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Goat Gestation Chart

A doe carries her kids for about 150 days, normally 145 to 155. Work out a kidding date, compare ten breeds, plan heats and pregnancy checks, feed for the last six weeks and know when labour needs help.

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Figure 1. The Goat Gestation Chart poster covers the 150 days from breeding to kidding, ten breeds, heat cycles, due dates, pregnancy checks, feeding, kidding signs and labour. Select it to open full size, then zoom in.

Contents

  1. 1Working out the kidding date
  2. 2Ten breeds share one clock
  3. 3Due dates for every breeding date
  4. 4The pregnancy month by month
  5. 5Confirming she is bred
  6. 6Heat cycles and the breeding season
  7. 7Feeding the pregnant doe
  8. 8Kidding signs, labour and help
  9. 9Kids per kidding and the first day
  10. Sources and notes

1.Working out the kidding date

Count 150 days from the day she was bred. Most does kid within five days either side, and larger litters tend to come a little sooner. Enter a breeding date, or a due date to work backwards, and the list gives every date worth writing on the calendar.

Every breed in this chart averages about 150 days. The kid count changes the feeding advice in the list, not the date: the sources give no fixed number of days for a larger litter.

Boer doe, white with a red-brown head and swept-back horns, in side view
Expected kidding date Feb 28, 2027 150 days. Normal window Feb 23 to Mar 5, 2027. Larger litters tend to come a little early.

Today is day 26 of about 150: month 1, 124 days to go.

  • Thu Oct 1, 2026Bredday 0
  • Mon Oct 19, 2026Watch for a return to heatthrough day 24; no heat suggests she is bred
  • Mon Oct 26, 2026Earliest blood pregnancy testday 25–30; ultrasound through the rectum from day 20
  • Sun Nov 15, 2026Ultrasound across the belly, clearestfrom day 30; count kids on days 40–70
  • Sun Jan 17, 2027Start late-pregnancy feedingenergy +75% for twins; score body condition
  • Sun Jan 24, 2027CD&T booster4–6 weeks before kidding
  • Thu Feb 18, 2027Watch closelykidding pen ready; udder filling, vulva loosening
  • Tue Feb 23, 2027Normal window opens
  • Sun Feb 28, 2027Due dateday 150
  • Fri Mar 5, 2027Normal window closescall your veterinarian if she is well past it

2.Ten breeds share one clock

Unlike cattle, goat breeds do not differ much in pregnancy length. The Pygmy and Boer breed associations both count 150 days, and extension sources give 145 to 155 for goats in general. What differs is size, season and litter: dairy breeds are tall, miniatures and meat breeds often breed outside the autumn season.

Six goat breeds standing in two rows: Alpine, Nubian and Kiko behind, Nigerian Dwarf, Saanen and Boer in front
Figure 2. Six of the ten breeds below, drawn as breed plates.

Heights and weights: ADGA breed standards as given by Purdue University, ANDDA for the Nigerian Dwarf and NC State for the Boer. Heat lengths are breed averages from the Merck Veterinary Manual. Litter figures for Boer, Kiko and Spanish does are from Tennessee State University herd trials.

3.Due dates for every breeding date

Pick the month she was bred to see the kidding date for every day of it, 150 days on. The window column shows the normal spread of 145 to 155 days.

Month bred
October breedings, 150 days
BredDueWindow
Oct 1Sun Feb 28Feb 23 to Mar 5
Oct 2Mon Mar 1Feb 24 to Mar 6
Oct 3Tue Mar 2Feb 25 to Mar 7
Oct 4Wed Mar 3Feb 26 to Mar 8
Oct 5Thu Mar 4Feb 27 to Mar 9
Oct 6Fri Mar 5Feb 28 to Mar 10
Oct 7Sat Mar 6Mar 1 to Mar 11
Oct 8Sun Mar 7Mar 2 to Mar 12
Oct 9Mon Mar 8Mar 3 to Mar 13
Oct 10Tue Mar 9Mar 4 to Mar 14
Oct 11Wed Mar 10Mar 5 to Mar 15
Oct 12Thu Mar 11Mar 6 to Mar 16
Oct 13Fri Mar 12Mar 7 to Mar 17
Oct 14Sat Mar 13Mar 8 to Mar 18
Oct 15Sun Mar 14Mar 9 to Mar 19
Oct 16Mon Mar 15Mar 10 to Mar 20
 
