can goats and chickens live in the same pen together, we have a large pen that used to be a chicken pen for 200 chicken, but then we got rid of the chickens and used it as a goat pen. well now we are thinking about getting some chickens (just a few not hundreds) ok so this is our set up building size of small storage shed, a large covered area with no walls and a shed that is small and open on the front and have half wals on 2 sides. we have a square 4ft tall feeder thing we could put chicken food ontop of that the goats cant get to. we also have a chicken house that has a door big enough chickens and probably a baby goat to get in but the adults couldnt. the goats and chickens will have access to everything ( goats cant get to chicken food) there water is changed everyday so clean water will not be an issue my concerns are : do the chickens have enough shelter? are the baby goats safe around chickens or will the chickens peck them to death? What do goats do to chicken eggs? (our laying nests were moved out when the goats were moved in , they could be replaced because the big shed does have a room that has nest boxes in it on the back but were are using it store food for the goats in and other stuff) (We are not getting roosters!!!!) Also what is the best chicken to buy for meat and eggs. we are planning raising the chickens to sell the meat and sell the eggs. (i was thinking buff orphington? ) What age do we need to sell the chickens ? How much should we sell each chicken for? (planning on just selling as "come pick your chicken and take it home with you and kill it were not killing it and cleaning ect)
Goats and chickens can share a day pen, but I'd be concerned about their night shelter. Chickens are incredibly vulnerable to predators, especially at night, and if they're in a three sided structure that doesn't lock they are liable to be killed by predators. I've never had goats so I can't help much with that. I doubt the chickens would peck baby goats to death though... I'd be more concerned about the goats stepping on the chickens. I'm also not sure how much of a market there would be for someone to buy a chicken to process it. I think generally people either raise and process their own chickens, or buy already processed chickens. But I'm not involved in the meat side of things, so maybe I'm wrong. Welcome to BYC!
