Goat Signs of Labor and Giving Birth (Kidding)
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Overview of the lingo
Kidding: Kidding is the term for giving birth
Freshening: means coming into milk production and occurs at the time of kidding. Milk production varies with the breed, age, quality, and diet of the doe; dairy goats generally produce between 660 to 1,800 L (1,500 and 4,000 pounds) of milk per 305 day lactation.
Freshening: means coming into milk production and occurs at the time of kidding. Milk production varies with the breed, age, quality, and diet of the doe; dairy goats generally produce between 660 to 1,800 L (1,500 and 4,000 pounds) of milk per 305 day lactation.
Kidding schedules
The gestation period for a goat is 148 to 153 days. Do not forget to put your breeding dates on your calendar and count forward the approximate number of days from there to give yourself a window in which you will need to be prepared for kidding. You can also plan out your kids a bit if you know there will be conflicts or complications with your future schedule or you would prefer to avoid the difficulties associated with your particular climate, such as bitter cold. Remember that these schedules will also affect the availability of your milk.
Some goats will typically give birth earlier in the cycles than others. Nubians seem to have a tendency to give birth a few days earlier than the calculations would show and the Alpines have a tendency to stay pretty close to the calculated date. First birthers will sometimes carry a little longer than does that have given birth previously.
Some goats will typically give birth earlier in the cycles than others. Nubians seem to have a tendency to give birth a few days earlier than the calculations would show and the Alpines have a tendency to stay pretty close to the calculated date. First birthers will sometimes carry a little longer than does that have given birth previously.
Breeding cheat sheet*
September breeding = February kids
October breeding = March kids
November breeding = April kids
December breeding = May kids
October breeding = March kids
November breeding = April kids
December breeding = May kids
* Note, it is possible, albeit rather unusual to have does in standing heat in other months and have babies outside of this window. We have bred does as late as February when the weather cooled significantly unexpectedly, but don't count on it. All breeding should be scheduled to be completed by December.
Preparing for the Delivery
If you're a first time goat owner, you'll likely be anxious about the arrival of the first kids, but very few goat births have problems. If you have fed the doe properly and she has kidded successfully before, there is very little likelihood you'll have any involvement in the event. Instead you'll go out to the barn for chores and find kids waiting for you.
After 3 months, the kids should easily be felt on the right side of the doe. Try to remember to feel for them at least once every day, and twice a day as you get within two weeks of the delivery date. As a general rule, as long as you can still feel them, they won't be due for another 12 hours.
First time birthers sometimes do have additional problems, so start frequenting your barn area more than usual about 4.5 months into the pregnancy. You'll want to give your goat a private place to go that's clean and well bedded. Make sure there are no water buckets near the ground. However, the best laid plans go awry and there have been plenty of circumstances where the doe will instead select a spot of dirt in the birthing pen instead of the hay you have thoughtfully provided.
Supplies to have on hand in the kidding area:
After 3 months, the kids should easily be felt on the right side of the doe. Try to remember to feel for them at least once every day, and twice a day as you get within two weeks of the delivery date. As a general rule, as long as you can still feel them, they won't be due for another 12 hours.
First time birthers sometimes do have additional problems, so start frequenting your barn area more than usual about 4.5 months into the pregnancy. You'll want to give your goat a private place to go that's clean and well bedded. Make sure there are no water buckets near the ground. However, the best laid plans go awry and there have been plenty of circumstances where the doe will instead select a spot of dirt in the birthing pen instead of the hay you have thoughtfully provided.
Supplies to have on hand in the kidding area:
- Germicidal soap for disinfecting
- K-Y jelly if you need to insert your hand and arm to assist with the delivery
- Clean towels
- Iodine and a small bowl or cup in which to dip the umbilical cord
- Drench for the doe
- Sanitized milk bottles or feed pans in the event the doe is unable to allow the offspring to feed or you will be immediately feeding by pan or bottle
Signs kids will be born soon
The most reliable way to anticipate pending delivery is to watch the doe's abdomen and tail. After 3 months, the kids should easily be felt on the right side of the doe. Try to remember to feel for them at least once every day, and twice a day as you get within two weeks of the delivery date. As a general rule, as long as you can still feel them, they won't be due for another 12 hours.
As the pregnancy progresses, you'll begin to see the left side of the does abdomen will protrude more than the right and grow larger. Later you will be able to see the babies moving around underneath the mother's skin. When freshening time approaches, the most reliable sign is a hollowing out of the ligaments that run along the spin down to base of the tail. Once those are soft, the doe is within hours of delivery. The does often become restless and will begin pawing the ground, walking in circles, lying down and getting back as they try to get comfortable.
Many does will start to have their udders fill with milk as much as a few days before delivering and others not until after kidding, so filled udders, or "bagging up" can be a deceptive indication.
As the pregnancy progresses, you'll begin to see the left side of the does abdomen will protrude more than the right and grow larger. Later you will be able to see the babies moving around underneath the mother's skin. When freshening time approaches, the most reliable sign is a hollowing out of the ligaments that run along the spin down to base of the tail. Once those are soft, the doe is within hours of delivery. The does often become restless and will begin pawing the ground, walking in circles, lying down and getting back as they try to get comfortable.
