Species sharing spaces...an old time question

[chica-z]

Is it possible to keep them in the same space, perhaps with roosting up above? (That is, if you don't mind a poopy-backed cow!) It seems like they must have done it back in the "good ole' days", just one main barn area? Also, will having the cow (or goat) in close proximity to the chickens deter predators?
Does anyone have experience with this?

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

Don't see why not..... I know having my pin in the horse pasture seems to keep the predators away.

 

[Beekissed]

Ever read any Joel Salatin books? He stacks livestock all the time and with great success. He keeps rabbits over chickens and pigs.

 

[chica-z]

Which Salatin book should I look for? Don't tell me all of them, I checked and they're not cheep.

heehee couldn't resist.

Thanks rebelcowboy, that's kinda what I thought about the preds. So diversity really DOES work. I'd like to try this in our future barn and then turn the current Fort Knox coop and run into a broody coop for mamas and babies.

 

[Beekissed]

Try your local library and, if you want to have them for your own, try Amazon. I just check them out of the library and, if I want to remember a certain concept, copy those pages on my copier and file it for future reference!

 

[TheNewMrsEvans]

My best friend kept horses, goats and chickens all in the same shed. She made a panel about 3/4 of the way back away from the door that only the chickens could pass, then put their food and nest boxes back there. I'd like to see a coyote get past a horse and two pygmies with horns! Plus she made the roost really high so they'd stay warm in the winter from the body heat. Seemed smart.

 

[SarahBeth9394]

What about raising a turkey with your chickens. Are turkeys good predator deterents. We have some pretty big predator birds out here and I'd rather not cover the whole run when I build it. But of course if it's a must I will.

 

[chica-z]

Beekissed, great idea on the library... duh.

Yes, I AM blond.

Mrs E...If I were a predator, I think I'd be more afraid of two spunky pygmies with horns than the horse! Those pygmies can be vicious from what I've heard. Thanks for the confirmation- that is exactly what I was envisioning, something where the preds would have to go past the cow or goats to get to the chickens. Most predators wouldn't do that, you think? It would be a pretty small barn space, not a big wide open old barn. I would think a cow would run a coon out of "her" space, especially if she had a calf with her...

Of course we would also be running electric fence as a perimeter to keep out the big predators like bear, wolves, cats, and coyotes.

Thanks for the ideas and replies! I'm thankful for a place to come pose these questions, cause no one I really know is doing this chicken thing. All my friends think I'm weird

 

[chica-z]

Sorry Sarahbeth, don't know ANYTHING about turkeys...I would think they'd be just as prone to preds though. [shrug] I'm sure others will know.

 

[Beekissed]

Yep, turkeys are dumb! No protection whatsoever from predators.

Chica-z, have you checked out our sister site, Sufficientself.com? You might find some kindred spirits with whom you can tell your ideas. We like stealing...er...uh...USING other people's ideas and theories!