Goat Kidding Checklist: Supplies, Signs & Preparation

Kidding season is the most exciting and stressful time on a goat farm. Being prepared makes the difference between a smooth delivery and a panicked midnight scramble. This checklist covers what to have on hand, how to know labor is close, what a normal delivery looks like, and how to handle the first critical hours after birth.

Supplies Checklist

Have these gathered and stored in a clean bin or bucket near your kidding area at least 2 weeks before the first doe's due date.

Essential supplies

• Clean towels (at least 4-5 per doe) for drying kids and cleaning hands
• 7% iodine or chlorhexidine and a small cup for dipping navels
• Bulb syringe or nasal aspirator for clearing mucus from airways
• Sharp scissors or dental floss for tying and cutting umbilical cords if needed
• Heat lamp or hair dryer for cold or weak kids (use with caution around bedding)
• Digital kitchen scale for weighing kids at birth
• Colostrum — frozen from a previous freshening, or powdered replacer as backup
• Bottle and Pritchard nipple for supplementing weak kids
• Feeding tube kit for kids too weak to suck (learn to use this before you need it)
• Flashlight or headlamp for middle-of-the-night checks

Nice to have

• OB gloves (shoulder-length) in case you need to assist
• OB lube (J-Lube or similar)
• Selenium/Vitamin E gel (BoSe) — especially important in selenium-deficient areas
• Nutri-Drench or CMPK for does that are slow to recover
• Baby monitor or barn camera so you can check without disturbing the doe

Preparing the Kidding Area

• Clean and bed a 5x5 foot (minimum) stall with deep, dry straw or shavings
• Ensure good ventilation but no direct drafts on the doe
• Provide fresh water and hay — the doe may eat and drink between kids
• If using a heat lamp, secure it safely so it cannot fall into bedding
• Move the doe to the kidding stall 3 to 5 days before her due date so she is comfortable

Signs Labor Is Approaching

1 to 2 weeks before

• Udder begins filling and getting tight ("bagging up")
• Ligaments on either side of the tail head begin to soften
• Vulva may begin to swell and elongate

24 to 48 hours before

• Ligaments become very soft or disappear — you can wrap your fingers around the tail head with no resistance. This is the most reliable sign.
• Udder is very tight, may appear shiny
• Doe becomes restless, paws at bedding, gets up and down repeatedly
• Loss of mucus plug (thick, amber or clear discharge)
• Doe may separate from the herd or seek a quiet corner

Active labor

• Contractions visible — doe arches back, strains, may vocalize
• Fluid-filled bubble appears at the vulva (water bag)
• After the water breaks, you should see hooves within 30 minutes
• Kid should be delivered within 30 to 60 minutes of seeing hooves

Normal Delivery

In a normal presentation, you see two front hooves with soles facing down, followed by a nose resting on the legs ("diving position"). Most does handle this without assistance.

1. Let the doe work. Do not pull unless she has been actively pushing for 30+ minutes with no progress.
2. Once the kid is out, clear mucus from the nose and mouth immediately.
3. Place the kid in front of the doe so she can lick and bond.
4. Dip the navel in 7% iodine within the first 15 minutes.
5. Make sure the kid is nursing within the first hour.
6. Watch for the next kid — twins and triplets are common. Another kid usually arrives within 30 to 60 minutes.

First 24 Hours: Newborn Kid Care

• Colostrum: Kids need 10% of body weight in colostrum in the first 24 hours, with the first feeding within 1 hour of birth. A 7-pound kid needs about 11 ounces total.
• Navel dip: Dip 2 to 3 times in the first 24 hours to prevent infection.
• Weigh: Record birth weight as your baseline for tracking growth.
• Meconium: First stool should pass within 12 hours. Dark, tarry, and sticky is normal.
• Hypothermia: Kids that are shivering, lethargic, or have cold ears need warming immediately. Normal rectal temp is 101 to 103 degrees F.
• Nursing: Make sure each kid latches and nurses effectively. Weak kids may need bottle supplementation.

Post-Kidding Doe Care

• Offer warm water with molasses or electrolytes immediately after delivery
• Provide high-quality hay and a small amount of grain
• Placenta should pass within 4 to 12 hours — do not pull on a retained placenta
• Watch for pregnancy toxemia in the first 48 hours: lethargy, grinding teeth, sweet-smelling breath
• Check udder for even filling and milk letdown on both sides