Use this guide to give your pregnant doe and her baby the best care they deserve.
This blog post contains videos of live goat birth. If you’re sensitive to that, please enjoy one of our other blog posts!
Why We Breed Goats
We love raising goats on our farm. They help keep the brush down, can be used for meat or milk purposes, and make for some pretty great entertainment.
These adorable, friendly animals can be a wonderful addition to your hobby farm or homestead. But before rushing out to buy a goat herd, do your research. Learn what you need to know before getting goats, what to feed goats and the goat must-haves for your farm.
We breed Spanish goats, Kiko goats, and Pygmy goats. These hardy breeds make good moms who can birth kids with little to no help, and we’ve experienced a lot of success with them.
Calculating a Due Date
Once your does are pregnant, then it is time to calculate the arrival date of the kids and begin preparations. Many factors contribute to when a goat has her babies, but it helps to have a general idea of when they will be born.
Standard goats give birth approximately 150 days after breeding, while the gestation period for miniature breeds is about 145 days.
Don’t rely on your memory. Keep a record of when you exposed your does to your bucks. Accurate record-keeping is an important part of breeding. There are some helpful record-keeping tools on Pinterest, or other sites that can assist you.
Preparing for Baby Goats to Arrive
Some goat breeds (like our Spanish goats) like to hide in the brush or long grass when they are about to give birth. We cut down the tall grass in our pasture to prepare for the kids. This way, we can easily keep an eye on the moms and babies.
Trimming the brush also keeps the snakes, chiggers and ticks at bay. Not only does this provide added protection for our goats, but it also helps manage flea and tick prevention in livestock guardian dogs.
Keep the stock tank full of fresh water and ensure the mammas have proper nutrition. The feed we use contains coccidiosis medicine. We feed this for 28 days before the estimated due date. That way, the kids gain immunity to coccidiosis.
Make sure your nanny goats have access to shelter and a heat lamp if the temperature is around freezing or below.
Most of the time, the mama goats have excellent instincts and require little to no help. Just give them space and refrain from pinning them up unless you have to. Be patient and let the mom’s instincts take over.
Birthing Kit
Occasionally, we need to step in and offer help. As it gets time for the kids to arrive, our primary job is to watch and let nature kick in. Sometimes the kid or mom needs help, have the necessary bottle feeding supplies on hand just in case.
- Pritchard Nipples – We prefer these nipples. They slide right over the top of a 750ml soda bottle. This way, we can bottle-feed a baby if the mom rejects the kid for any reason.
- Soda Bottles – Keep clean, sanitized 750ml soda bottles ready for bottle feeding, if necessary.
- Goat Milk Replacer – We recommend the Save-A-Kid brand.
- Powdered Colostrum – Colostrum supports the health of the newborn kid. It gives a big boost of nutrients and immunity to the newborn. If a mama goat refuses a newborn, it needs colostrum right away. Colostrum from the goat’s mother is best. The second best option is frozen colostrum or powdered colostrum. At the very least, have powdered colostrum on hand.
- Towels or Rags – If the mama doesn’t clean off the afterbirth, you need to jump in there and clean the kid with old towels or rags. The kid needs to be dry to stay warm.
- Petroleum Jelly – Use Vaseline or a lubricating jelly if you need to help the mama during the birthing process.
- Heating Pad – A heating pad is a great option if the mom needs help keeping the baby warm. Newborn goats need to stay warm.
- Heat Lamp and Bulb – Make sure all the goats have access to a heat lamp during cool weather seasons.
- Shelter – The moms and babies need access to shelter to keep them warm and dry. Basic farm shelters work just fine.
Signs of Labor
As the approximate due date nears, start looking for physical signs of labor. You will notice the doe’s udder looking full and dropping low.
The stomach will look less barrel-like and more full around the hips. Her back end will look more soft and relaxed, and she may secrete mucus.
Watch for behavioral signs of labor. The doe may spend more time alone, looking restless or scratching or biting toward her back end. The doe will tell you when it is time if you carefully observe your herd.
