# Goat Pregnancy Length

Doe, the female goats usually gain maturity and become suitable for breeding when they are of 7 to 8 months of age. After successful breeding, a doe takes about 5 months or 150 days of pregnancy period to have their babies. Although the goat pregnancy length can also vary depending on the breeds that you are raising. Read more about the goat pregnancy length.

Total Pregnancy Duration
Goats usually stay pregnant for about 5 months and their average gestation or pregnancy period is for 150 days for each pregnancy. Although some doe can take as long as 155 days, and some also deliver as early as 142 days. For an example, if your doe gets pregnant on September 7 this year, then she should give birth of new babies around February 1 next year. It’s really tough to tell the exact day when your doe will deliver, but it should take around 150 days. Keep your doe separated form the other goats during the potential delivery days. During this period, closely watch her udder. Her udder will become firmer as it is fill with colostrum. Your doe may also act as restless or walk around raising her tail up. Usually your doe express this signs before delivery. So keep a close eye on your doe after 142 to 145 days of her pregnancy period.

Early Pregnancy
It’s always a good idea to keep the heat schedule of your goats, if possible. If you keep their heat schedule on a regular basis, you will be able to easily tell whether your goat is pregnant or not. Contact with your vet, if you notice no sign of heat. It can happen due to lack of something, health issues or it’s probably because she is expecting. While the first part of her pregnancy, the embryo is working on implanting, so take extra care of your doe. Feed her well balanced food and make sure that she is not stressed. This usually take about 52 days after conception. After the embryo is firmly attached to the uterus of your doe, the pregnancy is a bit more secure.

During Pregnancy
You must have to take good care of your pregnant doe, if you want healthy and good babies. During the last 50 days of pregnancy, the major growth happens to the baby. During this time about 70 percent of the baby’s growth happens. So your doe needs extra care and extra nutritious foods during the last couple of months. Because during this time, she is eating for herself and for her two, three or even four babies. Among the goats, multiple births are common. If your doe doesn’t get sufficient food during this time, then her baby will be too week and sometimes unable to survive. And she will not be able to produce enough milk for her babies while they are born. So always ensure adequate foods during this time.

Breeding Cycles
Naturally goats have tend to go into heat during early winter and late summer. Goats usually go into heat an average of every 21 days from July through December. Heat period is very short in goats and it stays for about 24 to 36 hours. Usually this heat occurs the day before new breeding cycle starts. For an example, if your doe follows 21 days heat cycle, then she will most likely to get pregnant on the day 20. Before that day they will not try to mate on other days, when they are not fertile. It’s a good idea to keep records of their heat cycle, so that you can put your doe with a buck on the right time. Doing this will ensure good result and increase the probability of your doe getting pregnant.