Gray and white pregnant goat | Pregnant Goat Care For Beginners

The Ultimate Pregnant Goat Care Guide

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 ServiceKidding DateDate of ServiceKidding DateDate of ServiceKidding DateDate of ServiceKidding DateDate of ServiceKidding DateDate of ServiceKidding DateDate of ServiceKidding DateDate of ServiceKidding DateDate of ServiceKidding DateDate of ServiceKidding DateDate of ServiceKidding DateDate of ServiceKidding Date
Jan 01May 29Feb 01Jun 29Mar 01Jul 27Apr 01Aug 27May 01Sep 26Jun 01Oct 27Jul 01Nov 26Aug 01Dec 27Sep 01Jan 27Oct 01Feb 26Nov 01Mar 29Dec 01Apr 28
Jan 02May 30Feb 02Jun 30Mar 02Jul 28Apr 02Aug 28May 02Sep 27Jun 02Oct 28Jul 02Nov 27Aug 02Dec 28Sep 02Jan 28Oct 02Feb 27Nov 02Mar 30Dec 02Apr 29
Jan 03May 31Feb 03Jul 01Mar 03Jul 29Apr 03Aug 29May 03Sep 28Jun 03Oct 29Jul 03Nov 28Aug 03Dec 29Sep 03Jan 29Oct 03Feb 28Nov 03Mar 31Dec 03Apr 30
Jan 04Jun 01Feb 04Jul 02Mar 04Jul 30Apr 04Aug 30May 04Sep 29Jun 04Oct 30Jul 04Nov 29Aug 04Dec 30Sep 04Jan 30Oct 04Mar 01Nov 04Apr 01Dec 04Mar 01
Jan 05Jun 02Feb 05Jul 03Mar 05Jul 31Apr 05Aug 31May 05Sep 30Jun 05Oct 31Jul 05Nov 30Aug 05Dec 31Sep 05Jan 31Oct 05Mar 02Nov 05Apr 02Dec 05Mar 02
Jan 06Jun 03Feb 06Jul 04Mar 06Aug 01Apr 06Sep 01May 06Oct 01Jun 06Nov 01Jul 06Dec 01Aug 06Jan 01Sep 06Feb 01Oct 06Mar 03Nov 06Apr 03Dec 06Mar 03
Jan 07Jun 04Feb 07Jul 05Mar 07Aug 02Apr 07Sep 02May 07Oct 02Jun 07Nov 02Jul 07Dec 02Aug 07Jan 02Sep 07Feb 02Oct 07Mar 04Nov 07Apr 04Dec 07Mar 04
Jan 08Jun 05Feb 08Jul 06Mar 08Aug 03Apr 08Sep 03May 08Oct 03Jun 08Nov 03Jul 08Dec 03Aug 08Jan 03Sep 08Feb 03Oct 08Mar 05Nov 08Apr 05Dec 08Mar 05
Jan 09Jun 06Feb 09Jul 07Mar 09Aug 04Apr 09Sep 04May 09Oct 04Jun 09Nov 04Jul 09Dec 04Aug 09Jan 04Sep 09Feb 04Oct 09Mar 06Nov 09Apr 06Dec 09Mar 06
Jan 10Jun 07Feb 10Jul 08Mar 10Aug 05Apr 10Sep 05May 10Oct 05Jun 10Nov 05Jul 10Dec 05Aug 10Jan 05Sep 10Feb 05Oct 10Mar 07Nov 10Apr 07Dec 10Mar 07
Jan 11Jun 08Feb 11Jul 09Mar 11Aug 06Apr 11Sep 06May 11Oct 06Jun 11Nov 06Jul 11Dec 06Aug 11Jan 06Sep 11Feb 06Oct 11Mar 08Nov 11Apr 08Dec 11Mar 08
Jan 12Jun 09Feb 12Jul 10Mar 12Aug 07Apr 12Sep 07May 12Oct 07Jun 12Nov 07Jul 12Dec 07Aug 12Jan 07Sep 12Feb 07Oct 12Mar 09Nov 12Apr 09Dec 12Mar 09
Jan 13Jun 10Feb 13Jul 11Mar 13Aug 08Apr 13Sep 08May 13Oct 08Jun 13Nov 08Jul 13Dec 08Aug 13Jan 08Sep 13Feb 08Oct 13Mar 10Nov 13Apr 10Dec 13Mar 10
Jan 14Jun 11Feb 14Jul 12Mar 14Aug 09Apr 14Sep 09May 14Oct 09Jun 14Nov 09Jul 14Dec 09Aug 14Jan 09Sep 14Feb 09Oct 14Mar 11Nov 14Apr 11Dec 14Mar 11