BredDueWindow
Oct 17Tue Mar 16Mar 11 to Mar 21
Oct 18Wed Mar 17Mar 12 to Mar 22
Oct 19Thu Mar 18Mar 13 to Mar 23
Oct 20Fri Mar 19Mar 14 to Mar 24
Oct 21Sat Mar 20Mar 15 to Mar 25
Oct 22Sun Mar 21Mar 16 to Mar 26
Oct 23Mon Mar 22Mar 17 to Mar 27
Oct 24Tue Mar 23Mar 18 to Mar 28
Oct 25Wed Mar 24Mar 19 to Mar 29
Oct 26Thu Mar 25Mar 20 to Mar 30
Oct 27Fri Mar 26Mar 21 to Mar 31
Oct 28Sat Mar 27Mar 22 to Apr 1
Oct 29Sun Mar 28Mar 23 to Apr 2
Oct 30Mon Mar 29Mar 24 to Apr 3
Oct 31Tue Mar 30Mar 25 to Apr 4

Published normal ranges: 145–155 days (Penn State, NPGA), 147–155 (Alabama Extension), 148–152 (Mississippi State). The ABGA advises watching does from 10 days before to 10 days after the due date.

4.The pregnancy month by month

The first three months are quiet: the kids are small and the doe needs little more than good forage. About 70% of fetal growth comes in the last four to six weeks, which is when her energy needs rise by half for a single kid and by three quarters for twins. Choose a month to see what to do.

Days 0–30 · energy need maintenance Month 1

Watch for a return to heat 18–24 days after breeding. A progesterone test one cycle later can rule pregnancy out.

  • No return to heat, days 18–24
  • Progesterone test, days 19–24
  • Ultrasound through the rectum from day 20
  • Blood pregnancy test from day 25–30
  • Body condition about 3; good forage, no extra grain

Bar heights show the doe’s energy need against maintenance (Penn State Extension), not the size of the kids.

  • Month 1days 0–30Watch for a return to heat 18–24 days after breeding. A progesterone test one cycle later can rule pregnancy out.
  • Month 2days 31–60Pregnancy is confirmed and the kids can be counted. Ultrasound across the belly works from day 30 and is clearer after day 45.
  • Month 3days 61–90Still a quiet month for feeding. Finish any kid counts: ultrasound counting is most accurate up to about day 85, and an X-ray counts kids after day 75.
  • Month 4days 91–120Late pregnancy begins: score body condition 4–6 weeks before kidding and start the extra feed, matched to the number of kids.
  • Month 5days 121–150About 70% of fetal growth happens now. Energy needs are 50% above maintenance for one kid and 75% for twins; watch for a doe going off feed.

5.Confirming she is bred

A doe that does not come back into heat 18 to 24 days after breeding is probably pregnant, but only a test confirms it. Counting the kids by ultrasound in the second month lets you feed a doe with twins or triplets harder and keep one with a single from getting fat.

Pregnancy checks in goats
MethodFromNotes
No return to heatday 18–24Suggests she is bred, but is not proof.
Progesterone, milk or bloodday 19–24Taken one cycle after breeding. Low rules pregnancy out; high does not prove it.
Blood test (PSPB or PAG)day 25–30About 5 ml of blood; results in about a week. Can still read positive up to 15 days after a pregnancy is lost.
Ultrasound through the rectumday 20Needs a skilled operator.
Ultrasound across the bellyday 30Most accurate after day 45. Count kids on days 40–70 (accurate to about day 85); sex on days 55–70.
X-rayday 70Counts the kids from about day 75.

Your check dates

Bred on Oct 1, 2026 (from the calculator above).

  • Watch for a return to heat (to day 24)Oct 19, 2026
  • Progesterone test window opensOct 20, 2026
  • Blood pregnancy testOct 26, 2026
  • Ultrasound across the bellyOct 31, 2026
  • Ultrasound clearest; count kidsNov 15, 2026
  • Last good day to count kids (to day 85)Dec 10, 2026

6.Heat cycles and the breeding season

Goats are short-day breeders: most does cycle from about August to January in the northern hemisphere, peaking in autumn. A heat comes about every 21 days, and a doe stands for the buck for about a day and a half.

A Nigerian Dwarf doe, dark chocolate with white spots, with her kid
Figure 3. A Nigerian Dwarf doe and kid. Does of this miniature dairy breed stand 17–22.5 in at the withers (ANDDA).

Heat cycle planner

  • Heat 1: expect aboutOct 1, 2026 (Sep 28 to Oct 4)
  • Heat 2: expect aboutOct 22, 2026 (Oct 16 to Oct 28)
  • Heat 3: expect aboutNov 12, 2026 (Nov 3 to Nov 21)
  • If bred at heat 1, kids due aboutFeb 28, 2027

The next heat falls in the main breeding season.

Short cycles are common in young does and early in the season, and longer ones late in it, so watch from a few days before each date.

