I have a DUMB problem...and need advice

[Hobbley_Farm]

Alright, so I'll try to get pics a little later when it's not freezing outside.

But here goes...

My husband got to a point with our chicken house (AKA the chicken shack) so that we could put a broody in there and try to start getting the other chickens to go in there. Everything is fine where that is concerned. But last night, I looked through the windows before locking all the chickens up in their preferred houses...and I saw our biggest goat (who is still a baby) in our top nesting box

. The smallest goat is in the bottom nesting box with our broody chicken

. And the medium goat is under the roost. I just don't think this is going to work out

My problem is I keep the baby goats in the fence with the chickens until they're old enough to be set out to pasture. I feel most comfortable with this arrangement since we have so many random dogs in this area and the goats are still babies. My goats (I can't imagine they're any different from any other goat) can fit they're bodies through tiny holes. They're like RATS in that fashion. HOW do I keep them from getting in the door to the chicken shack? They do have proper housing. They have goat houses, and dogloo's, and hay for bedding in them. THye're just SMART

and know that there is a lil more heat in the chicken shack. (I have a light on in there). This is just ridiculous. What do I do?

 

[Cetawin]

The only dumb question is the one that is not asked. So...now worries about asking a question here.


that is interesting and it is a problem I can agree. Can you put a light/heat source in the goats' preferred sleeping area? It seems to me that they are going to continue to snuggle with the broody and in the chicken shack because it is warmer so giving them their own heat source might help.

Good luck with the situation.

 

[Hobbley_Farm]

That's a good idea but our goats are so curious that I would be afraid that they would mess with the light and start a fire.


What are the measurements of everyones chicken doors? How small can a chicken door be for standard chickens and roos? hopefully we can scale it down a bit.

 

[ametauss]

I have the same issue with my pygmy goats..... I have three VERY prego does and they insist on going into the chicken coop thru the chicken door.....

They either eat the chicken food or just lay on the floor basking in the heat lamp....

We've made the door a bit smaller but the two smaller does can still wiggle in... it is funny to see... and when I scold them, they look so guilty...

Haven't found a solution yet... so I'll keep checking to see if you find one....

 

[Chicken Woman]

I think that is so cute !!!!!

Take a picture of them for us. I wish I could have pigmy goats !!!

 

[helmstead]

You guys have GOT to keep your goats out of that chicken feed! Bad, bad, bad for goats. Remember, does can get UC, too! Not to mention bloat, entero, selenium deficient...

We finally made a "chicken portal" into our chicken stall. It's a hole maybe 6" x 8"...but our smaller does still contorted their way in...crushing eggs and stealing feed. DH made a 'hallway' of sorts with cinder blocks, wood, and big rocks about a foot long around the hole. The does can't get in now...but KIDS can (and the nursery pen is on that side of the barn)...so I finally just blocked the darn hole. The hens can fly in to eat...they can get high enough to roost on the door...so they can go over the door to get to the nesting boxes and feeders.

 

[Hobbley_Farm]

Well...We have "sorta" solved our problem The fenced in area for the goats and chickens has had a "Daycare or Nursery" area for the chicks who were old enough to go outside. We just moved THAT kennel infront of the door. So now I can go out and open the chicken door but there will still be a small area fenced in and then when they all get out there, I can close the chicken door and open the kennel door so they can go to their main yard. It's not Perfect, but it's all I can think to do right now. I have lights in the chicken shack and a heater for the chicks...and HAY. Too scary to have those crazy goats knocking around in there. And yes, one of the goats did break open an egg that a broody was cooking and the little chick was found dead

This is a temporary fix untill we can figure out something else. I'm thinking of having my husband put a chicken door pretty high with a small skinny ladder that ONLY a chicken could get up and down. But that probably won't be for AGES because he's already so busy.

 

[Hobbley_Farm]

Quote:
We're relatively new to goats. I understand that you can't just out and out feed goats chicken feet. But I thought that if they got to it every now and again they were ok. So long as they had plenty of hay, ruffage and their feed...like say Dumar goat feed. I can't remeber which breeder I heard this from, But I did hear it from one of them. I appreciate any input you have on this subject. Thanks

 

[FlightsofFancy]

Oh boy!! Do I feel your pain!! I have had plenty of goat entrusions into my chicken house. That is Ivy our sweet, but very bad Nigerian/Boer in the bantam coop. What finally worked for me was an extra small cat door. They can not get their body thru it. Plus you will be amazed at how small a hole a chicken will go through. I did have to teach my chickens that they could do it with lots of food bribes.
Good luck!!!!

 

[MissPrissy]

With plenty of browse and hay your goats only need about 1 cup of feed/grain daily (for larger goats). If they are getting into the chicken feed you best believe they are managing to get more than 1 cup. This is not good.

Yes, some people never have problems with their goats getting sick from eating like this BUT when you do get a goat that gets sick it is such a nightmare - and sometimes they can die overnight from complications - you will be so cautious your head will ache with constant worry if you have over fed them or what went wrong for the rest of their lives.