Quick answer: Goats are pregnant for about 150 days, or roughly five months. Most does kid between day 145 and day 155 after breeding. Enter the breeding date in this goat gestation calculator to get the kidding date and the normal window.
How long are goats pregnant?
The average goat gestation period is about 150 days. Anything from 145 to 155 days is normal. Kids born before about day 144 may be too early to do well.
Breed, the number of kids she carries, her age, her body condition and the environment can all move the date by a few days. Use the window rather than one fixed day.
Goat gestation and kidding date table
Use this table as a printable goat kidding calculator or due date calculator. It counts 150 days from breeding:
| Bred on | Kids due | Normal window |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1 | May 31 | May 26 – Jun 5 |
| Jan 15 | Jun 14 | Jun 9 – Jun 19 |
| Feb 1 | Jul 1 | Jun 26 – Jul 6 |
| Feb 15 | Jul 15 | Jul 10 – Jul 20 |
| Mar 1 | Jul 29 | Jul 24 – Aug 3 |
| Mar 15 | Aug 12 | Aug 7 – Aug 17 |
| Apr 1 | Aug 29 | Aug 24 – Sep 3 |
| Apr 15 | Sep 12 | Sep 7 – Sep 17 |
| May 1 | Sep 28 | Sep 23 – Oct 3 |
| May 15 | Oct 12 | Oct 7 – Oct 17 |
| Jun 1 | Oct 29 | Oct 24 – Nov 3 |
| Jun 15 | Nov 12 | Nov 7 – Nov 17 |
| Jul 1 | Nov 28 | Nov 23 – Dec 3 |
| Jul 15 | Dec 12 | Dec 7 – Dec 17 |
| Aug 1 | Dec 29 | Dec 24 – Jan 3 |
| Aug 15 | Jan 12 | Jan 7 – Jan 17 |
| Sep 1 | Jan 29 | Jan 24 – Feb 3 |
| Sep 15 | Feb 12 | Feb 7 – Feb 17 |
| Oct 1 | Feb 28 | Feb 23 – Mar 4 |
| Oct 15 | Mar 13 | Mar 8 – Mar 18 |
| Nov 1 | Mar 30 | Mar 25 – Apr 4 |
| Nov 15 | Apr 13 | Apr 8 – Apr 18 |
| Dec 1 | Apr 29 | Apr 24 – May 4 |
| Dec 15 | May 13 | May 8 – May 18 |
How can you tell if a goat is pregnant?
The first clue is a missed heat. Does come into heat about every 18 to 22 days, so a doe that does not come back into heat in that time after breeding may be pregnant. A vet ultrasound or a blood test can confirm it.
Later signs include a growing belly, mostly on the right side, and an udder that fills in the last weeks. First-time does may not show much until close to kidding.
What are the signs a goat is going into labor?
Early labor can start about a day before the kids arrive. You may see her paw at her bedding, lie down and get up, look back at her sides, lift her tail and call out. Her tail head softens as the muscles relax, and a white or clear discharge may hang from the vulva.
The first stage can last a few hours or up to 12 to 24 hours. Once she starts pushing hard, a kid should arrive within about an hour.
When should you help a goat in labor?
- She has pushed hard for 30 minutes with no progress.
- You see a nose with no feet, or feet with no nose.
- Only one leg, a tail or a back end is showing.
- The placenta has not passed within 12 hours of kidding.
If you are not trained to correct a kid’s position, call your vet or an experienced breeder straight away. Pull only during her contractions, and always downward toward her hocks.
Caring for a pregnant doe
- Increase feed in the last six weeks, when the kids grow fastest. Ask your vet or extension office about the right ration.
- Give her a clean, dry kidding pen a week or two before her window opens.
- Have towels, iodine for navels and a plan for colostrum ready.
- Avoid stress and rough handling in late pregnancy.
The kidding guidance above follows the Penn State Extension meat goat course. If you keep sheep too, see our sheep gestation calculator, which runs on a slightly shorter average. Cattle take far longer, as the cattle gestation table shows, and a sow’s pregnancy lasts under four months.
Frequently asked questions
How many months is a goat pregnant?
About five months. At 150 days, that is just under five calendar months.
Can a goat go past 155 days?
A day or two over can happen, especially if the breeding date is a guess. If she goes well past 155 days or shows signs of illness, call your vet.
Are Nigerian Dwarf goats pregnant for less time?
Small breeds often kid toward the shorter end, but the same window of 145 to 155 days covers them. Use her own past kiddings as your best guide.
How many kids do goats usually have?
Twins are common, and singles and triplets are frequent as well. An ultrasound can give an estimate before kidding.
Do goats give birth at night?
They can kid at any time. Check on her often once her window opens, and watch for early labor signs.
When can a doe be bred again?
Most breeders wait until she has recovered and the kids are weaned. Ask your vet about the best timing for her breed and body condition.