it can also be a stressful time for everyone including the animals. Most of the activities are standard regardless of what time of year you kid. Here are some tips:
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- Plan in advance of the first kid being born.
- Prepare a clean barn or shelter the new kids will have access to.
- Prepare a pasture for the new kids and does to be placed on after kidding.
When cleaning facilities and equipment it is important to disinfect as you go, putting down clean bedding, and removing manure from the facilities. Providing supplemental heat where needed if you are kidding in winter or early spring can also be beneficial.
A good thing to learn is a goat’s gestation period as well, you can check out how long goats are pregnant for in this post. So. We all know that a goat usually kids about 150 days after being bred. That’s the easy part. I am not a goat expert.
Keeping good records of the dates that your goats were exposed will help you to know within a week or two when your goats will be kidding. It also helps to not run your bucks with your does year round. This way you have a good understanding as to when your girls will be kidding.
Here are some common signs of goat labor.
Preparing Your Goat for Successful Kidding : Step-by-Step Visual Guide | Pak Breeders
Early Signs of Labor
As your goat gets closer to her due date you might notice some changes in her behavior. Each goat is different but there are some definite signs that you can watch for. These symptoms can go on for more than a week.
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This is a pretty obvious sign that your goat is either in labor or labor is very near. It’s usually an early stage of labor. This is also a pretty consistent sign, all of my goats I’ve ever owned will separate themselves from the heard. But who’s to say there’s a goat out there that doesn’t like to go by the books haha, we all know at least one This is a good time to put them in a kidding stall so they can focus and feel comfortable. If it’s early labor, you may be able to leave them out with the others if you can go out and check on them throughout the day.
When our girls are getting closer to their time many of them go into what we call the "pregnancy trance". They sort of zone out and their eyes glaze over. It's sometimes subtle to notice, but if you're around your goats enough you may notice that they have a sort of day dreamy look to them. Usually whenever we enter our barn our girls jump up and beg for treats and grain. You might notice that your goats stay laying and are more reluctant to move when prompted.
If your goat is experiencing multiple symptoms from the list above, then her time is coming soon. When our goats are in this stage, we check them every 2 hours. Active labor can come fast at this point.
Not all does will do this. I had a first time mom who went into labor and would not keep quiet. It was so strange because aside from labor she never made a peep. I knew that was a definite sign babies were coming soon. As a first freshener, I was appreciative of her loud call because I always like to be there for their first kidding.
This is one of the most accurate signs if you just aren’t sure. You’ll notice 12-24 hours before labor starts your doe’s udder will fill. It’ll be tight and shiny because their milk and colostrum are ready for the babies! I did have one doe fill her udder 2-3 hours before she pushed her babies out though. Either way, if the udder is super tight/swollen and shiny you know labor is near or present. Don’t confuse this with a slightly full udder, the udder does start to fill up late pregnancy, you’ll know it’s really tight by feeling it, it should have a “pop” factor.
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I like to take pictures 5 days before their due date so I can compare the pictures each day and see when it finally “pops” Sometimes you can stare at a mother goat so long, you don’t even see changes.
If you have a goat who is usually standoffish and all of a sudden wants your loving, you can bet labor will start within the next 12-24 hours. One of the early signs for sure.
This may not be a sign of labor but it’s a sign that labor is within the next 5-7 days or so. This is not to be confused with discard nanny goats can have throughout pregnancy. Usually at the end of pregnancy they will have small amounts of clear discharge. This is perfectly normal, you’ll usually notice little bits on the vulva or tail. Once the doe is in active labor, she will have a thick white mucus tinged with little bits of blood, known as the mucus plug that is usually long. This is a clear sign she will be delivering baby goats soon.
You can feel a female goats tail ligaments to know how close they are. The tail ligaments are on each side of the tail and are usually pretty hard, they feel about the width of a pencil. I like to compare to another goat who is not due soon, you can feel both does and see the difference. If the ligaments on each side of the tail are completely gone and feel somewhat squishy, you can bet labor is starting within the next 12-24 hours. Some goats though, may loose them right before delivery. I noticed with Nigerian dwarf goats, their ligaments when gone, would feel extra squishy. Whereas with my mini Nubian does, they don’t get completely squishy but it’s still pretty obvious they are gone.
This isn’t always accurate because I have seen my goats silent yawn if they have something stuck in their teeth. However, you will see a doe yawn a good bit when she is in labor. This is a sign that she is uncomfortable and in pain. Labor is probably present if you see lots of silent yawns.
Active Labor Signs
As your goat gets close you may begin to see signs of heavier discomfort. Though it can be hard to watch, it is natural. Respect your doe's needs and give her some extra space if she seems standoffish. Keep her stress levels low. This is also a good time to double-check all your supplies and make sure you have everything ready.
As your goat gets closer to delivery, her tail bone ligaments will loosen to allow the baby to be delivered. If you feel a goat that is not in labor she will have two tight ligaments that run from the lower spine to either side of the base of the tail. They should feel like firm bands about the size of a pencil. As she goes into labor, these ligaments will soften and eventually sink. You should be able to gently place your thumb and finger in a circle around the tailbone of a goat that is ready to kid.
