Preparing for Kidding (Goat Birth) - Kidding Kit
Any goat parent that has watched an animal give birth knows that nature definitely knows what it’s doing when it comes to birth. No one has to tell an animal mother when her due date is, or how to prepare her body for labor. All of that is innate in them, and (for the most part) they need no assistance from us humans.
But sometimes birth can be complicated. Things can and do go wrong with some. So for those instances, having a well-stocked kit can literally be life-saving. Here are the things I keep handy (and organized in a basket for grab-and-go convenience) for when my goats kid:
Towels - even in the best of circumstances, having towels to quickly dry off kids (or at least wipe their noses clear of birthing fluids) is a great idea
Bulb syringe / Nasal aspirator (purchase here) - sometimes the nose and/or throat is full of fluid and baby needs a little help clearing it out
Scissors - if the umbilical cord is long enough to drag the ground, give it a little snip to help prevent infection or injury
Iodine (liquid or spray) (purchase here) - to prevent infection, try to coat the end of the umbilical cord with iodine as soon as possible
Disposable gloves (purchase here) - unless you just love the slimy feeling of birthing fluid… 🤢
Long disposable gloves (purchase here) - just in case you need to go in and help reposition a kid in the birthing canal
Lubricant (purchase here) - always use lube if you have to go in! also useful if you need to lube up a rectal thermometer to take a temperature
Kid puller (purchase here) - in the event a kid is stuck and needs significant assistance, this tool is invaluable
Headlamp (purchase here) - great to have on hand in case birth is at night and the barn isn’t well lit (ask me how I know…)
Red Raspberry Leaves (purchase here) - this is a great herb to give when in labor, as it helps the uterus to contract more effectively
Molasses (purchase here) - we love to give molasses mixed with warm water to all moms just after they give birth - it gives them a boost of minerals and energy
Bottles & nipples (purchase here) - we like to keep a bottle on hand just in case baby has trouble latching at first
Jumpstart (purchase here) - great for a quick vitamin boost if any babies are showing signs of a deficiency
Kidding position chart (link)- Weed ‘Em and Reap has an EXCELLENT chart for how to assist if a kid is not positioned normally
Drench gun / Large syringe (purchase here) - in case you need to administer fluids or medicine at any point
CMPK drench (purchase here) - vital in treating milk fever - while not common, it is a good idea to keep on hand to treat quickly if your mama goat shows signs of milk fever (muscle weakness, loss of appetite, and poor milk production)
Vet contact info - hope for the best and prepare for the worst - in the event that a vet is needed, make sure to have their information ready to go
I also like to set up a video baby monitor out in the barn during kidding season. That way I can listen (and watch) for signs of labor from the comfort of my house (rather than spending the night in the barn, waiting for babies that will wait to be born until the moment I run back home to pee…). Happy kidding season!
