Is this safe enough?

[Olivia.55]

I've recently become interested in raising two hens. I read that they help maintain the goat pens, "stirring" bedding in winter to compost it and taking care of little bugs/flies on the ground. The supply of our own eggs is another good benefit, I'm sure the pig would appreciate them as well. I've read, along with right nutrition and age, breed determines egg production.. which breeds would only produce around 10-15 eggs a month? My main concern though is if I can put a coop in the goat/pig pen? The pen is basically two connected horse stalls with an open face, I want to put it there because it is warmer in the winter and any small predators would be far less likely to go in. I would plan to let them free range and have the coop built into the pen. I feel the goats(3) would be harmless, though people warn of pigs and chicken together. Our pig was raised in a petting zoo around other animals and is a potbelly, is that safe enough? She gets along fine with the goats and is plenty friendly, we would just have to really secure the pen so she couldn't break into the feed and eggs. ANOTHER concern is if our barn cats might try to hunt them, they are really friendly to humans but they do have the natural instinct and hunt mice.. they wont bother the goats or pigs, is it too risky?

 

[Pugsabi]

I've recently become interested in raising two hens. I read that they help maintain the goat pens, "stirring" bedding in winter to compost it and taking care of little bugs/flies on the ground. The supply of our own eggs is another good benefit, I'm sure the pig would appreciate them as well. I've read, along with right nutrition and age, breed determines egg production.. which breeds would only produce around 10-15 eggs a month? My main concern though is if I can put a coop in the goat/pig pen? The pen is basically two connected horse stalls with an open face, I want to put it there because it is warmer in the winter and any small predators would be far less likely to go in. I would plan to let them free range and have the coop built into the pen. I feel the goats(3) would be harmless, though people warn of pigs and chicken together. Our pig was raised in a petting zoo around other animals and is a potbelly, is that safe enough? She gets along fine with the goats and is plenty friendly, we would just have to really secure the pen so she couldn't break into the feed and eggs. ANOTHER concern is if our barn cats might try to hunt them, they are really friendly to humans but they do have the natural instinct and hunt mice.. they wont bother the goats or pigs, is it too risky?

Welcome to BYC! I don't have any farm animals so I can't really answer most of your questions, but I do have some suggestions. I suggest you get at least three hens because if one died the other would be lonely and they don't really show signs of flock dynamics unless there's three or more. Don't get any of the bantam, polish, or silkie breeds because I don't think your setup will be good for them. If possible build your coop a bit higher than usual to discourage the piggy from breaking in. Chickens can fly a couple feet. Most of the time cats don't bother full sized chickens but things happen. They might go after chicks though.

 

[Olivia.55]

Welcome to BYC! I don't have any farm animals so I can't really answer most of your questions, but I do have some suggestions. I suggest you get at least three hens because if one died the other would be lonely and they don't really show signs of flock dynamics unless there's three or more. Don't get any of the bantam, polish, or silkie breeds because I don't think your setup will be good for them. If possible build your coop a bit higher than usual to discourage the piggy from breaking in. Chickens can fly a couple feet. Most of the time cats don't bother full sized chickens but things happen. They might go after chicks though.

thanks! It did occur to me that if one died the other would be totally alone, will definitely get more than 2. If we go with it we will raise the chicks away from the cats and try to introduce carefully. I'm more confident in the setup now, I will just have to do it correctly. I'm pretty new to chickens, what makes the bantam, polish, and silkie breeds not suitable? I'll take your advice but im trying to learn as much as I can. Also, do you have any breed suggestions for the setup?

 

[aart]

The goats will have to be kept away from the chicken feed too.

 

[Olivia.55]

The goats will have to be kept away from the chicken feed too.

I am aware, I will feed them in their coop and build the coop so that the pig AND goats wont be getting in.

 

[Pugsabi]

thanks! It did occur to me that if one died the other would be totally alone, will definitely get more than 2. If we go with it we will raise the chicks away from the cats and try to introduce carefully. I'm more confident in the setup now, I will just have to do it correctly. I'm pretty new to chickens, what makes the bantam, polish, and silkie breeds not suitable? I'll take your advice but im trying to learn as much as I can. Also, do you have any breed suggestions for the setup?

Bantam are small so they might be too tempting for a cat. Plus if you have a small flock you are usually wanting eggs and the smaller the bird the smaller the egg (unless your a kiwi bird). Look up pictures of silkie and polish if you haven't already. The are fantastic looking birds but because of those special feathers they can be a challenge to keep even in a backyard setting. Some people say that silkie are stupid and get into trouble easily. And you'd have to trim the polish's feathers for it to see. Granted some people may disagree with me and have had tons of luck with these birds.
As for giving you advice as to which birds to get, it depends on where you live. How cold are your Winters, how hot are your Summers? I live in Texas so I got my birds because of their heat hardiness.

 

[Olivia.55]

Bantam are small so they might be too tempting for a cat. Plus if you have a small flock you are usually wanting eggs and the smaller the bird the smaller the egg (unless your a kiwi bird). Look up pictures of silkie and polish if you haven't already. The are fantastic looking birds but because of those special feathers they can be a challenge to keep even in a backyard setting. Some people say that silkie are stupid and get into trouble easily. And you'd have to trim the polish's feathers for it to see. Granted some people may disagree with me and have had tons of luck with these birds.
As for giving you advice as to which birds to get, it depends on where you live. How cold are your Winters, how hot are your Summers? I live in Texas so I got my birds because of their heat hardiness.

cold winters and hot summers, live in Indiana.

 

[chickendreams24]

Do you want your chickens to be friendly? That can help narrow down breeds. What about egg color? Do you want to easily be able to tell your chickens apart or get other colored eggs? Eggs can come in white, brown, dark brown, pinkish(usually called tinted), tan, blue, green and every color in between.

I would really recommend at least 4 birds because the flock dynamics will be healthier.

Do you want your chickens to be pretty to look at?

Do you have kids or grandkids by chance? There are some fun breeds for kids out there. Fun for adults too.

We live in southern WI and keep many different breeds. I can give you some pointers and you can do some research if you'd like. While I've never had polish we do also keep silkies with the rest of the flock and free range them. I do think bantams and birds with possible vision blocking feathers is a bad idea if you have barn cats that may be tempted to hunt them. We have feral cats around and to my knowledge have never taken a bird of ours but we have had predator attacks. Usually fox, mink, coyote, raccoon, rat and possum.

Do you really only want birds that lay 15 eggs a month? That's a pretty tiny number to find lol

Have you considered selling, giving away, or donating any extra eggs you get to a food pantry?

 

[Nats Chickens]

You should get Orpingtons.