If your goat is in active labor, you can expect to see her pawing at the ground a lot. She will paw, lay down, and get back up, repeat. This is her simply nesting and finding a good spot to start pushing. Not long after this, the water breaks usually. I mainly see a doe’s water break while she’s pushing. This is a part in the birthing process where things get real. Pay close attention if she does start pushing, you want to make sure she’s pushing effectively enough to get those babies out.
Contractions can start several hours before birth. The goat will stiffen her legs, lower her tail, arch her back, then lower her back and raise her tail back up. You will notice that the vulva contracts along with the contraction.
If I witness any of the signs below on a barn check, then I stay in the barn because delivery will be at any time:
- leaking from the vulva, or loosing her plug. The discharge will start out clear and will become more milky and opaque as she gets ready to kid. You may also see traces of blood.
Some goats stand through delivery, others will lay down. Often your goat will continue eating throughout the delivery process. Her pushes will be longer and she might grunt or cry out. Our Nubians are particualrily loud during labor.
As her pushes continue you will begin to see the bubble appear. This is the amniotic membrane. This membrane can stay in tact or it may burst. You will see it extend out with each push and then contract in slightly as she rests. As the baby prograsses, if everything is as it should be you will see two tiny hooves followed by a tiny nose. After the head is delivered I will break the amniotic sack if it hasn't broken already, to ease the labor. I also clear the nose and mouth. From here out, delivery should progress rapidly. Usually after one last, big push, the baby comes sliding out all in one swoosh.
If you are assisting the doe, bring the baby up to her face immediately after it's delivered. The doe needs to smell it and clean it to create that maternal bond. As the doe licks, make sure the kid's airpassages are clear.
Assisting the Doe During Labor
I had two does that would barely push and their labor stalled. We had to stick our hand in and as we did that, it helped to stimulate their pushing reflex and from that point they pushed the babies out. They were both first-time goat mamas. Sometimes first-time fresheners need a little help.
Another thing, if a goat isn’t pushing much, the kid may be in the wrong position not stimulating the mom to push. If you feel in your gut something is off, feel free to glove up, grab some lube and check the dam.
Once you see the doe pushing, as mentioned above, grab your clean towels or chucks pads and get ready to clean off the baby goats nose. Once she has pushed her baby out, the baby is drinking on momma and they’re bonding, you’ll want to stay and wait for the placenta to be delivered. Usually you will see it on the ground if you walk away or the doe sometimes will eat it. I like to make sure I see it before calling it a day. I have several who eat theirs, which is fine, I just like to make sure it came out. Never EVER pull on the placenta or the bloody string that hangs before the placenta comes out. You don’t want to risk it tearing and not delivering completely. This can lead to severe infection, which we want to avoid at all costs.
Preparing for Kidding Season
Anytime we have a doe that’s due, we like to make sure and give them extra care. Set up the birthing pen by cleaning the area, putting wood chips down, and making sure it’s ready for the laboring doe. Get the kidding kit organized and make sure we have everything we need for the birth. Make sure we have everything we need to take care of baby goats. Start giving EZ birth extract. We start 2 weeks before giving once a day and 1 week before we give twice a day. This is a tincture by Land Of Havilah that helps tone the uterus and prepares the does body for labor.
Now that you know the common signs of a goat’s labor, you are prepared and ready to tackle to task ahead. If you are in a bind and unsure of what to do during labor, it’s important to have a good vet’s number on hand. One that is familiar with goats and can help out if need be. If that’s not possible, I always reach out on the goat spot forum. It’s a great place to ask questions and get help quickly.
Here is a basic list of items that may be found in a kidding kit. This is only a basic list and some producers will find other items helpful. Remember to clean items you use and replace as necessary during the kidding season.
- Iodine
- OB sleeves
- OB lube
- Towels
- Flashlight
- Scissors
- Dental floss
- Calcium gluconate
- propylene glycol
- thermometer
- feeding tube
- syringes
- needles
- CD&T antitoxin
Does that are not fed adequately during this time can have several problems. One of the most serious is known as pregnancy toxemia or ketosis. During this disease process the doe breaks down body fat and muscle to provide the needed energy and protein. This generally happens in the last 2 weeks before kidding.
Does that are not fed properly also generally produce lower quality colostrum. Colostrum is the first milk produced after kidding and is very high in antibodies and is very important for kid health. It is also very high in fat as well.
The length of time between checks will depend somewhat on the time of year. During the winter months, every 2 to 3 hours may be necessary. This is because the kids are wet and weak at birth. You will want to be able to get them dry and moving before hypothermia starts to take effect.
| Days Pregnant | 1 Doe | 2 Does | 3 Does |
|---|---|---|---|
| 95 | 2.63 | 3.03 | 3.43 |
| 120 | 2.93 | 3.33 | 3.73 |
| 140 | 3.23 | 3.63 | 4.03 |
The first thing is to make sure it is dried off and has a chance to nurse. The kid should receive 4 oz of colostrum within 4 hours of birth. It should receive a total of 16 oz within 24 hours of birth. The ability of the kid to absorb the immunoglobins decreases over time.
Later reference your breeding records to assign the sire of each kid. You should also record birth weights and sex of all kids even if they are born dead. It is also good to give the doe credit to the doe for the weight of kids she delivered.
