Getting ready for your goats to kid is an exciting process, but do you have your goat kidding kit ready for the moment your doe goes into labor?
Having these things on hand will help you head off any emergency situations.
They will prevent you from catching yourself in the middle of kidding (a screaming doe) without something that could make the process go much easier.
So, here’s a list of all the things you’ll need to make sure kidding goes smoothly for both yourself and your doe.
Kidding Kits: Pre Kidding Supplies
While you should have everything on this list long before your doe goes into labor, the following are important things to have in place at least a month before kidding begins.
CDT Vaccine Before Kidding
The CDT vaccine prevents your goats from getting tetanus and overeating disease.
It’s a vaccination that most goat owners give their goats annually. With that being said, new kids get three doses. One dose at thirty days old, one at 60 days, and one at 90 days.
However, if you want to kill two birds with one stone, you can vaccinate your doe (her annual vaccine) 30 days before she kids.
Her baby will also reap the benefits of the vaccine. Meaning, that the kid will only need two additional vaccines!
Not all goatherds vaccinate their goats, and the choice is completely up to you. But before you make your decision, be sure to research the vaccines, their efficacy, pros, and cons.
Pregnancy-Safe Dewormers
If you’re kidding during the spring, you’re looking at kidding during one of the worst times of the year for worms (in some parts of the world).
If your doe has a worm bloom before giving birth, it’s important to have dewormers on hand that will not affect the fetus during development.
Some dewormers can cause deformities or miscarriages, so make sure to check with your vet.
They will know which dewormers you can use and when during and after pregnancy.
Additionally, labor and delivery are extremely stressful for a doe.
So many owners opt to automatically deworm their does shortly after birth to prevent a worm overload (brought on by stress).
Baby Monitors or Security Cams for Kidding
If you want to keep a close eye on your does before they go into labor, you’ll want to invest in an inexpensive baby monitor or security camera.
When does go into labor, they’re usually very vocal.
So, when they begin vocalizing (pushing, grunting, or screaming) then the baby is about to make an appearance.
Not everyone monitors their goats during birth, but doing so will allow you to be aware of any complications.
Complications such as prolonged labor or complicated births that need assistance from you or a veterinarian.
Supplies to Have During Kidding
When the time comes, these are the things you’ll be looking for…so be sure to have them at the ready!
Gloves
I won’t sugarcoat it, kidding isn’t as flowery as we goatherds wish it was. Yes, it’s a lovely thing to be a part of.
I look forward to it every year. But let’s be honest, there’s a lot of muck and yuck to navigate while helping our beloved does.
For this reason, medical gloves are a must-have.
Having gloves not only protects you from bacteria, disease, and yuck, but it also protects your goats.
If you have to go in, to rotate a kid, for example, having sanitary gloves on will protect your doe from bacteria entering her uterus and causing infection.
When cutting the umbilical cord (if necessary) it is also imperative to protect the kid from stray bacteria entering her body.
Gloves are truly non-negotiable when it comes to kidding.
Towels
If you haven’t guessed by now towels are great to have to wipe off all that birthing fluid. Off of you, the goats, the kids, etc.
Typically momma goat does the work when it comes to cleaning her kid up.
You should leave her to it if you’re not planning on bottle feeding your kid. This is an important step in the bonding process.
With that being said, if your babies are arriving in the middle of winter and you’re experiencing extremely cold temperatures, then momma goat will need some help.
Help dry off her kids before they get chilled and hypothermic. Old or disposable towels are perfect for that!
Heat Lamps
Speaking of freezing temps, heat lamps are important to keep on hand if you’re kids are borning during the winter.
A chilled goat can become hypothermic very quickly. Having some added warmth in the shelter is appreciated by both the doe and her newborn kids.
Just be careful with your lamp placement as heat lamps can be a fire hazard. When purchasing a lamp, look for heavy-duty ones with cages around the lamps themselves.
They may be more pricey, but they’re worth every penny when it comes to fire prevention.
Goat Kid Coats
Again, if it’s extremely cold, in the teens or lower, you’re gonna want to help your kids stay warm.
They’re accustomed to the warmth of the womb, so a winter wonderland isn’t so lovely for a newborn kid.
Kid coats are just what the doctor ordered for newborn goats. You can find them at farm supply stores and through independent crafters.
Bonus: they’re absolutely adorable.
Nasal Aspirator
While it’s uncommon, during some difficult births baby goats may get amniotic fluid in their noses that they cannot shake out themselves.
You’ll notice healthy babies shaking their heads, working hard to clear their nasal passages.
But if it looks as though the baby is struggling to breathe or has a lot of bubbling around her nose, you can simply (gently) utilize a regular baby nasal aspirator.
This can help them along. This goes a long way in preventing goat pneumonia.
Surgical Scissors and Iodine
A veteran goat do will know how to clean her baby, stimulate her, and even help her learn how to nurse.