Jan 15Jun 12Feb 15Jul 13Mar 15Aug 10Apr 15Sep 10May 15Oct 10Jun 15Nov 10Jul 15Dec 10Aug 15Jan 10Sep 15Feb 10Oct 15Mar 12Nov 15Apr 12Dec 15Mar 12
Jan 16Jun 13Feb 16Jul 14Mar 16Aug 11Apr 16Sep 11May 16Oct 11Jun 16Nov 11Jul 16Dec 11Aug 16Jan 11Sep 16Feb 11Oct 16Mar 13Nov 16Apr 13Dec 16Mar 13
Jan 17Jun 14Feb 17Jul 15Mar 17Aug 12Apr 17Sep 12May 17Oct 12Jun 17Nov 12Jul 17Dec 12Aug 17Jan 12Sep 17Feb 12Oct 17Mar 14Nov 17Apr 14Dec 17Mar 14
Jan 18Jun 15Feb 18Jul 16Mar 18Aug 13Apr 18Sep 13May 18Oct 13Jun 18Nov 13Jul 18Dec 13Aug 18Jan 13Sep 18Feb 13Oct 18Mar 15Nov 18Apr 15Dec 18Mar 15
Jan 19Jun 16Feb 19Jul 17Mar 19Aug 14Apr 19Sep 14May 19Oct 14Jun 19Nov 14Jul 19Dec 14Aug 19Jan 14Sep 19Feb 14Oct 19Mar 16Nov 19Apr 16Dec 19Mar 16
Jan 20Jun 17Feb 20Jul 18Mar 20Aug 15Apr 20Sep 15May 20Oct 15Jun 20Nov 15Jul 20Dec 15Aug 20Jan 15Sep 20Feb 15Oct 20Mar 17Nov 20Apr 17Dec 20Mar 17
Jan 21Jun 18Feb 21Jul 19Mar 21Aug 16Apr 21Sep 16May 21Oct 16Jun 21Nov 16Jul 21Dec 16Aug 21Jan 16Sep 21Feb 16Oct 21Mar 18Nov 21Apr 18Dec 21Mar 18
Jan 22Jun 19Feb 22Jul 20Mar 22Aug 17Apr 22Sep 17May 22Oct 17Jun 22Nov 17Jul 22Dec 17Aug 22Jan 17Sep 22Feb 17Oct 22Mar 19Nov 22Apr 19Dec 22Mar 19
Jan 23Jun 20Feb 23Jul 21Mar 23Aug 18Apr 23Sep 18May 23Oct 18Jun 23Nov 18Jul 23Dec 18Aug 23Jan 18Sep 23Feb 18Oct 23Mar 20Nov 23Apr 20Dec 23Mar 20
Jan 24Jun 21Feb 24Jul 22Mar 24Aug 19Apr 24Sep 19May 24Oct 19Jun 24Nov 19Jul 24Dec 19Aug 24Jan 19Sep 24Feb 19Oct 24Mar 21Nov 24Apr 21Dec 24Mar 21
Jan 25Jun 22Feb 25Jul 23Mar 25Aug 20Apr 25Sep 20May 25Oct 20Jun 25Nov 20Jul 25Dec 20Aug 25Jan 20Sep 25Feb 20Oct 25Mar 22Nov 25Apr 22Dec 25Mar 22
Jan 26Jun 23Feb 26Jul 24Mar 26Aug 21Apr 26Sep 21May 26Oct 21Jun 26Nov 21Jul 26Dec 21Aug 26Jan 21Sep 26Feb 21Oct 26Mar 23Nov 26Apr 23Dec 26Mar 23
Jan 27Jun 24Feb 27Jul 25Mar 27Aug 22Apr 27Sep 22May 27Oct 22Jun 27Nov 22Jul 27Dec 22Aug 27Jan 22Sep 27Feb 22Oct 27Mar 24Nov 27Apr 24Dec 27Mar 24
Jan 28Jun 25Feb 28Jul 26Mar 28Aug 23Apr 28Sep 23May 28Oct 23Jun 28Nov 23Jul 28Dec 23Aug 28Jan 23Sep 28Feb 23Oct 28Mar 25Nov 28Apr 25Dec 28Mar 25
Jan 29Jun 26Mar 29Aug 24Apr 29Sep 24May 29Oct 24Jun 29Nov 24Jul 29Dec 24Aug 29Jan 24Sep 29Feb 24Oct 29Mar 26Nov 29Apr 26Dec 29Mar 26
Jan 30Jun 27Mar 30Aug 25Apr 30Sep 25May 30Oct 25Jun 30Nov 25Jul 30Dec 25Aug 30Jan 25Sep 30Feb 25Oct 30Mar 27Nov 30Apr 27Dec 30Mar 27
Jan 31Jun 28Mar 31Aug 26May 31Oct 26Jul 31Dec 26Aug 31Jan 26Oct 31Mar 28Dec 31Mar 28

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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.

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