Pregnant goat care is very important to help ensure your does, and their kids are off to a great start. Having a plan in place will help to reduce your stress and make sure everything goes smoothly below we’ll break down our pregnant goat care plan.
Pregnant Goat Care
Pregnant goat care really begins before you even breed your goats. It’s very important that your goats are healthy going into breeding season. Your goat should be at a healthy weight for their breed, and in good health. It’s harder for an over weight doe to get pregnant and may be more uncomfortable for her. While an underweight goat will have a much harder time keeping on weight and nearly impossible to put on extra weight when pregnant or in milk.
Goat Pregnancy Calculator
Before you dive into the world of pregnant goat care, use the calculator to figure out when your goats are due. Based on a 150-Day gestation period you can calculate when your goats are due using this chart below. This will help you answer how long are goats pregnant in your own herd and make sure you are prepared when the kids arrive.
| Date of Service | Kidding Date | Date of Service | Kidding Date | Date of Service | Kidding Date | Date of Service | Kidding Date | Date of Service | Kidding Date | Date of Service | Kidding Date | Date of Service | Kidding Date | Date of Service | Kidding Date | Date of Service | Kidding Date | Date of Service | Kidding Date | Date of Service | Kidding Date | Date of Service | Kidding Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 01 | May 29 | Feb 01 | Jun 29 | Mar 01 | Jul 27 | Apr 01 | Aug 27 | May 01 | Sep 26 | Jun 01 | Oct 27 | Jul 01 | Nov 26 | Aug 01 | Dec 27 | Sep 01 | Jan 27 | Oct 01 | Feb 26 | Nov 01 | Mar 29 | Dec 01 | Apr 28 |
| Jan 02 | May 30 | Feb 02 | Jun 30 | Mar 02 | Jul 28 | Apr 02 | Aug 28 | May 02 | Sep 27 | Jun 02 | Oct 28 | Jul 02 | Nov 27 | Aug 02 | Dec 28 | Sep 02 | Jan 28 | Oct 02 | Feb 27 | Nov 02 | Mar 30 | Dec 02 | Apr 29 |
| Jan 03 | May 31 | Feb 03 | Jul 01 | Mar 03 | Jul 29 | Apr 03 | Aug 29 | May 03 | Sep 28 | Jun 03 | Oct 29 | Jul 03 | Nov 28 | Aug 03 | Dec 29 | Sep 03 | Jan 29 | Oct 03 | Feb 28 | Nov 03 | Mar 31 | Dec 03 | Apr 30 |
| Jan 04 | Jun 01 | Feb 04 | Jul 02 | Mar 04 | Jul 30 | Apr 04 | Aug 30 | May 04 | Sep 29 | Jun 04 | Oct 30 | Jul 04 | Nov 29 | Aug 04 | Dec 30 | Sep 04 | Jan 30 | Oct 04 | Mar 01 | Nov 04 | Apr 01 | Dec 04 | Mar 01 |
| Jan 05 | Jun 02 | Feb 05 | Jul 03 | Mar 05 | Jul 31 | Apr 05 | Aug 31 | May 05 | Sep 30 | Jun 05 | Oct 31 | Jul 05 | Nov 30 | Aug 05 | Dec 31 | Sep 05 | Jan 31 | Oct 05 | Mar 02 | Nov 05 | Apr 02 | Dec 05 | Mar 02 |
| Jan 06 | Jun 03 | Feb 06 | Jul 04 | Mar 06 | Aug 01 | Apr 06 | Sep 01 | May 06 | Oct 01 | Jun 06 | Nov 01 | Jul 06 | Dec 01 | Aug 06 | Jan 01 | Sep 06 | Feb 01 | Oct 06 | Mar 03 | Nov 06 | Apr 03 | Dec 06 | Mar 03 |