Stages of Delivery
Delivery is broken down into three stages; early contractions, active labor, and birthing the placenta.
Early Contractions
Nanny goats will begin nesting and act very restless – standing up and laying down repeatedly, or they may hide away from the rest of the herd. The nanny may grind her teeth, and you will notice more discharge and even a water sac hanging down.
Contractions will begin, and you will see the goat beginning to push.
Active Labor
During active labor, more contractions will occur. The “mucus” you see hanging down will turn a bright red.
The nanny may lie down to push. She may get up, circle around a little, then lie back down to push again. Or, she may walk around between contractions. This movement helps ensure the baby is in the correct position.
You will hear more bleating, grunting, and panting. Eventually, you will see two hooves and a nose emerge from the birth canal. The nanny will push again, and the newborn goat will fall to the ground. The umbilical cord breaks naturally at this time.
Birthing the Placenta
Lastly, the mother will birth the placenta. The placenta is a small red sack that will just fall to the ground. Don’t try to rush this process. This usually happens right after the baby is born, but it can take up to 12 hours or more.
Remove the placenta from the enclosed area if your nanny goat is in a stall or penned up.
If you’re unsure if your goat birthed the placenta, keep an eye on your doe. If you notice a foul smell or puss after a day or two, she may have an infection that needs treatment. Call a vet for help at this time.
When to Assist in Birthing a Goat
Keep an eye on your mama goat when she begins exhibiting signs of labor. Keep your distance. You don’t want to make her nervous. Don’t intervene unless you have to.
If the doe is in labor but has not progressed after several hours, she may need help. But if she is making steady progress, then things should be good.
Typically, when a newborn exits the birth canal, you will first see the front two hooves and the nose. If you only see hooves or only see a nose, you may need to give aid. It could be a sign that the hooves are in a crossed position.
Occasionally the kid is in the wrong position, and the back hooves emerge first.
After the birth, make sure the baby’s airways are open and that the mother is cleaning and drying her baby. Keep watch without spooking the mom. Have your vet’s number on hand. Call the vet for advice if you notice anything out of the ordinary or concerning.
Aftercare for Doe and Kids
Birthing a goat is hard work; afterward, both the nanny and baby will need special care.
Doe
Give the mom access to nutrients after her hard work. Give her grain or alfalfa hay for extra nutrients. Alfalfa contains more protein than regular grass hay.
It helps if you place mom and baby in a separate stall so they can be warm, dry, and have access to fresh food and water. This also encourages bonding, especially for a first-time mom.
If the mother seems tired, consider adding molasses or electrolytes to the water to boost her energy.
Kids
The mother goat will begin cleaning her baby as soon as she delivers it. She will clean the nose and mouth and urge the kid to stand up.
Once the baby is standing, she will encourage it to nurse. The first milk the mom produces is colostrum, which contains essential nutrients for the newborn kid’s immune system.
If the temperatures are below freezing, you can help the mom clean up the kid with a towel to dry it off quickly. You can also move the mom and baby into a warm stall with a heat lamp or heating pad to ensure warmth.
If the baby is reluctant to nurse, you can help by putting it in the position to begin nursing. Any nudging or urging the baby to drink the first colostrum is beneficial.
You can even squeeze colostrum into the baby’s mouth to encourage nursing. Newborn kids generally begin to nurse just 10 to 15 minutes after birth. If it still is not nursing, prepare a bottle with powdered colostrum to provide nutrients. Then encourage nursing from the mother again.
If the mom cleaned the baby, bonded with it, urged it to drink, and the baby is standing and nursing, then there is no need to move them to a stall. The mom will walk them to the barn or a sheltered place and care for them without needing intervention.
The mamma goat and kid need space even in the first few days. Do not rush to hold and handle the newborn kids unless necessary. You do not want the mom to reject the baby. Keep an eye on them from a distance.
In the days and weeks to follow, observe, make sure you keep feed, fresh water, and shelter available, and enjoy that beauty of nature.
