What Is A Baby Goat Called? 8 Interesting Facts about Baby Goats

From pups, kittens, cubs, calves to chics, we all have names to call cute young babies of each animal. Baby goats are just as cute, aren’t they? But, what is a baby goat called? Goats have different names according to their genders and stages of life, which may confuse many people.

Let’s find out right below!

What is a baby goat called?

To your surprise, both male and female goats under 6 months of age are called “kids”.

Exactly! Now you know “kids” doesn’t only mean our beloved children. The word “kids” was originally used for newborn goats before used for “children”. The mother goat is called “nanny” whereas the father is either “buck” or “billy”.

After 6 months, farmers call the female goats “doelings” and the male one “bucklings”. However, these names are only used before the goats reach their maturity.

Mature female goats are widely called “does” and the male ones are “bucks” or “billies” which is the same as father goats. There is also another common word that farmers should know – “wether”, meaning a castrated male goat.

People use the word “herd” to describe a group of goats. Many also call them a “tribe”.

Read more: What does Baby Goat Poop look like?

8 Facts about baby goats

1. It is very easy for goats to have twin babies

Unlike humans, who rarely bear twins, it is very easy to find triplet baby goats, let alone twins. People even said to have had quadruplets or quintuplets newborn goats a few times.

2. Baby Goats learn about the world through…their lips

Cats and dogs use their noses to smell things and we – humans use mostly our hands to feel the texture of everything we are curious about.

But it seems like baby goats are very intrigued by taste and thus would love to lick just about everything on their way. They are not eating all of what touches their tongue, though.

3. You can find baby goats being born with wattles

Wattles are hanging pieces of extra flesh or also known as ‘skin tags’ appearing on newborn goats. They are also called “bells” sometimes and are usually under their neck but can also be close to the ears.

Wattles are said to cause no harm to the goats and thus should not be a concern. It is believed to be a genetic trait passing on from generation to generation.

4. Siblings do recognize each other

Many stories have been shared by farmers that even after being separated for almost 2 years, sibling goats can still find each other in the herd. How sweet could this be?

5. They are fearlessly active just within a week old

It only takes a kid a few minutes after being born to stand up and walk on their own feet for the first time.

Within just a few days, you will find them running, jumping, and chasing their friends nonstop across the field.

Watching these playful animals will make you feel happy instantly. Some people even taught kids to play football! They will make excellent runners, won’t they?

6. They like to snuggle

Goat kids are very connected with the community, they will be feeding on their mother for at least 3 weeks to 5 months at maximum. Kids stay close to the herd for protection and of course, the other young kids, too.

You will easily find them all pile up and cuddle each other for warmth in the barn. What a heart-warming scene!

7. Kids can bond with human caregivers

Like any other young animals, being close to humans from a very young age can result in a special bond later on, simply because they will assume the first meet to be the closest one as a baby.

Baby goats like to drink their mother’s milk, up to 5 months before they can eat grass themselves, but they can surely be raised with milk bottles, too. Goat kids that are bottle-fed can develop very close connections with their caregivers eventually.

8. Goats use sound to communicate with each other

Kids can immediately experience their vocals after birth and they will be keen to try out their first sound. Each animal has their own distinctive way to communicate with, each other, goats use oral sounds.

Kids can recognize their own mother’s sound and so does the nanny. People call the sound of a goat ‘a bleat’. Kids will especially bleat when they are excited right before feeding time.

Final words

We hope by now you have known how a baby goat is called and enjoyed all the amazing facts about baby goats from us. Keeping goats is an exciting job and raising kids plays a big part. All the best to your farming experience!