Do you have goats?  Are any of them pregnant and expecting?  We’ve had many goats over the years. Check out these tips on preparing for baby goats.

The gestation period on full-sized goats is around 150 days, while minis/pygmy’s are typically 145 days. Most does will kid twins, but singles and triplets are fairly common.  Quads and larger litters are pretty rare, but not unheard of.

If your goat is expecting, here are some items you’ll need for your at-home kidding kit. You’ll these items at Arcola Feed.

* I ALWAYS have the above items at home, ready to go.

When your baby goat arrives, it should be UP and actively trying to nurse within an hour of birth.  Provide a nice warm, quiet place for the doe to labor and deliver.  Make sure the kids are nice and dry.  I keep human onesies with the bottoms cut out for newborn kids if it is really cold (under 45 degrees for the first week or two).  Older kids can wear dog sweaters/jackets/coats.  This is a picture of Bippity, the lone survivor of a set of triplets born prematurely in December. She is wearing a dog sweater that Mouse outgrew.

Bippity is a house goat and is currently getting fed every 5 to 6 hours. I feed my bottle kids every 4 hours for the first week, then each following week I stretch it out an extra hour in between feedings until they are eating twice a day at 9 weeks. Kids should start to nibble on goat food/hay at a week and a half to two weeks.  Bottle babies have access to free choice food/hay.  They start going out with the other kids/mommas during the day at about 3 to 4 weeks and start spending the night with the other goats at about 8 to 9 weeks.   At around 10 weeks, they get one bottle a day, for a week, then they are weaned at 11 weeks.

Have any goat questions? Let us know. We’re happy to help you out and get you ready for kidding season.