A Normal Kidding
in Pictures
(Please be patient while all photos load)

These pictures are of a Kinder Goat named Tia having triplets.
Thank you to Pat Showalter for providing these photos. Photos
are credited to Teresa Wade and used with permission.

This is what is considered 2nd stage labor. Notice that the doe is bracing herself
and is contracting. Notice the outstretched legs. Not all does lay down for kidding.
Some will hump their backs, and bear down while standing up. Sometimes it is
easier to manipulate a kid being born when the doe is standing up, as laying down
will compress the body weight down which makes it harder to move/rotate the kid.

Notice the opaque looking sack that is starting to emerge from the vulva. The skin of
the vulva stretches several times to allow the kid to pass through. If a doe looks
to be having trouble passing the bubble, and the skin is too tight - with a clean, gloved
hand, gently work the skin carefully not to disrupt the presentation of the bubble.

This is another view of the bubble coming out. In many, not all, a water filled
bag will come before the bag that the kid is in. Don't be alarmed if you have a
small bubble come out first that bursts.

In this picture, you can see either the tips of the hooves. In a normal presentation,
The front feet will be pointing down, one slightly behind the other with the nose
on top of or between the front hooves. A normal presentation also could be
hind hooves first as in a breech delivery. Does that have multiples often will have
a breech baby as the third kid has to make almost a summersalt to come out.

In this photo, the doe is bearing down and the bubble is just about to crown.
There is no need to assist this doe because she is presenting properly on her own.
The process from the first signs of stringing, to this point would be just a few
minutes. If it goes beyond 15-20 minutes, you need to put clean gloves on
and go in and see where the kid is positioned. Carefully not to disrupt the bubble.
Once the bubble has broken with the kid in it, you only have seconds to get
the baby out. In the case of the doe in this picture, her sack is still in tact, and
the kid is being delivered normally.

Go to page 2 - Kidding Photos