Care Guides
Practical management from the barn at RiverHouse Dairy. Lewis County, Washington context throughout.
New Goat Owner ChecklistKidding Preparation GuideSeasonal Care — Pacific NorthwestNutrition: Lactating DoesNutrition: Bucks & Wethers
New Goat Owner Checklist
Before you bring them home
Before They Arrive
- —Fencing: minimum 4-foot woven wire or no-climb horse fence — not just barbed wire
- —Shelter: three-sided structure minimum, dry bedding, draft-free but ventilated
- —Separate quarantine area: new animals must be isolated for 30 days minimum
- —Fresh water source that cannot tip over
- —Mineral feeder: loose goat-specific minerals, never sheep minerals
- —Basic medical supplies: thermometer, syringes, needles, epinephrine, electrolytes
- —Identify a vet before you need one — not all vets see goats
First-Day Health Check
- —Temperature: normal is 101.5–104°F. Know your baseline.
- —Eyes: bright and clear, no discharge
- —Hooves: check for overgrowth, rot, or softness
- —Body condition score: you should feel ribs but not see them prominently
- —FAMACHA score: check eyelid color and record it as your baseline
- —Fecal egg count: send a fresh sample to a vet lab within first week
First-Month Protocol
- —CDT vaccination if not current (2 doses 3–4 weeks apart for unvaccinated animals)
- —BoSe injection if selenium-deficient region (WA soils are deficient)
- —Hoof trim if needed
- —Hold off on introducing to main herd until quarantine period complete
- —Observe eating, drinking, social behavior daily
Kidding Preparation Guide
The 30 days before, the day of, the week after
Kidding Kit (Have This Ready)
- —OB lubricant
- —Iodine 7% solution for navel dipping
- —Dental floss (for tying off umbilicus if needed)
- —Bulb syringe for clearing airways
- —Clean towels (you will need more than you think)
- —Heat lamp or heating pad for cold weather
- —Colostrum — fresh from a CAE-negative doe, or commercial powdered
- —Pritchard nipple and bottle for weak kids
- —Propylene glycol for doe if she goes off feed post-kidding
- —Calcium gluconate for milk fever risk does
- —Oxytocin (Rx) — talk to your vet beforehand
- —Your vet's emergency number written somewhere visible
Signs of Labor
- —Ligaments on either side of tail head soften and disappear (12–24 hours before kidding)
- —Udder fills rapidly
- —Discharge changes from thick white to clear/straw colored
- —Restlessness, pawing, getting up and down repeatedly
- —Vocalization, talking to belly
- —Active labor: contractions visible, doe pushing
Normal vs. Intervene
- —NORMAL: First kid within 30 minutes of active pushing
- —NORMAL: Water sac visible, then two front feet and nose
- —INTERVENE: Pushing hard for 30+ minutes with no progress
- —INTERVENE: Head back (only feet visible, no nose)
- —INTERVENE: One leg back
- —INTERVENE: Doe in distress or exhausted
- —Call your vet for anything you're uncertain about — do not wait
Newborn Kid Care
- —Clear nose and mouth immediately — wipe, don't let doe eat membranes off face
- —Colostrum within first 2 hours is critical — 10% of body weight in first 24 hours
- —Dip navel in 7% iodine immediately — do not skip this
- —Check for extra teats on does (teat defects are heritable)
- —Check for hard palate (cleft palate = cannot nurse, will not thrive)
- —Dry and warm if temperatures are below 50°F
- —Record birth weight, parents, and birth date
Seasonal Care — Pacific Northwest
Lewis County and western WA specific
Spring (March–May) — Parasite Season Starts
- —Begin FAMACHA scoring every 2 weeks — barber pole worm larvae become active
- —Do NOT deworm everything reflexively — test first with fecal egg count
- —Watch late-pregnant does for pregnancy toxemia as they approach their due date
- —Mud management: hooves rot in wet PNW springs. Keep bedding clean and dry.
