Goat Birthing Gets You Baby Goats

Pictures and updates will be coming as the babies arrive...Gracie is due any day now. Last year we had New Years babies...eight of them! This year we may have Christmas babies (or hopefully before) So exciting.We are thinking that there will be at least two and possibly three as Grace's mom always has 3 or 4 babies at a time. Check back often for progress updates. She is such a character can't you tell?

Photo Credit: Jill Hart

December 29th, 2011 still no babies yet..But the weather is warm and I am expecting goat birthing to happen any minute now!

To me there is nothing more special than watching a new life come into the world. It doesn't matter if it is a rabbit, chicken, puppy, kitten, one of my young friends or my goats. One moment that baby is not breathing and the next they are alive and breathing on their own.


There is an air of expectancy a few days before the babies actually arrive. Questions fly around our house, "how many do think she will have?" and "do you see any goo yet?"

Photo Credit: Jill Hart

The goo question may seem a little gross to the uninitiated though it is a good sign that your mama is getting ready to bring little baby goat into the world.

For first time does their udders start to develop and fill any where from a couple months to a week or so before giving birth. As the day (and or night approaches) their udders get really full and tight. The ligaments around their tale also seems to disappear - though to be honest with you I have figured that one out yet.

As labor progresses, the doe may start to make noise with the contractions and you will start to see a dark bubble appear and disappear. As the bubble gets further out you can often make out a foot or nose or a foot and nose - this is good. The baby should be born pretty easily if they are presented this way. The trouble comes if they are hinnie first or breach. If you see a foot or two hooves pointed down you can be pretty sure that is a baby goat birthing rear feet first.

There are times when you will have to actually go after a baby, or move one out of the way so that the other can be born. If you are considering becoming a goat midwife one thing you need to know is that you can not be squeamish. Read up on everything you can about goat births, have all of your stuff in one place, make sure your jewelry is in the jewelry box, your nails well trimmed and mostly do not panic. If your goat gets into trouble you will still have time to consult the internet before having to intercede. I know this from experience as one of my goats had a baby presenting back first. She was in labor for 5 hours before I decided that I was going to "go fishing". I lost the one that was back first, but there was a 4th baby that was born alive right after him. The doe had given birth to two before the "back" first baby was trying to be born.

Most of the goat births I have attended have been uneventful in the terror department, just be aware that terrible birth experiences do happen, and baby goats do die sometimes. I have lost two in two years - both from the same mom.

When the babies are born you need to get baby dry and under mom as fast as possible. Mostly I just rub them quickly with a towel and then put them under mom's face with the towel mostly still on them. She will start licking the baby and in a few minutes the baby will try to get up and walk. That is always a special moment. Once they are trying to walk then you need to help them find a tit, get them latched on and let them drink for a minute or two. More like a moment or two -they don't seem to latch on for all that long the first few times they nurse. You also need to dip their umbilical cord in iodine. Easier said than done I will admit. The easiest way I have found is to hold baby with it's back against your chest and the iodine in a little dixie cup, then put the dixie cup over the umbilical cord while you are bent over and lean back so the iodine covers the cord, then lean forward to take the cup off. This way is generally successful. Success being measured as the umbilical cords has iodine on it and you don't have iodine all over yourself.

After everyone is born and the placenta has been expelled (use a plastic bag to pick it up in and don't let the dam eat it), everyone has nursed and everyone has iodine on them (except you of course) it is nap time. You will probably need a nap too.

A great resource for goat birthing and raising dairy goats in general is Fias Co Farm not to be confused with fiasco farm which I personally think is pretty funny because that more closely relates to the way things operate around here.

goat birthingand raising goat guide that you might find helpful if you are considering getting in the goat business.

And finally, yes Virginia, those are little baby goat sweaters that I crocheted for my babies.

It is so much easier to have all of your supplies together and in one place before your dam goes into labor so here is a list of equipment that would serve you well to have in one spot, preferably a tote with a handle.

Puppy pads
iodine 7%
dixie cups
lot of terry cloth towels
plastic grocery bags
a few baby goat sweaters

Photo Credit: MAYA LASSITER

flashlight
warm water (for you to wash up in if you need it)
molasses & grain (for mom after she has kidded, mix some molasses into warm water for her to drink)
antiseptic lubricant - (another use for KY jelly)
bottles and nipples (old glass soda or beer bottles work well for this)
blow dryer (a quiet one is best, for getting your kids dry fast in the cold)
heat lamps
strong black coffee (for very weak kids to get them up - if they are breathing - to nurse)

Most importantly have goat birthing guru Molly at Fiasco farm open & the number of an experienced goat midwife handy, maybe even on speed dial on your phone. Let your experienced person know you are expecting so that they will be mentally prepared for the 3am phone call.

Take a deep breath and go for it!