keeping pygmy goats with the chickens

[Gonzo]

Would keeping a couple of pygmy goats in the coop at night cause more problems, or would it help keep some predators out?

 

[hikerchick]

I keep goats with my chickens and never had a problem with predators. Only problem I have is that goats like chicken food better than goat food. It is a challenge to feed the chickens- my big fat goat squeezed his butt through the chicken door on the coop. If you can solve that problem, go for it.

 

[Gonzo]

eThanks! I'm goin' 4 it!
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[chickencoop31320]

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I had that problem too.
When we first got our goat, he didn't have his own shed so we kept him in with the silkies at night. I just took the feeder out when he was in there so he couldn't get into it.
Now he has his own hut to sleep in.
I don't know if the goat kept anything out, but I think he liked the company.

 

[chickensioux]

I too kept goats with the chickens at one time and never had any problems other than the goat did eat all the chicken food. I seperated the coop in 1/2 and kept the goats on one side and the chickens on the other and always kept food available for the chickens IN the coop where the goats couldn't get it.
On a rare occasion the chickens would get trompled when the goats were being a little wild but I didn't have any injuries.
Have fun.

 

[mkeawsh]

I keep goats with my chickens and never had a problem with predators. Only problem I have is that goats like chicken food better than goat food. It is a challenge to feed the chickens- my big fat goat squeezed his butt through the chicken door on the coop. If you can solve that problem, go for it.


This is so true. I have three fainting goats and I can not believe how stubborn and determined they can be to get to the chicken feed. I also did not know how they can worm their way in to get it with how stiff-legged they are. We have a lot of hawks here and I believe with the goats hanging around the chickens, that is why I haven't lost a chicken in the day time in the year and a half I have had the goats.

Gail

 

[Sugar Sand Farm]

Our freerange banties are in with our pygmies. The hens will always find a spot in one of the goat houses to hide their clutch of eggs. I have a hen right now with 2 chicks in the male goat house. The banties do have a pen that they will not stay in. I feed them in there and they do come to get it as they roost in their own pen at night. I was told that the corn in the chicken feed is not good for the goats especially withers.

 

[chickencoop31320]

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Corn isn't good for goats???

I have only had him since about February and I don't know much about goats (I've been listening to the lady I got the goat from for advice) but I give mine hay + 2 quart size containers of goat pellets mixed with about 3/4 cup of cracked corn each day. She said it wouldn't hurt him and he loves the corn.
He is an uncut male 3/4 pygmy + 1/4 nubian, weighs about 80-100 lbs and is a little over a year old.

 

[mkeawsh]

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Oh yes, they do their best laying in the goat house and the goats have never broken one of them if I forget to look for a day - they lay around the eggs.

Gail