| Jan 07 | Jun 04 | Feb 07 | Jul 05 | Mar 07 | Aug 02 | Apr 07 | Sep 02 | May 07 | Oct 02 | Jun 07 | Nov 02 | Jul 07 | Dec 02 | Aug 07 | Jan 02 | Sep 07 | Feb 02 | Oct 07 | Mar 04 | Nov 07 | Apr 04 | Dec 07 | Mar 04 |
| Jan 08 | Jun 05 | Feb 08 | Jul 06 | Mar 08 | Aug 03 | Apr 08 | Sep 03 | May 08 | Oct 03 | Jun 08 | Nov 03 | Jul 08 | Dec 03 | Aug 08 | Jan 03 | Sep 08 | Feb 03 | Oct 08 | Mar 05 | Nov 08 | Apr 05 | Dec 08 | Mar 05 |
| Jan 09 | Jun 06 | Feb 09 | Jul 07 | Mar 09 | Aug 04 | Apr 09 | Sep 04 | May 09 | Oct 04 | Jun 09 | Nov 04 | Jul 09 | Dec 04 | Aug 09 | Jan 04 | Sep 09 | Feb 04 | Oct 09 | Mar 06 | Nov 09 | Apr 06 | Dec 09 | Mar 06 |
| Jan 10 | Jun 07 | Feb 10 | Jul 08 | Mar 10 | Aug 05 | Apr 10 | Sep 05 | May 10 | Oct 05 | Jun 10 | Nov 05 | Jul 10 | Dec 05 | Aug 10 | Jan 05 | Sep 10 | Feb 05 | Oct 10 | Mar 07 | Nov 10 | Apr 07 | Dec 10 | Mar 07 |
| Jan 11 | Jun 08 | Feb 11 | Jul 09 | Mar 11 | Aug 06 | Apr 11 | Sep 06 | May 11 | Oct 06 | Jun 11 | Nov 06 | Jul 11 | Dec 06 | Aug 11 | Jan 06 | Sep 11 | Feb 06 | Oct 11 | Mar 08 | Nov 11 | Apr 08 | Dec 11 | Mar 08 |
| Jan 12 | Jun 09 | Feb 12 | Jul 10 | Mar 12 | Aug 07 | Apr 12 | Sep 07 | May 12 | Oct 07 | Jun 12 | Nov 07 | Jul 12 | Dec 07 | Aug 12 | Jan 07 | Sep 12 | Feb 07 | Oct 12 | Mar 09 | Nov 12 | Apr 09 | Dec 12 | Mar 09 |
| Jan 13 | Jun 10 | Feb 13 | Jul 11 | Mar 13 | Aug 08 | Apr 13 | Sep 08 | May 13 | Oct 08 | Jun 13 | Nov 08 | Jul 13 | Dec 08 | Aug 13 | Jan 08 | Sep 13 | Feb 08 | Oct 13 | Mar 10 | Nov 13 | Apr 10 | Dec 13 | Mar 10 |
| Jan 14 | Jun 11 | Feb 14 | Jul 12 | Mar 14 | Aug 09 | Apr 14 | Sep 09 | May 14 | Oct 09 | Jun 14 | Nov 09 | Jul 14 | Dec 09 | Aug 14 | Jan 09 | Sep 14 | Feb 09 | Oct 14 | Mar 11 | Nov 14 | Apr 11 | Dec 14 | Mar 11 |
| Jan 15 | Jun 12 | Feb 15 | Jul 13 | Mar 15 | Aug 10 | Apr 15 | Sep 10 | May 15 | Oct 10 | Jun 15 | Nov 10 | Jul 15 | Dec 10 | Aug 15 | Jan 10 | Sep 15 | Feb 10 | Oct 15 | Mar 12 | Nov 15 | Apr 12 | Dec 15 | Mar 12 |
| Jan 16 | Jun 13 | Feb 16 | Jul 14 | Mar 16 | Aug 11 | Apr 16 | Sep 11 | May 16 | Oct 11 | Jun 16 | Nov 11 | Jul 16 | Dec 11 | Aug 16 | Jan 11 | Sep 16 | Feb 11 | Oct 16 | Mar 13 | Nov 16 | Apr 13 | Dec 16 | Mar 13 |
| Jan 17 | Jun 14 | Feb 17 | Jul 15 | Mar 17 | Aug 12 | Apr 17 | Sep 12 | May 17 | Oct 12 | Jun 17 | Nov 12 | Jul 17 | Dec 12 | Aug 17 | Jan 12 | Sep 17 | Feb 12 | Oct 17 | Mar 14 | Nov 17 | Apr 14 | Dec 17 | Mar 14 |
| Jan 18 | Jun 15 | Feb 18 | Jul 16 | Mar 18 | Aug 13 | Apr 18 | Sep 13 | May 18 | Oct 13 | Jun 18 | Nov 13 | Jul 18 | Dec 13 | Aug 18 | Jan 13 | Sep 18 | Feb 13 | Oct 18 | Mar 15 | Nov 18 | Apr 15 | Dec 18 | Mar 15 |
