How Many Kids Do Goats Have Per Pregnancy?

How many kids will your doe have? It is one of the most common questions in a barn, and the honest answer is: it depends. But the patterns are clear enough to plan around.

The short answer: usually twins

Twins are the most common outcome in goats. Singles and triplets are also frequent, and prolific does occasionally have four, five or even six kids. A rough guide:

• First fresheners: often one or two kids
• Mature does: frequently twins or triplets
• Prolific breeds & good condition: triplets or more

What affects litter size?

• Breed: Nigerian Dwarf, Boer and Nubian tend toward multiples; see our gestation by breed guide.
• Age: litter size usually rises through a doe's prime years, then tapers.
• Body condition & nutrition: a doe in good (not fat) condition at breeding tends to release more eggs - the reason many breeders "flush" with rising nutrition before breeding.

Does litter size change the due date?

Yes, a little. Does carrying twins or triplets often kid one to three days early, while a single kid may go a day or two late. If you expect multiples, start your kidding watch a couple of days sooner. The gestation calculator has a "twins/triplets" toggle that shifts the estimate for you.

Planning for more kids

More kids means more to monitor: colostrum for every kid within two hours, extra warmth in cold weather, and possibly bottle-feeding if the doe cannot feed them all. Prepare for one more kid than you expect and you will rarely be caught short.