I have two Nigerian Dwarf wethers and a growing flock of ducks. The ducks don't seem to mind the goats, especially the two six-week-old ducklings who have been growing up with them. The goats certainly don't mind the ducks.
Goats can be susceptible to predators, but not nearly so much as ducks are, and they *will* defend themselves--they pack a pretty powerful head butt.
If I were to arrange things so that the ducks & goats were living together (I would have to have the goat water up high where the ducks couldn't reach, and somehow work out a way to separate their feed--but they are only fed twice a day anyway, so it wouldn't be difficult), would the goats provide a certain amount of protection to the ducks?
The ducks are in a fairly predator-proof enclosure--chain link dog kennel with wire over & under and hardware mesh around the bottom part. But we still have neighborhood dogs and other things come prowling around, and I would love to have an extra measure of protection for them.
Thoughts? Is it worth the trouble to try?
Goats can be susceptible to predators, but not nearly so much as ducks are, and they *will* defend themselves--they pack a pretty powerful head butt.
If I were to arrange things so that the ducks & goats were living together (I would have to have the goat water up high where the ducks couldn't reach, and somehow work out a way to separate their feed--but they are only fed twice a day anyway, so it wouldn't be difficult), would the goats provide a certain amount of protection to the ducks?
The ducks are in a fairly predator-proof enclosure--chain link dog kennel with wire over & under and hardware mesh around the bottom part. But we still have neighborhood dogs and other things come prowling around, and I would love to have an extra measure of protection for them.
Thoughts? Is it worth the trouble to try?