| Jan 19 | Jun 16 | Feb 19 | Jul 17 | Mar 19 | Aug 14 | Apr 19 | Sep 14 | May 19 | Oct 14 | Jun 19 | Nov 14 | Jul 19 | Dec 14 | Aug 19 | Jan 14 | Sep 19 | Feb 14 | Oct 19 | Mar 16 | Nov 19 | Apr 16 | Dec 19 | Mar 16 |
| Jan 20 | Jun 17 | Feb 20 | Jul 18 | Mar 20 | Aug 15 | Apr 20 | Sep 15 | May 20 | Oct 15 | Jun 20 | Nov 15 | Jul 20 | Dec 15 | Aug 20 | Jan 15 | Sep 20 | Feb 15 | Oct 20 | Mar 17 | Nov 20 | Apr 17 | Dec 20 | Mar 17 |
| Jan 21 | Jun 18 | Feb 21 | Jul 19 | Mar 21 | Aug 16 | Apr 21 | Sep 16 | May 21 | Oct 16 | Jun 21 | Nov 16 | Jul 21 | Dec 16 | Aug 21 | Jan 16 | Sep 21 | Feb 16 | Oct 21 | Mar 18 | Nov 21 | Apr 18 | Dec 21 | Mar 18 |
| Jan 22 | Jun 19 | Feb 22 | Jul 20 | Mar 22 | Aug 17 | Apr 22 | Sep 17 | May 22 | Oct 17 | Jun 22 | Nov 17 | Jul 22 | Dec 17 | Aug 22 | Jan 17 | Sep 22 | Feb 17 | Oct 22 | Mar 19 | Nov 22 | Apr 19 | Dec 22 | Mar 19 |
| Jan 23 | Jun 20 | Feb 23 | Jul 21 | Mar 23 | Aug 18 | Apr 23 | Sep 18 | May 23 | Oct 18 | Jun 23 | Nov 18 | Jul 23 | Dec 18 | Aug 23 | Jan 18 | Sep 23 | Feb 18 | Oct 23 | Mar 20 | Nov 23 | Apr 20 | Dec 23 | Mar 20 |
| Jan 24 | Jun 21 | Feb 24 | Jul 22 | Mar 24 | Aug 19 | Apr 24 | Sep 19 | May 24 | Oct 19 | Jun 24 | Nov 19 | Jul 24 | Dec 19 | Aug 24 | Jan 19 | Sep 24 | Feb 19 | Oct 24 | Mar 21 | Nov 24 | Apr 21 | Dec 24 | Mar 21 |
| Jan 25 | Jun 22 | Feb 25 | Jul 23 | Mar 25 | Aug 20 | Apr 25 | Sep 20 | May 25 | Oct 20 | Jun 25 | Nov 20 | Jul 25 | Dec 20 | Aug 25 | Jan 20 | Sep 25 | Feb 20 | Oct 25 | Mar 22 | Nov 25 | Apr 22 | Dec 25 | Mar 22 |
| Jan 26 | Jun 23 | Feb 26 | Jul 24 | Mar 26 | Aug 21 | Apr 26 | Sep 21 | May 26 | Oct 21 | Jun 26 | Nov 21 | Jul 26 | Dec 21 | Aug 26 | Jan 21 | Sep 26 | Feb 21 | Oct 26 | Mar 23 | Nov 26 | Apr 23 | Dec 26 | Mar 23 |
| Jan 27 | Jun 24 | Feb 27 | Jul 25 | Mar 27 | Aug 22 | Apr 27 | Sep 22 | May 27 | Oct 22 | Jun 27 | Nov 22 | Jul 27 | Dec 22 | Aug 27 | Jan 22 | Sep 27 | Feb 22 | Oct 27 | Mar 24 | Nov 27 | Apr 24 | Dec 27 | Mar 24 |
| Jan 28 | Jun 25 | Feb 28 | Jul 26 | Mar 28 | Aug 23 | Apr 28 | Sep 23 | May 28 | Oct 23 | Jun 28 | Nov 23 | Jul 28 | Dec 23 | Aug 28 | Jan 23 | Sep 28 | Feb 23 | Oct 28 | Mar 25 | Nov 28 | Apr 25 | Dec 28 | Mar 25 |
| Jan 29 | Jun 26 | Mar 29 | Aug 24 | Apr 29 | Sep 24 | May 29 | Oct 24 | Jun 29 | Nov 24 | Jul 29 | Dec 24 | Aug 29 | Jan 24 | Sep 29 | Feb 24 | Oct 29 | Mar 26 | Nov 29 | Apr 26 | Dec 29 | Mar 26 | ||
| Jan 30 | Jun 27 | Mar 30 | Aug 25 | Apr 30 | Sep 25 | May 30 | Oct 25 | Jun 30 | Nov 25 | Jul 30 | Dec 25 | Aug 30 | Jan 25 | Sep 30 | Feb 25 | Oct 30 | Mar 27 | Nov 30 | Apr 27 | Dec 30 | Mar 27 | ||
| Jan 31 | Jun 28 | Mar 31 | Aug 26 | May 31 | Oct 26 | Jul 31 | Dec 26 | Aug 31 | Jan 26 | Oct 31 | Mar 28 | Dec 31 | Mar 28 |
Pin For Later!
