We’ve been raising Mini Nubians, Oberhasli, and Guernseys long enough to feel like we have a handle on what kidding season looks like. This year reminded us that goats didn’t get that memo.
Spring 2026 threw a lot at us – record rainfall, record mud, and a kidding season that checked off more “first times” than any we’ve had before. Some of those firsts were things we’d read about and hoped never to see. Others we barely had words for until we were standing in the barn at two in the morning dealing with them. Here’s an honest look at what this season handed us.
The Spine-First Presentation – Twice
Our first major delivery complication came when Dolly went into active labor and nothing was progressing the way it should. When we checked, we found the kid presenting spine and ribs first – essentially folded in half, with no feet or nose anywhere near the birth canal. We had no idea what we were feeling, so we called in our local dystocia wizard, Lori, to help get that kid repositioned and out safely, and by the time it was over we were grateful we hadn’t tried to go it alone.
Then Lady did the exact same thing.
The difference the second time was that we’d just lived through it. We knew what we were feeling for, we knew the steps, and we got her kid out ourselves. It’s the kind of confidence you never wanted to build but are glad you have. Both kids came out and both dams recovered well.
The Decomposed Kid
This one was hard. Raindrop was clearly carrying a big litter, and when she kidded, one of her kids was born decomposed. Her living buckling came in at 9 pounds – our largest Mini Nubian kid to date – and our best working theory is that his size was a factor in what happened to his brother. A kid that big takes up an enormous amount of real estate, and the pressure may have been too much for the other kid to survive to term.
Raindrop came through it well and didn’t need antibiotics, which was a relief. It changes the delivery and raises the stakes for the doe’s health, so we were watching her closely. She held up.
The Tiniest Oberhasli
On the opposite end of the size spectrum, we welcomed our smallest Oberhasli kid yet – a tiny 3-pounder out of Schweitzer. After the 9-pound Mini Nubian, the contrast was something else entirely.
The Abortion
Spring 2026 brought Wisconsin its wettest April since records began in 1895. The flooding was widespread, the mud was relentless, and the stress on the whole herd was higher than usual.
Kirlia aborted her triplets exactly one month before her due date. We believe the weather played a significant role – it was right in the middle of the worst storms. Stress-induced pregnancy loss is well documented in small ruminants, and with the kind of sustained environmental pressure this spring delivered, it’s not hard to see how a doe’s body might make that call.
She needed medication to help her clear her placenta, which is common after an abortion, and we got her through that without complications. What we didn’t expect was how much milk she’d come into – she’s developed a decent supply despite never carrying to term. Kirlia’s doing well now, and we’re glad to have her on the other side of it.
The Kid Who Needed Oxygen
This one scared us more in the moment than almost anything else this season. Terracotta’s second buckling seemed okay right at birth, which is part of what made it so alarming when things shifted. Within the first few minutes, he started gasping and turned cold and grayish blue.
We swung him gently, rubbed him hard, got him oxygen, and gave dexamethasone to help him along. There’s a particular kind of quiet in the barn when you’re working on a newborn that isn’t yet stable, and this one had us holding our breath for a bit. He pulled through and is doing well now. It’s a reminder that a kid who looks fine in the first few minutes isn’t always in the clear, and having an oxygen setup on hand at kidding time isn’t overkill.
The Umbilical Abscess
Of course it was our prettiest doeling of the whole season. Shankara’s daughter developed an umbilical abscess, which is exactly the kind of thing that makes you feel like the universe has a sense of humor.
Our vet came out, palpated the mass, and did an ultrasound to rule out a hernia – and confirmed there isn’t one, at least not yet. We’re currently treating with penicillin and she’s coming back for a recheck later this week. Our girl is bright and eating well, which is about the best you can ask for when you’re in the middle of treating something like this. We’ll update once we have the all-clear.
The Parrot Mouth
Gertie’s son came into the world with a mild parrot mouth – the upper jaw extending slightly beyond the lower. The degree matters a lot with this condition, and his is mild enough that he can nurse and eat without trouble. The fact that he’s a buckling also removes the breeding concern from the equation entirely – he’ll be wethered as soon as it’s safe. We’ll keep an eye on him as he grows, but he’s comfortable and gaining well.
Day 156 – Twice
Our previous record for gestation length was 155 days. This year, two of our does went to day 156. It’s a small thing in the grand scheme, but when you’ve been noting these numbers for years, it stands out. The kids arrived healthy, so we’ll take the extra day as a non-event – just another first to add to the list!
What We Took Away From All of It
We don’t want to frame this season as a disaster – it wasn’t. Our does handled hard deliveries and came back from them. The kids who needed help got it. Raindrop didn’t need antibiotics. Kirlia’s milking. Terracotta’s buckling is thriving. Shankara’s doeling is on the mend.
We’ve still got two does left to kid before this season is officially behind us. We’re watching them closely, fingers crossed for uneventful, and very much ready for the quiet side of the barn to return.
But however those last two go, this was already the year that reminded us, firmly, that no matter how many seasons you’ve got behind you, the barn can still hand you something new. We learned some things, updated some protocols, and have no complaints about the prospect of a break.
We’re ready for it.