But some goat owners believe that it’s important to trim the umbilical cord. Trimming it to about an inch below the belly button. For this, you’d use sterilized surgical scissors.
The reason this is something many do for their new kids is that the umbilical cord is an opening to the kid (for a while).
It can suck up bacteria like a sponge. So if it’s dragging on the ground, it might be a good idea to trim it back a hair and spray it with Iodine.
With that being said, some goat owners trust their does to do this for their babies. If the bedding is nice and clean, there’s no real reason to worry about it.
I take an as-needed approach when it comes to trimming a goat’s umbilical cord. Some might need it and some may not be depending on where the baby was born and the length of the cord.
Additionally, the goat does tend to lick the iodine right off of the cord while giving their newborn a bath so it’s truly up to you!
Supplies for After Kidding
After your new bundle of joy has entered the world, there are a few more things you’ll want to keep close. Items are needed for both the doe and the newborn goat kid.
Molasses Water
Kidding is a ton of work for your doe. She’ll need a little support to get her strength back because her job is just beginning.
Providing electrolytes, molasses water, or even nutritional drenches. These can help her get back on her feet and ready for the job at hand.
Tip: Does love warm molasses water after kidding!
Colostrum Replacement & Milk Replacer
There are a few reasons you might need to have colostrum and/or milk replacer on hand. Let’s take an overview of these situations.
According to Iowa State University, colostrum is “the thick, yellowish, first milk produced by the female after she gives birth.
Colostrum is rich in energy, protein, vitamins, and minerals. Most importantly, it contains maternal antibodies that help protect the newborn from disease pathogens during the early part of its life.
Immediately after birth, kids are exposed to a variety of infectious agents present in the environment, the doe, and other goats. Without any protection from these infectious organisms, the kids may become diseased and die.”
If something would happen to the doe during labor, or if she rejects the baby, it’s important to make sure her kids get colostrum from the dam within 4-6 hours after birth (as soon as possible).
If you don’t have access to the doe’s colostrum, you can also employ a disease-free surrogate mother, or via replacer.
Without these important antibodies, goat kids may not thrive.
And, of course, if you’re bottle-feeding by choice, your kids will need colostrum and milk replacer.
Bottles for Goat Kids
If you’re bottle-feeding, make sure you’re ready with bottles for the babies! They’ll need bottles with smaller nipples.
A popular nipple is a red rubbery one about the size of a quarter (maybe a little larger). These are the closest to the real thing as far as a baby kid is concerned.
Bags for Waste to Burn
Garbage bags that you can dispose of extra birth waste in are super handy.
In the wild, does may eat the afterbirth (placenta) to prevent predators from smelling it and seeking out the vulnerable newborns.
The placenta is also nutritionally beneficial for the doe, so if she wants to consume it, let her do so.
However, if it’s been lying there for a few hours after it’s been expelled, time to take it away and burn it. Enter the garbage bags.
Note: Never pull a doe’s placenta out if it hasn’t been fully expelled.
You could rip her insides. Let it come out naturally. You can tie it up (onto itself) so your doe doesn’t step on it while you wait.
It’s important to ensure the placenta has been expelled, as a retained placenta will cause infections for your doe.
So if it’s been about 48 hours, call your goat vet to see what they suggest.
Grain for the Doe
A doe’s body is still working hard to produce milk, even after the baby is born.
It’s important to provide grains (along with hay) that are specifically formulated for goats during lactation.
This will help her keep their weight on, and allow her to produce enough milk to feed her kids.
Dewormer
Remember what I said earlier about administering dewormer after your doe kids?
If that’s something you’re interested in doing, make sure the dewormer you use is safe for lactating does.
After Kidding Caring for Your New Kids
The work is done and you’re tickled pink about your new goat kids! But to make sure you are prepared here are a few things that make caring for kids much easier!
Leg Crooks, Collars, and Nets
Catching dam-raised goat kids are like trying to catch a chicken (yeah, not easy!). To make things easier, you can employ a crook, leg crook, collars, and netting to help catch kids that need care.
Creep Feeder
As kids grow, they start taste-testing hay, forage, and grains. To give your kids the best chance of getting their share of grain, use a creep feeder.
This prevents adult goats from pushing babies out of the way during feeding time.
ID Tags
If you tag your goats, or your state requires certain types of identification, tagging them at a young age is less stressful and makes it less difficult to forget to do it later!
Bands, Burdizzos, or Scalpel
If you’ve chosen to wether your goat kids, you’ll want to do this around 10 weeks of age to prevent the little guy from breeding his mother or other does he’s pastured with.
You can use the banding method, Burdizzo, or use a vet for surgical removal.
Kidding Kit Final Thought
Now that you’ve got the rundown of all the things you need to prepare, deliver, and care for your doe and kids, you can relax and wait for the big day to come!
