Can I keep my chickens in with my 2 goats?

[woodcocksgsp]

We will be getting chickens for the first time and we already have a small barn for our 2 fainting goats. We want to put the chickens in the pen with them as we already have the fence in place. We will make a section for the chickens to roost, etc on the other side of the barn, but is it ok for them to roam the fenced in pen with the goats (2 females)?

 

[babsbag]

My chickens free range with 7 goats all day long. I have one chicken that even sleeps with the goats and not in the coop. She also rides on the goat's backs. One reason I got the chickens was to help with the fly problem that comes with the goats. They should be fine together. I do worry about mama hen taking her little ones into the goat pen, but that is still a few weeks away. Not sure how I will deal with that one. I just let 5 new teenagers out into the goat pen a few days ago and they are white chickens, my others are all dark colored. The goats gave them the strangest stares. It was pretty hilarious watching my 7 goats trying to decide what these new visitors were. Sometimes the goats will come up and give the chickens a nudge, just to play. It is really kinda cute.


The only thing I have heard is to watch for the chickens pooping in the hay, the goats can get cocci, or maybe it was worms. I don't remember which.

Have fun, they make a good mix. IMO

OH, and make sure the chickens can't fall in the goat's water and not get out. They don't swim well, and that is usually when my goats want to give them the nudge; when they are on the side of the waterer. Ours isn't big enough for them to drown in, at least not the big birds, something else to think about with the babies.

 

[kuntrygirl]

I have chickens that fly in to be with the goat during the day. The chickens like to sit on the goat's back. I also have a mallard duck that flies in to lay eggs in the goat's house. I have to go in to the goat house to collect the eggs. They all get along fine. I'm my opinion, I think it would be ok for them to roam with him.

 

[Illia]

I have 3 goats - 2 LaMancha girls and 1 Nubian boy - And they do just fine with my chickens! They all free range, and even share room with a Yak bull. . . . No problems yet.

I even have 2 month old chicks with them, and they're fine as well.

The only problems I had before was when the girls were new, they'd try and eat the Polish.

About the pooping and all - My goats poop and pee more than all 60 some of my chickens. And they do it ANYWHERE.

- So, really, I don't have any issues with my chickens pooping in places. They go anywhere and everywhere in the pasture, so they usually just do the dirty work elsewhere.

 

[yomama]

I have four grown chickens that free range with 4 nubian/boer mixes, (2 of which are 150lbs) + and one Suffolk ewe( she is huge! apx 250lbs) They all do fine together. I would just make sure that if they are in a confined area, not sure how big your fenced area is, that the chickens have a way to escape goat hooves. As I am sure you know, goats don't really care who or what they step on if it is in their way and they want to get somewhere(or even worse, are scared and panic). As stated above, I too, would also make sure the chickens aren't pooping in the goat feed/hay as well. I think keeping goats, as well as chickens, on a regular worming regimine is a good idea anyway, and you wouldn't have to worry too much about worm problems.

Hope this helps, good luck!

 

[Cindiloohoo]

The only issue I had with housing them together was the goats addiction to chicken feed. MAN they can put it away! Chicken feed is like crack to a goat! I have them seperate now, but they range together just fine.

 

[yomama]

Quote:
YES! TOTALLY AGREE!!! If my goats even see me near the chicken feed barrel, they start climbing the fence, begging!

 

[JestersEye]

I have two pygmy goats that follow me to the chicken coop and/or run whenever I go in to refill the feeders and waterers. They've gotten in plenty of times, and everyone seems to get along just fine for the most part. Once in a while the head rooster will try to flog one if it gets too nosy, but the goats seem unimpressed by his efforts. Mostly, the goats just try to raid the place for chicken feed before I shoo them out. It's quite entertaining when they manage to get their heads stuck in an empty feed bag for a bit, though.

 

[woodcocksgsp]

Thanks everyone for the thoughts! I am glad to hear they should be just fine. We are looking forward to getting our new chicks!