Kidding season is equal parts excitement and quiet anxiety. You know it’s coming, you think you’re prepared, and then suddenly you realize it’s closer than you thought. The bellies are bigger, the behavior is changing, and you find yourself checking on goats more often than usual.
Preparing ahead of time makes a real difference.
While every farm and every doe is different, having solid routines, clean spaces, and supplies ready can make kidding season smoother, safer, and far less overwhelming for everyone involved.
1. Know Your Due Dates (and Then Expect Them to Lie)
Goat gestation averages 145–155 days, depending on breed and individual doe. Keeping breeding records is one of the most important parts of kidding prep. Knowing approximate due dates helps you increase observation, adjust nutrition, and prepare housing.
That said, goats are goats. Some will kid early, some late, and some will wait until the exact moment you leave the property. Use due dates as a guideline—not a guarantee. I like to use note books thats right the old fashioned pen and paper, for our information on our livestock but there are apps that you can download some are free and some charge.
2. Set Up a Clean, Quiet Kidding Area
A clean, dry space helps reduce infection risk and stress during labor. This doesn’t need to be fancy, but it does need to be functional.
A good kidding stall should include:
Fresh, deep bedding (straw works well but most of the time i use pine shavings)
Protection from drafts and wet weather
Enough space for the doe to move comfortably
Easy access for you if assistance is needed – if you can clean and put fresh bedding in your kidding area ahead of time so you’re not scrambling when labor starts.
3. Prepare a Kidding Kit Before You Need It
Having supplies ready—and all in one place, can save precious time during a difficult birth. A basic kidding kit should include:
Disposable gloves
Clean towels (more than you think you’ll need, so get a lot)
Lubricant
Iodine for dipping navels (I use small cups specifically for dipping)
Kid puller (for emergencies only)
Bulb syringe (to clear airways)
Thermometer (have two on hand)
Heat source if kidding in cold weather (heat lamps should always be securely hung)
Keep the kit somewhere easy to grab. In the moment, you don’t want to be searching for supplies. (I keep all my things in a large duffel bag with smaller baskets inside to keep everything organized.)
4. Adjust Nutrition as Kidding Approaches
The last 6–8 weeks of pregnancy are when most fetal growth happens. Does may need:
High-quality hay
Increased protein and energy
Proper minerals (especially calcium and selenium, depending on your region)
Avoid sudden feed changes close to kidding, and always provide clean water.
Good nutrition supports healthy kids, smoother labor, and better milk production.
5. Learn the Signs of Labor
Knowing what’s normal and what’s not. Can help you intervene only when necessary
Common signs that kidding is near include:
Softening ligaments around the tail
Udder filling
Nesting behavior
Restlessness or vocalizing
Clear mucus discharge
Labor usually progresses in stages, with active pushing leading to delivery within 30 minutes to an hour.
If a doe is pushing hard with no progress, or you see abnormal presentations, it may be time to assist or call for help.
6. Be Ready for Aftercare
Once kids arrive, the work isn’t over.
After kidding, you’ll want to:
Ensure kids are breathing and fully dried
Dip navels promptly ( if doing this, I know some who don’t. Letting nature doing its thing. So if you kids are born during the night or while you are gone and this isn’t done, don’t worry to much )
Confirm kids nurse within the first hour ( if they are born without you there, just watch and make sure they are nursing. If they are not you will need to bottle feed them)
Monitor the doe for placenta delivery
Watch for signs of complications such as retained placenta or mastitis
This is also a great time to offer the doe warm molasses water.
Kidding is hard work, and many does are dehydrated and exhausted afterward. Warm water with molasses can encourage drinking, provide a quick energy boost, and help support recovery, especially after a long labor or in cold weather.
Mix 1–2 tablespoons of molasses per gallon of warm water. You don’t need much; this isn’t meant to replace regular water, just to help get fluids and energy back into her system. Not every doe will want it and that’s okay, but many will drink it eagerly.
Always keep fresh, plain water available as well, and remove the molasses water once it cools or if it goes untouched. ( do not have deep water troughs in your kidding areas, you will need swallow pans, people have had goat kids jump into buckets or troughs and drown.) Those first few hours are critical for both doe and kids.
7. Prepare Yourself, Too
Kidding season can mean long nights, early mornings, and lots of checking stalls “just in case.” Rest when you can, keep notes, and don’t be afraid to ask for help or advice from experienced breeders or a veterinarian.
Preparation doesn’t mean everything will go perfectly—but it does mean you’ll be ready to handle what comes your way.
Ready Is a Relative Term
No matter how much you prepare, kidding season can still surprise you. But with clean stalls, proper nutrition, a solid kidding kit, and a little knowledge, you can approach it with confidence instead of panic.
The rest? That’s just part of life with goats.
And honestly—it’s one of the best parts… baby snuggles and a proud mama!
Thank you for reading. Please share with me what your medical/ kidding bags look like!
#mjbackyardingwithkids #homesteading #monday #countryliving #GoatLove #babies #nature #kiddingseason #march
Backyarding And Kids 
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