Goats are some pretty awesome chicken protectors

[dawgpaws]

Everybody needs a goat to protect their chickens! Ha
I love my goats.

 

[mkeawsh]

Quote:
Sounds like here. LOL We have an American Foxhound and she is petrified of the goats since Classy set her in her place by butting her in the head when she tried to chase them. Being fainters, the goats have to set down rules initially or they are in trouble. LOL They are quite vulnerable lying stiff on their sides.

Yep, they get quite noisy themselves when there is something going on and very curious to see what it is.

 

[purelypoultry]

Good to know. Sounds like they get along pretty well.

 

[MarieNC]

Cool!!! I am definitely going to get goats now! I live in the woods, with lots of predators (and neighbor dogs) around and have always wanted goats. Now I have a good excuse!

 

[goatram]

I am new here but have owned both chickens and goats for 13 years. Last year was the first year that I lost chickens. They have their own coop. I in fact lost my hole flock 1 or 2 chickens at a time over a three week period. The goats are not in the chicken run but are kept out due to their fondness for the feed. Three years ago I made the decision to not get a replacement Marema Guardian dog instead I got a 4 month old jenny donkey cause I had heard that they will protect the herd of coats. They eat the same hay as the goats do and they live for thirty years ar so. Bad news my Merema turned 11 last year and for the first time she showed no interest in performing here duties. She now is retired to the garage and or the shop. after losing all of my a few birds I saw the error of my ways and started looking for a new pup. Found one in eastern Washington. I picked up Chief as a 8 week old pup in May. By this time all of the Chickens were gone. He is now 1 year old and doing his job running all around the property barking at any thing that thinks about coming close. In the Morning I will be buying the replacement chicks. Either Barred Rocks or Rhode Island Reds 16 ea.

My goats are not protectors They are a mix of Boer and Cashmere. The Merema is.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

We never had a problem with hawks during the years we had our chickens pastured with our sheep. The chickens always hung out with the sheep in the pasture. They moved along with them as they grazed and lounged with them when they'd lay down to rest.

We have perimeter fencing and the chickens are locked up securely at night. Our biggest daytime problem is hawks. I do think that having a larger animal or even large birds like turkeys or geese can help keep chickens safe from hawks. It's not like they are all going to fend off a pack of wolves or a bear, but I do think they help with hawks.

 

[The Sheriff]

I feel so much better now.

I just picked up these girls a few days ago. They are Myotonic goats. I have had several Nigerian dwarf goats in the past but wanted a calmer breed.

 

[Wild Trapper]

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I love your goats. I so want goats, if I can talk DW into letting me have a few.

 

[mkeawsh]

Quote:
Yeah, I have two Myotonic does and that's how cute they were when I first got them.

The goats and chickens hang out together all the time and free-range. I do not have anything fenced-in except their enclosure for night. They hang around the house and in the woods, never wandering off that far. They are very personable. I think I have already told this story on here but, my Tinkerbell learned how to pop open the back sliding door and they would come in just to be with us. I had to put another lock on the door. Usually they just lay on one of the three porches to be as close to us as possible and follow us around when we are outside. Tinkerbell will hoof at the side door when it is time for them to go in, so I come out with their snack of graham crackers and walk into their enclosure, give it to them - sharing it with the chickens because they know the routine - and then feed and close them up. Then the chickens will go in their house once I give them their snack of saltines.

"Calmer" is surely this breed. LOL

 

[Iheartchicks<3:)]

I want some! Do they sell those at wall u mart?