Goats and water fowl

[Melly-Mae]

Im at a loss. I wanted to keep a few ducks and two geese along with my chickens and goats. I think I’m about to give up though. I just can’t keep clean drinking water. Even elevated water buckets are a fail because the small kids can’t reach them but the geese can with their long necks and have even managed to somehow climb up to them and sit in the buckets anyways. Is there any way I can peacefully keep these critters together or am I fighting a losing battle? I may have to invest in a automatic waterer (or would it even work?)

 

[Lazy Farmer]

My herd is not allowed in any other animals pooping grounds.
Too much at stake.

 

[HuskerHens18]

I give my ducks a pool and several very low water bowls. Then I get a tall bucket (that my young goats can reach) and the ducks for the most part would rather play in the easy to reach water vs the goat bucket. Yes the ducks sometimes reach in and drink the water, and yesterday they dropped a little mud in the water, but it definitely is an improvement.
So the more easy to reach water sources, the more they'll ignore the goat water buckets

 

[Lazy Farmer]

I give my ducks a pool and several very low water bowls. Then I get a tall bucket (that my young goats can reach) and the ducks for the most part would rather play in the easy to reach water vs the goat bucket. Yes the ducks sometimes reach in and drink the water, and yesterday they dropped a little mud in the water, but it definitely is an improvement.
So the more easy to reach water sources, the more they'll ignore the goat water buckets

Not worth the risk. Sorry. I have a big herd. They get crystal clean water. Waterfowl are a bio hazard for goats. Especially young goats. I don't need duck fecal splashing in the grass during rain season either. Goats have a delicate biological immunity system. They can become ill very easily. The cleaner their environment the better.

 

[HuskerHens18]

Not worth the risk. Sorry. I have a big herd. They get crystal clean water. Waterfowl are a bio hazard for goats. Especially young goats. I don't need duck fecal splashing in the grass during rain season either. Goats have a delicate biological immunity system. They can become ill very easily. The cleaner their environment the better.

I've done it for nearly 3 years with vet's permission. My goats are free ranged during the day, ducks are not. The pen isnt grass, all feed is kept out of duck reach and clean. My vet is a goat enthusiast and thinks it's great. I respect both his and your opinion, so thank you for the information. I'll bring it up with him again and make sure he's still 100% on it.

 

[Melly-Mae]

I think I’m just gonna have to rehome the ducks

 

[NurseB]

Oh NO!!! You can't have ducks AND goats?! Waaaa!!! my next step was goats. I have free range chicks and 4 free range ducks. Goats would be free range too...Now I am sad.

 

[Melly-Mae]

I love having the ducks. They are so comical! But I cannot risk my goats coming down ill

 

[NurseB]

I am seriously super bummed. I didn't know they couldn't "live" together...