The first thing I'm going to say here is that every goat is different. Every goat will show labor differently, and you need to know your goat. That said, there are multiple signs that a goat may be in labor or going into labor, so if you watch for all of them, you'll probably be able to figure it out. :)
1.
Sign: Tail ligaments loosening
What it looks like: Female goats have two ligaments on either side of the tail, which normally feel like pencils. When they get close to birth, they will loosen up from pencils to rubber bands to bubble gum, and then "disappear". When they're totally gone, it will be less than 24 hours until she kids. The issue is that as they get close to birth, the muscles around the tailhead also loosen up, making it a lot harder to feel the ligaments--in some cases, you can wrap your fingers around the tailhead days before the ligaments are actually gone. It's something that's a bit tricky to get a feel for, so I recommend getting someone experienced to teach you...I'm still not all that good at it myself!
Time frame: Kids within 24 hours of complete loosening.
2.
Sign: Belly drop
What it looks like: When goats are in the last stages of pregnancy, their belly will be kind of flat across the top, like a table top. When the goat is close to kidding, the right side will drop, creating a hollow between the back and the hip. From the back, you'll be able to see a distinct difference from when it was higher up. This can occur gradually, or more suddenly. This is caused by the kids moving into the birth canal and jockeying for position. This is my favorite main labor sign to watch for.
Time frame: Kids within 12 and 24 hours of the belly dropping.
3.
Sign: Mucus
What it looks like: Okay guys, mucus is a little tricky. Because mucus can mean anything from a dab of wetness on the doe's rear end to a inch-thick string of mucus hanging out. A bit of mucus is normal for pregnant goats, but once mucus is consistently stringing out, it means birth...probably won't be far away? But it really, really varies from goat to goat. A tiny bit of mucus is nothing to get excited about. However, if there's a huge string hanging out, it means babies within an hour. However, if the goat is yelling and lying down, etc., and there's no mucus, that does not mean they're not in labor. Mucus is unreliable.
Time frame: Kids within an hour of a big mucus string
4.
Sign: Udder
What it looks like: When a goat is close to birthing, the udder will get really big and full and shiny. BUT! This only works for some goats! Some goats will fill several days before birth, some not until after birth. This is not a super good indicator, although if you see a big change happen fast, it probably means there will be kids in the next couple days.
Time frame: Kids within the next couple of days
5.
Sign: Not eating
What it looks like: Before kidding, a doe will go off her feed--not be interested in food. This doesn't usually happen until she's in early labor.
Time frame: Kids within 12-24 hours
5.
Sign: Weird behavior
What it looks like: When a doe is going into early labor, her behavior may change. Affectionate goats may be aloof or vice versa, and she may be loud (especially first fresheners) or irritated (one of ours usually got along with the chickens but would start butting them when she went into labor). HOWEVER. If this is the sign you're watching for...you will drive yourself CRAZY. So watch for one of the other major signs, and keep a side-eye out for this one. :)
Time frame: Kids in between 12 hours and two days
5.
Sign: Lost mucus plug
What it looks like: An opaque white string of mucus hanging from the goat's rear end. This is the mucus plug that was holding the kids in, and when it dissolves like this, it means delivery will be very soon, and probably the goat is in early labor. This one is hard to watch for, though, because it can come out and fall off, and you'd never even know. However, if you do see it, it's a pretty good indicator.
One thing to note, is that if the goat has a lot of babies, or really big babies, and she, like our goats, likes to stand with her front feet higher than her back feet, when she's within her delivery window, sometimes the kids will be heavier enough that they will actually push the vulva partially open so you can see the mucus plug as a white thing in the opening. Do not freak out--this is fine and normal, and not a sign of labor. This can happen several days before a goat kids.
One other thing to note is that while this is a reliable indicator for our goats, other people have had goats lose their mucus plugs as early as a month before kidding...so take with a grain of salt. :)
Time frame: Kids within probably 12-24 hours
5.
Sign: Pawing
What it looks like: When a goat is in early labor, she'll sometimes be getting up and down and pawing the ground to prep an area for herself to kid in. Our goats will often do a bit of pawing right before they lie down, so don't get confused with that. This sign means a lot of pawing happening. I've never personally observed this with any of our births (although they will paw before they lie down to push), but I know that other people rely on this sign.
Time frame: Kids within a few days.
And then of course, when she starts pushing, you know she's in labor! :)
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