Also desperately need goat proof chicken feeder ideas - Starving chickens!

[4 the Birds]

Goats are incredibly nimble and can they can get through openings smaller than you think. I would for sure fence off your run/coop so that the goats cannot get near the feeders. My run fencing is heavy duty woven wire since they also love to lean and scratch their sides on the fence. The goats have even chewed off caribeener clips off of latching doors. My solution was to build an obstacle in front of the run pop door so that the chickens can free range and keep the goats out of the run. The other day I left the walk through door open and one of the full alpine/Nubian (full size goat) goats got in while I was on my daily chores. She slipped back out though this 9" x 11" opening and through the boards when I yelled at her. Goats are really smart and tenacious.

 

[CAjerseychick]

Dang these goats, they stomped on my latest feeder invention and then I put the feed up high and they used a wheelbarrow to launch themselves up and knock it over and ate it (my LGD was barking his head off at them and I was yelling at him to cut it out not knowing he was trying to tell me the goats were being bad)... I love them but they are driving me crazy around this chicken feed thing.... I only got ONE egg today...Sigh....

LOVE the pics btw, such characters those faces!

 

[cafarmgirl]

Ummm hmmm, nothing they won't do to get at the feed! And if they can't get at it then they try to beat the snot out of whatever they think is keeping them from it! Well actually mine beat the living daylights out of everything in their yard regardless. Mine watch me do morning chores and as soon as I head back to the house they sneak into the barn and go around checking all the gates, doors and latches to see if they can get into anything or if they can escape!

 

[Primo]

Yes , I seriously underestimated the intelligence of these animals. Now I know why they have the reputation they have, lol. Anyhow, the suggestion of the "goat blockade" for the chicken run is a good one. I had not thought of that.

 

[malndobe]

Grew up with goats but don't have them currently. I would think though that a more solid obstacle course would work to keep them out of the chicken coop.

Something like an U or S shaped tunnel, the birds would be able to navigate it but only the smallest of goats would be able to get through it.

coop
______
| |
|_____ |
|
__________|


or even
___________
| coop
| _____
| |
|_____ |
|
__________|

 

[Beekissed]

Feed in the coop and outfit your goats with PVC triangle collars to wear around their necks to keep them from squeezing into a pop door. Same thing people put on dogs to keep them from digging out from under a fence or on cows to keep them from getting out of fencing if they are a habitual offender.

 

[Nija Chick]

The only thing I ever found that Nigerian dwarf goats respect is electric fence. I have to use that to keep them out of my whole 2acre chicken yard. This works to keep the chicken food safe from goats, but my resident LGD has taken to lapping up the outside turkey feed. I've made the chicken coop doors just barely big enough for my biggest roo to squeeze through, but it is too small a door for turkeys and big dogs, works to protect the chicken feed, but not the turkey food. He can squeeze through any door a turkey can. Any ideas on that?