When does cycle

JFMAMJJASOND

Shaded: the main season, August to January, with January carrying on from December. Pygmy, Spanish and tropical breeds can breed all year; nutrition matters more than day length for Boers. Bringing a buck in early can bring does into heat sooner.

Standing heat by breed

Nubian42 h
Boer37 h
Alpine31 h
Angora22 h

Breed averages, Merck Veterinary Manual.

The heat cycle in figures
21 daysaverage cycle; normal 18–24 days
about 36 hstanding heat, range 24–48 hours (Merck); Langston gives about 30 hours
end of heatwhen ovulation usually happens, so a doe bred late in her heat is well timed
signstail flagging, bleating, restlessness, a red swollen vulva with mucus, frequent urination, seeking the buck and eating less; all plainer with a buck nearby
doelingsbreed at 60–70% of adult weight, usually at 7–10 months; Pygmies can reach puberty at 3 months

7.Feeding the pregnant doe

A doe’s needs follow her calendar. Keep her at maintenance on good forage for the first three months, then raise energy and protein over the last four to six weeks, matched to the number of kids she carries. Over-fat does and does carrying several kids are the most likely to get pregnancy toxemia.

What she needs, stage by stage
StageFeeding and care
At breedingBody condition 3 (2.5–4 acceptable). Flush with 0.5–1 lb grain a day from 2–3 weeks before the buck goes in.
Months 1–3Good forage at maintenance. Avoid letting her get fat.
Last 4–6 weeksEnergy +50% for one kid, +75% for twins: 0.5–1 lb grain a day, 10–13% crude protein, 3.7–4.1 lb dry matter.
Three or more kidsAbout 1 lb grain a day for each kid she carries.
At kiddingBody condition about 3 (3–4). Selenium and vitamin E where soils are low; avoid excess calcium in the last weeks.
HealthCD&T booster 4–6 weeks before kidding (unvaccinated does need two doses at least 2 weeks apart). Albendazole can cause abortion.
  • +50%energy above maintenance in late pregnancy for a single kid
  • +75%for twins
  • 0.5–1 lbgrain a day in the last 4 weeks, 10–13% crude protein, 3.7–4.1 lb dry matter
  • BCS 3at breeding and at kidding, on the 1–5 body condition scale (3–4 acceptable at kidding)
  • A doe that goes off feed in the last weeks may have pregnancy toxemia. Give 2–3 oz propylene glycol two or three times a day and call your veterinarian.

8.Kidding signs, labour and help

Most does kid on their own, usually within 12 to 24 hours of the first clear signs. Knowing the normal timing of each stage of labour is what tells you when to step in, and when to leave her alone.

A Nubian doe, red-brown with long hanging ears, with her kid beside her
Figure 4. A Nubian doe and her kid.

Signs that kidding is near

  1. 1
    From about day 140The udder fills and the vulva swells, loosens and sags. Start checking several times a day.
  2. 2
    12–24 hours beforeShe goes off by herself, paws and nests, is restless, gets up and down and goes off feed.
  3. 3
    8–12 hours beforeThe udder is tight and the teats full and shiny (strutting); her sides cave in and she breathes faster.
  4. 4
    Labour beginsThick mucus, grunting or soft bleats, looking back at her belly, then the water bag.

The three stages of labour

  1. 1
    The cervix opens2–12 hours, usually 2–6. Restless, pawing, up and down, off feed. Often longer in first-time does.
  2. 2
    The kids are bornAbout 30–60 minutes a kid, under 2 hours in all. Starts with the water bag. Normal: two front feet with the nose resting on them; back feet first is also normal. Allow 30–45 minutes between kids.
  3. 3
    The placenta passes4–8 hours, within 12. Counted as retained if it is not out by 12 hours: call your veterinarian rather than pulling it.

Labour stage checker

Normal so farEach kid usually comes within 30–60 minutes of hard straining. Leave her quiet and check every 15 minutes.

Call the vet or an experienced breeder when

  • 30 minutes of hard straining with no progress
  • No kid 30–60 minutes after the water bag appears
  • Only one leg, the head alone or only the tail showing
  • You have tried for 15 minutes to correct a position without success
  • The placenta is not out after 12 hours, or she runs a fever after kidding

Sources differ a little on the limits: 30 minutes of hard pushing (Purdue, Arkansas, K-State) to 45–60 minutes after the water bag (Langston). Your own veterinarian’s advice for your herd comes first.

9.Kids per kidding and the first day

Twins are the usual result: dairy does have one to three kids a year, and singles and triplets are not rare. Young does have fewer kids than mature ones, and in long-term trials the Kiko and Spanish does weaned nearly twice as many kids as Boers.

