Chickens and goats cohabitating

[Flash44]

We are refencing and I want to split a large area into two smaller areas, one for the dog and one for the chickens. The chickens are usually cooped up, but I let them out when I am riding and doing chores. I really want to get a couple nanny goats, and have a concrete block shed with 2 small stalls that will back into the chicken yard. I can knock out a small portion of the back of the shed to build a goat door so they can go in and out of the concrete block shed at will.

The fence will be chicken and goat proof. Do those species co-exist peacefully? Anything I should look out for? The goats will not be able to get into the chicken coop. The chickens will be able to get into the goat stall, but it will be modified so they can’t get up out of the stall into the rest of the shed.

[beowulf]

Depends on the goat. Ours are okay, occasionally a goat will go “chicken bowling” but we have not had any goat-on-chicken violence.

Feeding the chickens will be a bother, as goats will get into anything. Keep the food somewhere they cant reach. I can’t even unwrap a peppermint without having an “investigoator”.

[talkofthetown]

We have two nanny goats in a 1.5 acre field, and access to a run in shed. We also have guineas (I know they aren’t chickens, but similar) that free range during the day, go into a coop at night. The guineas love wandering around the goat field because there are TONS of bugs and things to eat. Both species seem to ignore each other most of the time.

[Epona142]

I personally don’t recommend it but only because of what will be minor annoyances. On a general basis, they will be fine.

But be warned - chicken feed can kill a goat. They will eat themselves to death. Especially with scratch. It’s a very ugly death.

Sounds like you have a plan in place to keep the goats out of feed - that will be your biggest hurdle, and don’t underestimate the problem solving skills of the common caprine.

[beowulf]

[QUOTE=Epona142;8299229]
don’t underestimate the problem solving skills of the common caprine.[/QUOTE]

would you believe it if I told you the goats figured out how to open the gates?

[Epona142]

Absolutely. It’s a rather common occurrence around here. We changed the latches so they simply lifted the gate off. Or bribed the LGDs into digging a hole. Or found the one leaning spot and went over. Or…

Well, I am a goat expert, but it’s really the goats who are the experts around here.

[Flash44]

They won’t be able to get into the chicken feed!

[chism]

[QUOTE=Flash44;8301456]
They won’t be able to get into the chicken feed![/QUOTE]

You sure about that? I thought that too until mine got into the coop through a 10" x 10" ish pop door, and they’re Boers, so not small goats. They’re evil geniuses, but adorable ones.

[HungarianHippo]

our free range chickens hang out with the goats all the time. No issues whatsoever.