Preparing for Lambing and Kidding Season
Lambing and kidding season is one of the busiest and most exciting times on the farm. Good preparation not only sets up your animals for a smooth birthing season but also helps reduce stress (for both you and them!). We aim to be as ready as possible so we can step back and let our sheep and goats do what they do best — but we’re always on hand if needed.
Here’s how we prepare for a successful lambing and kidding season:
1. Boosting Nutrition Before Birth
Nutrition leading up to birth is critical for healthy mothers and strong offspring.
About six weeks before kidding or lambing, we start adjusting feed:
Lucerne hay becomes a major part of the diet. It’s rich in protein and calcium, which are vital for late pregnancy and milk production.
Grain supplementation begins around two weeks before expected birth dates.
For sheep, we use a high-quality sheep nut.
For goats, we use a specially formulated goat grain mix.
We introduce any changes gradually to avoid upsetting their digestion.
Ensuring good body condition (not too thin, not overly fat) is key to minimizing birthing complications.
2. Setting Up Safe Birthing Areas
A few weeks before the first due dates, we prepare birthing spaces:
Shelter: We make sure there’s plenty of dry, clean shelter for does and ewes to birth in bad weather.
(We’ve repurposed old vineyard posts to build some of our shelters — you can read more about that in our Reusing Materials on the Farm blog.)Fencing checks: We double-check fencing, especially in paddocks where kidding and lambing will occur. Tight fencing helps keep curious young ones safe.
Trough cleaning: Clean, fresh water is critical. We use copper blocks in goat troughs to help reduce algae, but not in sheep troughs — sheep are very sensitive to copper toxicity.
Individual Pens for Mothers and Young
Inside our shelters, we set up individual pens for each mother and her offspring.
This helps:
Ensure access to feed and supplements without competition or fighting.
Reduce stress for the mothers, allowing them to bond more easily with their young.
Protect newborns from potential predators like foxes.
Each pen has its own feeder and water trough, making it simple to monitor food and water intake, and giving mums the calm space they need in those critical first days.
3. Health Checks and Parasite Control
Before birthing season begins, we complete:
Body condition scoring: Making sure animals are in the right condition for labor.
Vaccinations: We vaccinate pregnant does and ewes for diseases like tetanus and enterotoxemia (pulpy kidney).
Parasite management: Rotational grazing remains important during winter to keep parasite levels low. (Read more on our Managing Parasites blog.)
Maintaining low parasite loads supports better immunity and overall health during this stressful time.
4. Assembling a Birthing Kit
We keep a basic birthing kit on hand that includes:
Clean towels
Gloves
Scissors
Electrolytes
Bottles and colostrum replacer (just in case)
Notebook for recording births
Having everything organized saves valuable time if assistance is needed.
5. Staying Hands-Off (When We Can)
We believe in minimal interference, letting animals birth naturally unless a clear problem arises.
Signs we quietly watch for include:
Restlessness
Bagging up (udder filling)
Separating from the herd
Nesting behaviors
Only if a ewe or doe is clearly in distress or labor stalls will we intervene.
6. Monitoring First-Time Mothers
Special attention is given to first-time mothers.
Not every animal naturally takes to motherhood — whether due to physical challenges like oversized teats that are difficult for tiny mouths to latch onto, or emotional factors like being dismissive or confused about their new role.
We monitor how quickly bonding happens:
Some mothers are extremely proactive, nudging their kids to drink.
Others need encouragement, or in rare cases, assistance in helping kids latch on.
By keeping a close but gentle watch, we can step in if needed to ensure newborns get vital colostrum and early nourishment.
7. Record Keeping: Tracking Births and Health
Accurate records during lambing and kidding season are crucial.
We track:
Birth dates
Number of offspring (singles, twins, etc.)
Gender
Weight (if possible)
Any birthing complications
Maternal behavior
Notes on offspring health and growth
These records help guide future breeding decisions and spot any long-term health patterns.
8. After Birth: Monitoring and Bonding
After lambs or kids are born, we check for:
Clear breathing
Immediate standing and nursing
Proper mother bonding
Quiet monitoring for the next few days helps catch any issues early.
Final Thoughts
Good preparation means less stress for you and your livestock. By focusing on nutrition, shelter, health management, record keeping, and giving first-time mothers extra attention, we help set the stage for healthy, strong lambs and kids — and a smooth start to the new season.