May is upon us and that means it’s kidding time and who doesn’t love a snuggly baby goat? We’ve compiled a quick list of tips and products to help you have a successful kidding season at your farm.

Knowing when your doe is ready to give birth

Does begin to behave differently when it’s “time”. They may begin pawing around at their bedding, leak milk, seem a little agitated and begin isolating themselves from the herd. There are also a few visual signs you can look for such as: enlarged/full udder starting one to six weeks prior to giving birth, a feeling of hollowness on either side of the doe’s tail due to ligaments relaxing in preparation for birth. Her tail may also be straight out or slightly elevated closer to birthing time.

Preparing for the birth

Having everything you need ready before the time comes is very important to a successful birthing experience. You should have the necessary supplies on hand and ready to go as well as the phone number to your veterinarian or a local goat farmer whom you can call if you have questions or concerns. It's also important to have a designated space prepared for the does to give birth. A secluded area with fresh bedding, feed and water located away from the rest of the herd is helpful. Here are a few birthing supplies to have ready for the big day:

-Kid starter replacer (in situations when the newborn refuses to nurse)

-Goat drench (for delivering vital nutrients or medicines quickly)

-Colustrum supplement (for first feedings if the newborn refuses to nurse)

-Electrolytes (to help in situations where there is loss of bodily fluids in kids and does due to diarrhea)

-Iodine or iodine spray (for dipping or spraying the newborn’s umbilical cord after separation)

-Clean towels (for drying off the newborn after birth). Puppy pads also work well and can be disposed of easily.

-Sharp sanitized scissors or dental floss (for tying off or cutting the umbilical cord if it doesn’t separate on its own. It should separate on its own so be patient).

-Bottle and nipple (to feed the newborn if they refuse to nurse)

-Sterile lubricant (for assisting with the birth if necessary)

-Rubber or latex gloves

Successful birthing

For the most part, the birthing process should go fairly smooth, but there are things to watch out for that could mean problems for your doe or newborn. Read your doe’s body language and behavior, if you sense something is wrong or the birthing process seems to be taking too long, please contact your vet immediately for assistance. There are a few stages to labor:

First stage can begin as early as 24 hours before birth and it’s important to keep an eye on your doe but give her space and privacy.

Second stage – you may see the water bag which may or may not be broken. The doe will begin having labor pains and start pushing. This stage lasts roughly an hour and you should begin seeing the kid emerging. Normal kidding position is two front legs and nose forward in a diving position. If the position is any different than this, you may have to offer assistance. Please contact your veterinarian for more information on how and when to assist. Having advice from an experienced goat farmer prior to birthing season will be invaluable and give you added confidence.

Once the newborn drops feel free to break the sack if it hasn’t broken on its own. Clean the mucus away from the baby’s nose, mouth and throat and dip its navel cord in 7% iodine to prevent naval joint disease. The doe should stimulate the newborn by cleaning it and the kid should begin searching for the udders soon. If the newborn isn’t responding, rub it all over with a clean towel to stimulate breathing.

Ensuring the newborn receives its mother’s first milk (colostrum) within 24 hours after birth is vital. If the baby refuses to nurse, you will have to bottle feed it a colostrum supplement. After 24 hours the baby won’t be able to absorb nearly enough, if not any antibodies. Colostrum is very important to the health of your newborn kid. Once the baby is nursing let the mother take over and do her thing.

That’s it! Most goat births naturally go pretty smooth and Mother Nature takes care of everything but there may be instances where you have to jump in and help. Being prepared beforehand is key in ensuring you can handle any situation as it arises. If you’re new to raising goats, touching base and getting information from an experienced goat farmer is very helpful. You can also find books and magazines full of helpful tips at your local Big R.

Right click and save our printable Kidding Season Checklist: