Will goats keep away some predators?

[obxWaMi]

Darn, I was hoping to find posts saying, "Yes, goats are great for deterring some predators, like raccoons". Although I really knew I wasn't going to, I still had to read with my fingers crossed.

My DD wants a pygmy goat and this would have been another great reason to get one.

 

[Doc Henry]

Quote:
Like I said I don't care for goats much and there are too many reasons not to own them for me. I had a buck get rattlesnake bit once he lived but it was a long road for him.

 

[Daniel Travatte]

I keep goats (wheaters) in with my chickens and have had no problem with predatory birds. I have seen them circle and leave. I think they are not so sure about stealing chickens in the presence of goats. I have two goats in with them by the way. At feeding time the goats are put out in an area of their own next to the chicken coop so they don't eat the chickens food as the goats can be little piggies. I have it separated with some electric fencing. The chickens can come out and hang out with the goats and they do all the time. They are the best of friends. Sometimes the chickens will roost on the goats backs in the hen house and the goats don't mind a bit. One of my goats is a Lamancha and the other is a nigerian dwarf. Both are very sweet tame animals and are not scared of everything. Both are pretty outgoing and still like to play at four years old. Very gentle with the chickens and ducks, however they do make contact with the geese when playing. Just the Geese though. I think they make a great combination and are mutually beneficial. They have gotten along from day one and I do feel that the goats look out for the chickens, ducks, and geese. I have noticed that my goats seem to have a favorite chicken "Blondie" as she is always with them outside and in the chicken house. She follows them around everywhere and stays real close. Real cute.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Maybe you could get yourself some "fainting" goats. Then when a chicken prediator shows up the goats will pass dead away, and the would be chicken thief would be distracted by a caprine feast.

 

[chkn]

My neighbor's goats sleep in their chicken coop at night and it keeps the predators out because they'd have to climb over the goats to get to the chickens. However, the goats aren't much help during the day when they're out grazing. I notice when the coop isn't open, that's when the predators get to the chickens so as long as the door is open and the goats can get in, they're okay at night. Strange huh? I have to say I don't think the foxes care to go over there either during the day with the goats but as long as there's alot of wide open space, the hawks are always a threat. They are by far our biggest predator. I think the fox and the coyotes are just the clean up crew (well, if the vultures, possum and racs leave anything).

 

[Sweetly Silkies]

Maybe you could get yourself some "fainting" goats. Then when a chicken prediator shows up the goats will pass dead away, and the would be chicken thief would be distracted by a caprine feast.

now i want to add some fainting goats with my lamanchas

 

[primalchick]

Donkeys would be good protection, but not goats. Goats are pretty fun to have around as pets though!

 

[Sweetly Silkies]

Donkeys would be good protection, but not goats. Goats are pretty fun to have around as pets though!

haha you can say that again! we started with two this spring, currently have 20, and are kidding next month. they dont bring much cash flow in except if you milk them, but you will get a little bit to pay for feed/hay in the spring/fall when you sell off the kids

 

[primalchick]

haha you can say that again! we started with two this spring, currently have 20, and are kidding next month. they dont bring much cash flow in except if you milk them, but you will get a little bit to pay for feed/hay in the spring/fall when you sell off the kids

Awww babies! I'm jealous! I grew up with 2 pygmy goats I had as pets. When I went to college I gave them to some neighbour girls LOL They adored them too! They are so fun to have around. I'm actually thinking about getting a couple again just to have around. I miss their silly antics, and little goat kids are some of the cutest things ever!!

 

[cafarmgirl]

I keep goats (wheaters) in with my chickens and have had no problem with predatory birds. I have seen them circle and leave. I think they are not so sure about stealing chickens in the presence of goats. I have two goats in with them by the way. At feeding time the goats are put out in an area of their own next to the chicken coop so they don't eat the chickens food as the goats can be little piggies. I have it separated with some electric fencing. The chickens can come out and hang out with the goats and they do all the time. They are the best of friends. Sometimes the chickens will roost on the goats backs in the hen house and the goats don't mind a bit. One of my goats is a Lamancha and the other is a nigerian dwarf. Both are very sweet tame animals and are not scared of everything. Both are pretty outgoing and still like to play at four years old. Very gentle with the chickens and ducks, however they do make contact with the geese when playing. Just the Geese though. I think they make a great combination and are mutually beneficial. They have gotten along from day one and I do feel that the goats look out for the chickens, ducks, and geese. I have noticed that my goats seem to have a favorite chicken "Blondie" as she is always with them outside and in the chicken house. She follows them around everywhere and stays real close. Real cute.

X2 on the predatory birds comment and I've heard the same from others. My chickens have had access to my small (3/4 acre) goat pasture for years, always had two or three goats out there, and I have never, ever lost a chicken to a hawk. The hawks come and hunt our hay fields all around us and raise their young nearby. They show no interest in visiting my pasture. Even when we irrigate and they show up to catch gophers they still stay out of my pasture. Whether there is anything to this other then coincidence I don't know, but it's been a lot of years, lots of hawks, and no losses to hawks.

My chicken coop is also built into the back of my goat barn and I've noticed that night time critters seem to avoid going in with the goats. I will occasionally find tracks and droppings of possum and skunk around the outside but they don't seem to want to go in where the goats are.

And by all this I certainly don't mean that the goats take any kind of defensive measures, quite the contrary, they are scared of everything! But just their presence seems to be the factor.