How to Tell If Your Pygmy Goat is Pregnant

Pygmy goats can have their first heat at the age of two months old, but it is important to wait until they are about a year old before you breed them. A healthy doe goes into heat once every 18 to 23 days, and determining whether she is pregnant can allow you to make good choices about her health and her needs.

Instructions

    • 1

      Observe the doe for signs of re-entering heat. If she does not show signs of going into heat within 23 days, it is a good sign that she is pregnant. While some pregnant goats do go into heat, the heat will be mild; the goat will be less vocal and she may not allow the buck to mount her again.

    • 2

      Observe her behavior. According to Kinne's Mini's, pygmy goats often evidence a change in behavior about two weeks after a successful breeding. Goats that were formerly friendly can become more aloof, and standoffish goats can become suddenly affectionate.

    • 3

      Press your fingers against the doe's abdomen and very lightly tap your fingers against her stomach. A pregnant doe's stomach will be firm, while a doe that is not pregnant will have a softer belly. This will only be effective if the doe is friendly, as nervous goats will tense up. This test is effective within two weeks of pregnancy.

    • 4

      Watch the buck. According to Kinne's Mini's, if you keep a buck with your doe, the buck often chases the doe away from the food after she has been successfully bred. This is not a sure thing, as some bucks allow the pregnant does to continue feeding normally.

    • 5

      Measure the doe at breeding and again two months later. The measurement around her heart girth, the part of her torso immediately after her forelegs, should expand by between half an inch to three inches.

    • 6

      Weigh your goats at breeding and then again two months later. A doe tends to put on between six and seven pounds in the first two months after breeding.