Anyone keeping goats with chickens?

[branston]

I have 29 free ranging chickens and will soon be getting 3 Nigerian Dwarf goats. Our goat house is right behind our coop. Some say you shouldn't keep goats with chickens? Not sure why? I also heard that chicken feed is toxic to goats?? Is that the medicated chick feed they're talking about or just the regular laying mash and scratch? many thanks

 

[Illia]

I used to keep Kinders and before that, La Manchas with my free ranging / pastured chickens.

Yes, any type of chicken feed isn't good for goats, at least the common stuff you get from the feedstore isn't.

Goats are fine with chickens as long as you have a fence or something that keeps them well away from their coop and feed. Goats are notorious trouble-makers and very abled animals. They'll treat anything like a toy.

That said I don't know with anyone else but my La Manchas used to try and literally eat my chicken's tails from time to time. The Kinders were perfect angels though.

 

[ThePigeonKid]

I keep goats and chickens and the chicken go in the goat pen just keep the chickens food away from the goats that’s all I now.

 

[mlm Mike]

My chickens mingle with my Nigerian Dwarfs all the time. My Golden Campines insist on laying in the goat barn. Chicken food is not good for goats, I believe it's the nitrogen content. They shouldn't be housed together because of the dust the chickens create will/can cause respiratory issues with the goats.

 

[CluckyJay]

Mine live together. The hens use Maa Belle's back to jump onto their roost. She stands there and lets them do it, lol. They all have a good pasture though so they don't hand out in the shed except at night. The way they are in there, the goats don't get into chicken poop. I rarely feed the chickens except some scraps and the occasional oats and fish. They gobble it up before the goats get to it.

 

[twisted troy]

I've kept pygmy goats and chickens for the last 3 years. Goats make good pets and if their tame they are like a nosey stalking ex. I recently got rid of mine because they started to get in trouble with the neighbors.

I never had a problem with them getting in the chickens food because I didn't let them get at it. But if you let them have access i'm sure they'd clean your feeders out and if your a smoker, you may think your spouse is suddenly cleaning your outside ashtrays for you several times a day.......until you realize it's your goats. Contrary to popular belief goats don't eat everything but they will eat things that aren't good for them pretty quick.