There have been a few discussions about this and while I will say that no, goats will not intentionally protect chickens, or anything else, I think their presence may deter some attackers. My chickens free range in about 1/2 an acre of pasture and I've always had two or three goats out there. I've never, ever had a hawk attack and my pasture is wide open. The hawks hunt our hay fields constantly but they don't come into the pasture. I don't know if they are turned off by the presence of a larger animal or if it's just coincidence but I've heard the same from other goat/chicken owners. I do know that the smaller critters like possums, skunks who roam around in the night do not seem to want to go in the barn where the goats are, my chicken coops are in there too. Their tracks and droppings can be found around the barn in the mornings but never in the pen where the goats are. This has been my experience the last 10 years that I've had goats and is just my 2 cents, for what it's worth. Other's may have a different experience.
