The part of goat breeding that never gets old is welcoming new goat kids to the farm. They are some of the cutest creatures to exist, and they are truly a joy to watch. Sometimes they come into the world with a bang! Here’s what you should know about delivering new babies.

Gestation for goats is 150 days, and I mark estimated bred dates on my calendar so I know when to start watching for labor. When your mama goat is getting close, you may see her udder getting big and tight, and her vulva will likely be swollen. Every mama goat is different, so this may happen a few weeks before she gives birth, or you might not notice until a few hours prior.

If you’ve had a doe for multiple kidding seasons, you will be more in tune with her particular behaviors during labor. Common signs of early labor are restlessness and pawing the ground. You may see her rubbing up against fence posts or “talking” to her babies inside her tummy. Once my doe starts these behaviors, I keep an eye out for discharge, which may or may not be bloody, and that’s when I get my supplies ready to head out the door.

Keeping a “kidding kit” is a great idea so you’re not rushing around getting supplies together at the last minute. These items may come in handy right away:

• Towel(s)
• Gloves
• Suction bulb
• Betadine

In a pinch, you can grab a towel, throw on your boots and come back for anything else you need.

When you see a “bubble” emerge from your doe’s vulva, she is probably about to start pushing. When I am busy but know I have a doe getting close, I listen for screams because some of my girls get loud when they are in active labor. Depending on her personality and your bond with her, your doe may want you close while she delivers.

Babies should present nose-first with their little hooves up by their face. When they start hitting the ground, watch your mama goat to be sure she is responding appropriately. She should start paying attention to her kid right away. The baby’s airway needs to be clear so that it does not aspirate. I help with this part by wiping the baby’s nose and mouth with a towel, and the suction bulb can get anything that might be trapped in the throat.

Remember that your goat needs to bond with her babies, so if she has the energy and the instincts, let her do the work. She should clean her baby off herself and start trying to get it to nurse. I will dry babies off if it is cold outside. A baby goat can tolerate cold, but it cannot tolerate wet cold. Do not handle new babies if you are wearing any strong fragrances or have chemicals on your skin or clothing. This may cause mom to think the babies are not hers.

You want to see babies trying to stand and nurse within the first 15 minutes of life. This is the natural order of things because goats are prey species and need to be able to get away from danger at a very early age. If your new baby is having trouble standing, it may be due to a vitamin deficiency. Selenium and Vitamin E gel is good to keep in your medicine cabinet for this purpose. Once the baby is dried off, you can urge it to nurse by holding it up to mom and showing it the teat, if needed.

All of this, of course, may be interrupted by the presentation of another baby! You may feel a bit like a triage nurse for a few minutes; whatever animal is in the most need, that’s the animal that will get your care. If the babies seem healthy, are trying to stand and bonding with mom, then you’re probably in the clear. You can dip the babies’ cords with Betadine to eliminate the possibility of bacteria. At this point, if everything looks okay, I usually take a minute to go get cleaned up so mom can spend some time with babies alone. You will just need to keep an eye out to be sure your mama goat passes the placenta.

Colostrum is the mother’s first milk, and it is imperative that babies receive it during the first hour of life. Again, if your babies are standing and nursing, then you have nothing to worry about.

Should you move mom prior to delivery? I say no. You want your mama goat to be as comfortable as possible, so I generally do not change her surroundings until right after the babies are born. Some of her herd mates may get nosey, and if she happens to still be in with a buck, he might try to breed her back right away. Bucks cannot control themselves around hormones. Once the babies are born and dried off, I move them first, and the mom usually follows.

You want your little goat family to have plenty of room without the mom being able to get so far away that the babies can’t find her, just in case she is not responding to their calls right away. Ample shelter is a must, and clean bedding is a nice gesture for your brand new little ones. For their first 24 hours, they will be resting a lot and waking for short breaks to eat.

Your mama goat will need plenty to eat and drink. You can give her some extra grain with molasses immediately after birth to restore her energy. The stress of labor can be hard on a goat’s body, so it is a good idea to worm her to help prevent parasites from bombarding her system. This is another reason to separate her from the herd for a few days. She won’t have to fight for meals, and you want to be able to get to her and her new kids easily to administer any medication they may need.

You also want to be sure that the babies are nursing from both of the mama’s teats. If they are heavy on one side, you can milk out the other side to relieve pressure. If the teat is overfull and seems sensitive, she may not let the babies nurse on that side, which can end up causing mastitis. Mastitis can be treated, but of course it is simpler to just avoid it in the first place.

The weather will be a deciding factor for how closely you need to monitor your new babies. Some farmers use additional heat from heat lamps to ensure their new babies stay warm. If you choose to use heat lamps, be absolutely certain that they are mounted properly to avoid risk of fire. I do not use supplemental heat because I don’t trust it. I rely on shelter and bedding to keep my little ones warm in those first few days.

By day two, your baby goats should start to bounce and play. Keep an eye out for low energy levels, as this may signal a problem. As long as your babies are moving around and getting plenty to eat, enjoy them and try not to worry too much! They will be big goats before you know it.