The last goat births of the year...

Goats, like humans, have a habit of nesting as they prepare for their babies to arrive. We usually see them scratching up the straw bedding, creating and destroying pile after pile. They create nests for their bulging bellies, nests for the new babies to rest in. As they get closer to the arrival of the new babies, they finally settle down and relax a bit.

When the expectant momma goat gets up to feed, if we're lucky, we get a quick glance at her eggs to make sure they are healthy. For such large animals goats lay pretty small eggs. Sometimes we have to shuffle around the straw to find them. This is a saanen goat nest, so the eggs are very pale. Alpines generally lay darker brown eggs, sometimes gray colors too.

 

Marigold is getting agitated as she lay on her eggs. Goats are ruminants so they release a lot of body heat. they are excellent nesters and keep their eggs very warm in preparation for hatching. When she feels the eggs start to stir, she will get up and let the eggs hatch without interference, ready to take care of her newborn kids. 

Goats, unlike chickens, have no use for an 'egg-tooth' so they use their specially designed hooves to tap-tap-tap and gently break through the shell. Those long legs are itching to get out of their confinement, its not uncommon to see the eggs roll and flip as the babies are hatching out. 

Often as the hatching kids get really restless we'll see the eggs burst open into many small pieces and the goat kids will use their butts and tails to speed up the process of hatching.

Finally free! Momma goat will usually quickly clean up the eggshells so as not to leave any evidence for predators. Plus the calcium in the shells will help them gather their strength after sitting on their eggs for five long months. A second egg hatched soon after, probably stimulated by the movement created by her twin sister hatching out beside her. Now its time to celebrate, twin girls just in time for Easter!

Happy April Fool's Day!