Many does will start to have their udders fill with milk as much as a few days before delivering and others not until after kidding, so filled udders, or "bagging up" can be a deceptive indication.
Delivery of the Goat Kids
Kiddlng occurs in stages. The first is when the contractions of the uterus for the placenta, fetus and fluids against the cervix, dilating it. This can last up to 12 hours with does giving birth for the first time, but for older does who have previously kidded, this can happen very quickly.
Then the pushing begins. This should last much more than 2 hours. If it does, complications may be occurring. It ends with the delivery of the last kid. Assisting with the deliveryThere are a lot of theories about goats should have assistance with their delivery and all kinds of instructions on how to do so. However, in general, almost all births are without compilcations and getting too involved sometimes stresses the mother and with first time mothers can even interfere with the imprinting process with her offspring. Therefore, it is likely best to carefully observe at a polite distance the birth with some clean towels and iodine ready.
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If it appears the doe is struggling for a while and nothing is happening, insert your hand and arm disinfected with a germicidal soap - and lubricated with K-Y Jelly if possible, into the birth canal. In most cases you'll simple need to get the first leg out when the doe next pushes. If you can't find the legs, the baby may be in an abnormal position. If the doe continues struggling for a couple of hours, consult a veterinarian. However, even in cases where goats give birth to a still born baby, they are usually able to manage this on there own. If this happens, as always, be sure to quickly dispose of the body and associated materials.
Once the doe expels the first kid, she'll begin to clean it off. Make sure she gets the nose and mouth free of mucus. If not, go ahead and use the towels to clean the baby. If the doe is giving birth to multiple babies, it is sometimes difficult for her to keep up with everything that is going on. Again, be sure all babies have their mouths and noses cleared. However, if you are on a caprine arthritis encephasititis o prevention program, you will need to make sure the doe does not lick her babies.
Once the doe expels the first kid, she'll begin to clean it off. Make sure she gets the nose and mouth free of mucus. If not, go ahead and use the towels to clean the baby. If the doe is giving birth to multiple babies, it is sometimes difficult for her to keep up with everything that is going on. Again, be sure all babies have their mouths and noses cleared. However, if you are on a caprine arthritis encephasititis o prevention program, you will need to make sure the doe does not lick her babies.
Umbilical cord
- In most cases the umbilical cord breaks by itself. if not, tie it off with a string about 2 inches from the baby's body and cut it off on the doe's side.
- The umbilical cord must be disinfected. To do this, pour iodine into a small cup to a level that can be reach by the umbilical cord. Then press the cup up to the navel and slowly pour the iodine all around it to ensure coverage.
After birth
Watch for the expulsion of the afterbirth. This can take up to 6 hours or more. Often goat owners are concerned their goat did not expel the placenta when in fact when they left the goat for a bit, she had expelled it and consumed it. Like many wild herbivores, the placenta contains important nutrients and helps stop the bleeding. It is normal for the doe to eat it. If she does not eat the placenta, remove it and properly dispose of the placenta to keep the area clean and eliminate attracting insects and predators.
If you are certain the doe hasn't expelled the placenta after 8 hours, consult with a veterinarian. A retained afterbirth is a serious matter. If it's just hanging out of the doe, do not pull on it. You might cause hemorrhaging.
If you are certain the doe hasn't expelled the placenta after 8 hours, consult with a veterinarian. A retained afterbirth is a serious matter. If it's just hanging out of the doe, do not pull on it. You might cause hemorrhaging.
Inspect the kidsIn the excitement of a successful birth many people forget this, but look at the sex of the babies. Critical decisions need to be made quickly at this time.
Doelings: Check doelings to make sure the udder and teats are as they should be. Sometimes extra teats will be present. Some have true double teats which make the animal worthless as as a milker and should not be bred. Other times what appears to be a teat may be a skin tab, or a teat without a milk duct. If the teat is far enough away from the other teats, it may be able to be surgically removed. Taking your doeling to a veterinarian that treats goats and receiving their guidance will give you a higher level of confidence on what you should do with these goats. Just because an animal has extra teats, does not mean it needs to be destroyed, but it should not be registered or in most cases, bred. |
Bucklings: Have a plan in mind as to what you want to do with the males as there are only a few bucks required in the market and only the very best bucks should be kept for breeding. Wethering may be a good option as there are often people looking for a wether as a companion animal to another larger herd animal or simply would like some animals to help keep their brush under control .
Shortly after birth - often within 20 minutes - the kids will start trying to stand up, take a few steps and nurse. It may take up to 2 hours for the baby to be able to nurse, so watch the progress carefully and consult the feeding and care of kids for next steps.
Shortly after birth - often within 20 minutes - the kids will start trying to stand up, take a few steps and nurse. It may take up to 2 hours for the baby to be able to nurse, so watch the progress carefully and consult the feeding and care of kids for next steps.
Do not forget to weigh, record the weight of each kid and weigh weekly thereafter!
This will be important information to help you monitor growth rates, feeding amounts, and the appropriate time to wean
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