A Boer doe with twin kids, both white with red-brown heads
Figure 5. A Boer doe with twins.
Meat does in Tennessee State University trials
BreedKids born, first kiddingKids weaned by age 5
Boer1.683.24
Kiko1.676.09
Spanish1.696.21

The first day

  • First colostrum; kids up and nursing30–60 min
  • Colostrum at 10% of body weight, 2–4 oz at a time every 3–4 hoursFirst 24 h
  • Dip navels in 7% iodineSoon after birth
  • Placenta passes (call the vet after 12 h)4–8 h
  • Doe and kids together in a small kidding pen24–48 h

Colostrum is best in the first 30 minutes to an hour; K-State gives 7 oz in the first hour and 16 oz in 24 hours for a 10 lb kid. Single-born dairy kids weigh about 6–6.5 lb (Penn State).

Sources and notes

Figures are typical values from veterinary references, extension services and breed associations. Individual does vary, and a kidding that is not progressing is always a reason to call your veterinarian.

  1. Merck Veterinary Manual: Puberty and Estrus in Goats. www.merckvetmanual.com/management-and-nutrition/management-of-reproduction-goats/puberty-and-estrus-in-goats
  2. Merck Veterinary Manual: Pregnancy Determination in Goats. www.merckvetmanual.com/management-and-nutrition/management-of-reproduction-goats/pregnancy-determination-in-goats
  3. Merck Veterinary Manual: Breeding and Parturition of Goats. www.merckvetmanual.com/management-and-nutrition/health-management-interaction-goats/common-diseases-of-goats
  4. Langston University, American Institute for Goat Research: Goat Reproductive Biology. goats.langston.edu/?p=732
  5. Langston University: Pregnancy Detection. goats.langston.edu/?p=868
  6. Langston University (ESGPIP Technical Bulletin No. 7): The Lambing/Kidding Process and Providing Assistance. goats.langston.edu/LINC/AIGR/tb/TB%207%20Lambing%20and%20kidding.pdf
  7. Langston University: Breeds and Breed Characteristics. goats.langston.edu/?p=426
  8. Penn State Extension: Dairy Goat Production. extension.psu.edu/dairy-goat-production
  9. Penn State Extension: Nutrition Throughout Pregnancy for Meat Goat Does. extension.psu.edu/nutrition-throughout-pregnancy-for-meat-goat-does
  10. Penn State Extension: Breeding Season Preparations for Meat Goats. extension.psu.edu/breeding-season-preparations-for-meat-goats
  11. University of Maryland Small Ruminant Program (S. Schoenian): Getting ready for lambing and kidding. www.sheepandgoat.com/gettingready
  12. University of Maryland Small Ruminant Program: Pregnancy Toxemia. www.sheepandgoat.com/pregtox
  13. University of Maryland Small Ruminant Program: Colostrum. www.sheepandgoat.com/colostrum
  14. Purdue University VA-28-W: Preparing for Lambing or Kidding Season. www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/VA/VA-28-W.pdf
  15. Kansas State University MF3689: Kidding Resources for Beginning Goat Producers. bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/download/kidding-resources-for-beginning-goat-producers_MF3689
  16. University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff FSA9605: Managing the Kidding Season. www.uaex.uada.edu/publications/pdf/FSA-9605.pdf
  17. Alabama Cooperative Extension: Reproductive Management of Dairy Goats and Sheep. www.aces.edu/blog/topics/sheep-goats/reproductive-management-dairy-goats-and-sheep
  18. LSU AgCenter: The Estrous Cycle and Seasonality in Sheep and Goats. www.lsuagcenter.com/profiles/bneely/articles/page1593707272607
  19. Mississippi State University Extension P2781: Meat Goat Management. extension.msstate.edu/publications/meat-goat-management
  20. NC State (J-M Luginbuhl): Breeds and Production Traits of Meat Goats. ccfruitandnuts.ucanr.edu/sites/default/files/2020-12/341670.pdf
  21. Purdue University: Breeds of Dairy Goats (ADGA breed standards). www.ansc.purdue.edu/goat/factsheet
  22. American Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Association: Breed Information. www.andda.org/breed-information
  23. National Pygmy Goat Association: Gestation Calculator. www.npga-pygmy.com/resources/gestation-calculator
  24. American Boer Goat Association: Gestation Calculator. www.abga.org/gestation-calculator
  25. Tennessee State University (Nguluma, Leite-Browning and Browning 2013): first-kidding litter size in Boer, Kiko and Spanish does. lrrd.org/lrrd25/3/ngul25038.htm
  26. Tennessee State University (Pellerin and Browning 2012): doe productivity of Boer, Kiko and Spanish goats. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3460741