How to Birth a Nigerian Kid Goat

Nothing is more harrowing to a new goat owner than the day their precious goat gives birth. Fortunately, most goats give birth without assistance and some even seem to wait for their owners to leave before going in to labor. Being present for the birth of your newest goat family members can be extremely rewarding if you know what to do.

Things You'll Need

  • Telephone
  • Disposable medical gloves
  • Clean towels
  • 7 percent iodine solution
  • Small disposable cup
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Instructions

    • 1

      Watch for the doe to go in to labor, checking her often when she begins to exhibit signs such as streaming thick, creamy mucus from her vulva or exhibiting nesting behavior. Grab birthing supplies and a telephone that will work in the barn when you see her begin to strain.

    • 2

      Watch for a dark-colored bubble to emerge from the doe's vulva --- the bubble may go in and out many times as the doe pushes. Put on medical gloves.

    • 3

      Watch the bubble for feet and a nose to emerge; this will happen quickly. Call the vet immediately if your doe seems to be straining especially hard or if you see anything except two little hooves with a nose resting on them.

    • 4

      Wait for the head to emerge from the doe and become visible in the bag. Burst the bag with your hands if it does not burst on its own. Allow the doe to deliver the baby on her own unless it is obvious that she is exhausted or having trouble with a large kid. Pull a large kid by grasping the feet in one hand and pulling toward the doe's feet when she pushes. Do not try to pull if she is not pushing; otherwise you can cause major damage to the mother.

    • 5

      Remove the bag from the baby and dry it with towels. Give the baby to its mother and prepare for the next kid. Nigerian Dwarf goats generally have twins, triplets or quadruplets. Does will often give birth to a pair of kids, then clean those kids before birthing the rest. Allow the doe to birth the next kid by herself if at all possible. Usually the first kid is the most difficult.

    • 6

      Ensure that each kid has suckled from its mother within the first hour of birth. Dip each kid's umbilical cord in a disposable cup that contains enough iodine to reach the kid's belly; this will prevent bacteria from entering the umbilical. Once it dries shut over the next few days, risk of bacterial penetration via the umbilical is minimal. Return each kid to its mother and enjoy your new goat family.

    • 7

      Check the doe occasionally to ensure she has passed her placenta, but do not pull on the tissues that are hanging from her. Look for a semi-dry, thick membrane that contains various pockets of reddish tissue; this is the placenta. Wrap it in a newspaper and dispose of it. Call the veterinarian if she does not expel the placenta within four hours of the last kid's birth, as this is a medical emergency.