Kid Care 101
This guide covers essential care for newborn and young goats (kids). It covers immediate post-birth needs, daily care, health monitoring, housing, nutrition, and common problems.
Immediate post-birth (first 24 hours)
Ensure the kid is breathing and active. Clear mucus from the nose and mouth if needed.
Dry and warm, cold, wet kids. Use clean towels, heat lamps, or a heat box as necessary.
Check for and assist with nursing within the first 1–2 hours. Colostrum in the first 6–12 hours supplies critical antibodies and calories.
If the kid cannot nurse, feed stored or commercial colostrum via bottle or tube feeder; aim for 10% of body weight within the first 6–12 hours, then another 5–10% in the next 12 hours.
Dry and disinfect the navel with iodine (7% tincture) to reduce infection risk.
Record the birth: date, time, sex, weight, dam and sire, any complications.
Housing and environment
Provide a clean, dry, draft-free space with good ventilation.
Bedding: straw or other dry bedding; change regularly to prevent ammonia buildup and wet bedding. We use pine flakes for bedding. It is cost-effective, creates warmth, and is easy to clean.
Temperature: newborns need warmth; keep around 65–75°F (18–24°C) for small kids, using additional heat for hypothermic neonates. Using a safe heat lamp, out of the goat’s reach, is helpful, especially in cold weather.
Space: make separate pens for sick or very young kids to monitor feeding and reduce disease transmission. We separate mom from the delivery to a kidding stall for mom and her baby to stay safe and bond. Please see our other blog post on kidding care for more information.
Safety: remove sharp objects and predators’ access; ensure fencing prevents escapes and entanglement. We have Nigerian Dwarf goats and had a kid escape the stall under the gate. We thought it was low enough; however, being very tiny, he was able to get under it, and adjustments were made. Consider the size of your kids to ensure they can’t get out of the stall.
Feeding and nutrition
Colostrum for the first 24 hours is critical (see above).
See our additional blog post for additional feeding needs.
Socialization and behavior
Kids are social and benefit from interaction with dam, other goats, and gentle human handling.
Monitor for strong mothering; some does may reject kids and need fostering or bottle feeding.
Establish routines for feeding and handling to reduce stress.
Consider slowly introducing your kids to the herd, watch for behaviors and aggression. We introduce our kids slowly and a little each day until we feel it is safe.
Social hierarchy is important for goats; ensure the doe is protecting the kid as necessary.
Health monitoring and preventive care
Daily checks: alertness, temperature, breathing, nursing behavior, stool consistency, movement.
Normal rectal temperature: 101.5–103.5°F (38.6–39.7°C). Hypothermia or fever requires immediate attention.
Vaccinations: follow regional veterinary recommendations (e.g., clostridial vaccines) starting at appropriate ages and repeating per label/vet guidance.
Deworming: perform fecal testing and follow a strategic deworming plan; avoid blanket treatments without evidence.
Hoof care: inspect and trim hooves periodically, beginning as needed.
Disbudding: usually done at 1–2 weeks of age by experienced personnel using proper analgesia and technique; consult a veterinarian. Our vet suggests disbudding at 5 days old. Check with your vet if you are choosing to disbud for their recommendations.
Record keeping: births, treatments, vaccinations, and weight gains.
**Please note - this is intended to be a guide. We are not veterinarians. Please check with your veterinarian for recommendations.