- —Pasture management: avoid overgrazing, especially in wet conditions
- —Kidding season: be prepared for cold, wet nights in early spring
Summer (June–August) — Peak Production
- —Heat stress: goats tolerate heat poorly. Ensure shade and cool fresh water always.
- —Peak parasite pressure: FAMACHA every 2 weeks minimum
- —Fly control: flies spread pinkeye and mastitis. Face flies are a major problem.
- —Hoof trimming: growth accelerates in summer
- —Milk quality: rapid chilling becomes even more critical in summer heat
- —Watch for signs of dehydration in hot weather — especially lactating does
Fall (September–November) — Breeding Season
- —Buck introductions: does cycle September–March (some breeds year-round)
- —Pre-breeding body condition: does should be in good condition at breeding
- —CDT boosters for does being bred if not current
- —Begin increasing nutrition for bred does in last 6 weeks of pregnancy
- —Parasite monitoring continues until consistent frost
- —Prepare shelter for cold rain — fall in the PNW is wet, not just cold
Winter (December–February) — Cold Management
- —Shelter is non-negotiable in PNW winters — goats do not handle wet-cold
- —Increase hay: energy needs rise 20–30% in cold weather
- —Water: goats dramatically reduce intake when water is very cold — use a heater
- —Bedding depth: deep dry bedding provides warmth. Wet bedding causes health problems.
- —Watch for respiratory illness: drafty shelters + temperature swings = pneumonia
- —Late-pregnancy doe monitoring: pregnancy toxemia risk increases
Nutrition: Lactating Does
Feeding the milking doe right
Core Principles
- —Forage first: high-quality hay is the foundation of the lactating doe's diet
- —Energy needs peak at 3–4 weeks post-freshening — this is when deficits cause problems
- —Grain supplementation supports production but must be introduced gradually
- —Sudden diet changes in freshened does cause digestive upset and production drops
- —Body condition should be maintained between 2.5–3.5 throughout lactation
Calcium Management
- —Heavy milkers pull calcium faster than the body can mobilize it
- —Watch for milk fever signs: weakness, cold extremities, down doe in early lactation
- —DCAD (dietary cation-anion difference) nutrition in late dry period helps prevent it
- —Avoid excess calcium supplementation before freshening — it suppresses the body's mobilization response
- —Keep CMPK or calcium gluconate on hand at all times for fresh does
Goat-Specific Minerals
- —Never use sheep minerals for goats — copper levels are too low
- —Copper is often deficient in PNW — watch for fish tail, faded coat, poor hoof quality
- —BoSe injection pre-kidding: Washington soils are selenium deficient
- —Loose minerals always available — not block, which provides inadequate intake
- —Zinc supports hoof quality and immune function
Nutrition: Bucks & Wethers
The urinary calculi prevention guide
The Single Most Important Rule
- —Maintain 2:1 calcium to phosphorus ratio in all male goat diets
- —High-grain diets with high phosphorus are the #1 cause of urinary calculi
- —Fresh water always available — dehydration dramatically increases stone risk
- —Ammonium chloride in feed or minerals acidifies urine and prevents crystal formation
- —Never feed males the same grain ration as milking does
Signs of Urinary Blockage (Emergency)
- —Straining to urinate with little or no output
- —Crying out, kicking at belly, hunching up
- —Dribbling urine or bloody discharge at sheath
- —Complete blockage is fatal within 24–48 hours — call your vet immediately
- —Do not wait to see if it resolves — it will not
Rut Season
- —Bucks often go off feed completely during rut — watch body condition
- —Provide high-quality hay to maintain weight
- —Separate bucks from does except during planned breeding — constant exposure exhausts them
- —Urinary risk increases during rut due to reduced water intake
Medical Disclaimer: These guides represent general best practices for goat management. Always consult a licensed veterinarian for medical decisions specific to your animals.