This post may contain affiliate links, read our privacy policy for more information
Pregnant Goat Care: Pre Breeding
Your pre breeding pregnant goat care plan should look something like this: ensure that your goats are the proper weight for their breed, this is the time to get them as healthy as possible. Make sure you worm them, and consider getting them up to date on vaccinations if you choose to do so with your herd.
Personally I like to add apple cider vinegar to my goats water weekly as part of my pre pregnant goat care plan as well.
Now is also a good time to make sure you are handling your goats regularly, train them to walk on a lead, jump up on a milk stand for hoof trimmings, clippings and anything else you may need to do. Get them used to being handled. This will make them much easier to deal with when the have kidded.
Pregnant Goat Care
Your goal for the first 3 weeks after breeding your pregnant goat care plan should be to minimize stress. It is important not to stress your doe or does in the 2-3 weeks after breeding as this is the time when the embryos are implanting and pregnancy is beginning. Do your best to limit stressful changes to your doe’s routines and avoid any travel with her during this time.
Once your doe is bred it is very important that she have high quality hay or alfalfa as well as free-choice minerals. As part of my pregnant goat care routine I also like to give them apple cider vinegar in their water regularly also. If you want to confirm your doe’s pregnancy you can do this at 30 days with a blood test (sample sent to a lab) or with an ultrasound at 40 days post-breeding.
Pregnant Goat Care: 2 Months Before Kidding
For the 2 month mark your pregnant goat care plan should look something like this: If the doe is still in milk when she is bred, it’s fine to continue milking her for two or three more months, but she should be dried up for the last two months of her pregnancy so that all that energy can go to the pregnancy.
Some breeders like to dry treat does with an intra-mammary infusion to prevent mastitis upon kidding. If you do this remember to consider the milk and meat withdrawal times for this medication.
Another key aspect of pregnant goat care is ensuring your goats maintain their weight. It’s really important to keep an eye on your goats weight, this is also a good time to adjust her food intake depending on how her weight looks at this stage of pregnancy. If a little underweight, you may start adding a bit more to her diet. If she’s looking extremely large, don’t cut her diet back too far, but don’t over feed her either as this will add to her discomfort and can make for large babies that may be harder to deliver.
Pregnant Goat Care: 1 Month Before Kidding
Your pregnant goat care in the final month before kidding will have you focusing on their diet as well as maintaining their general well being. If your doe has not been eating grain up to this point in her pregnancy, this may be a good time to gradually introduce it. Once she is in milk, she will need a lot of extra calories to maintain her milk production, but adding too much grain at one time can lead to bloat or other problems, so use the last month to gradually get her used to a higher volume of richer food.
You can also give your doe a CD&T vaccine at this point. By now she is probably due for her own semi-annual booster, but giving it about a month before kidding will give her kids an added immunity boost until they are old enough to get their own vaccinations. However if you choose not to vaccinate your animals then this isn’t necessary.
Don’t forget to include hoof trimming as part of your pregnant goat care plan. It’s a good idea to trim your does’ hooves about a month before her due date as it will be increasingly difficult for her to jump up onto the stand for trimming the heavier she gets. Growth hormones during pregnancy can make the hooves grow faster, and the added weight she is carrying while pregnant make it all that much more important that she is standing on healthy feet.
Another thing you may want to include in your pregnant goat care plan is to trim the long hairs around her tail and back of legs. This will make cleanup after kidding a little easier.
Pregnant Goat Care: 1 Week Before Kidding
While not strictly pregnant goat care this is the perfect time to get yourself prepared. The better prepared you are the more likely that your doe will have a calm and successful kidding experience.
Clean and prepare a kidding stall so that she is comfortable and the kids are born in a somewhat sanitary environment. It’s a good idea not to use shavings as the bedding for the stalls as the babies can inhale the fine wood chips and the shavings will also stick to the wet newborns. Instead, use clean fresh straw for your bedding.
Make sure that your kidding kit is very well stocked with all the items you might need, including your vet or a trusted goat mentor’s phone number in case of emergency. It’s also a good idea to have some powdered or frozen colostrum on hand just in case there is any problem with the mother’s milk during the first few hours after birth when it is crucial for the newborn to receive this life-sustaining substance which makes this an important part of your pregnant goat care plan.
Pregnant Goat Care: 1 – 2 Days Before Kidding
Once you’re within a day or two of your doe’s expected due date, your pregnant goat care shifts to housing. It’s wise to move your doe to a private stall or kidding area with a goat companion for company. She will feel less stressed and the kidding itself will be less chaotic if the whole herd isn’t in her stall pushing and shoving!
But since goats are herd animals, you don’t want her to be all alone as that may stress her out. Once she’s settled with a friend, it’s time to start watching for behavioral and physical goat labor signs.
Before you go, check these out!
