Chicken Coop in goat barn?

[KimberlyP]

My husband and I are trying to plan out our goat barn, and we have plans to build a massive coop around the same time. I was watching videos about coops the style I like, and one of them had the coop built into a shed, which made me think maybe we can build our coop into the goat barn.

They wouldn't have access to each other in the barn/coop, and not in the yard either. Is this a feasible idea to keep all the animals together? There may be a donkey in the barn as well eventually.

 

[sylviethecochin]

My parents chickens used to range with their goats without trouble. Except that the chickens did like to perch on top of the hay feeder and poop on it. And the goats would sleep on top of the nesting boxes. They'd go out and graze together, and the chickens would snap up the last bit of feed the goats left behind (we did have a small separate area in which to feed the chickens, or the goats would have got everything.)

 

[MelissaRose]

One of our coops is in a barn that has cows and sheep. I think it would work.

 

[JDN]

I'd build it as a lean-to addition onto the barn. Or, otherwise wall off a section for the chickens. I'm imagining an extended shed-roof run in structure for the goats when you say "Goat Barn."

 

[Ridgerunner]

The details depend on what the goat barn looks like but in South Carolina I think combining the two is a great idea. It should reduce your construction costs, allow you to consolidate feed in one area, save walking at feeding time, and gives you great opportunities for ventilation. The only thing that would make it better would be to have a water source there.

Will your goat barn be like a horse loafing shed where one side is wide open or will it be enclosed against breezes on all four sides? I would expect a goat barn to be pretty well ventilated anyway but if it is enclosed enough to stop breezes the wall between the goats and chickens could be all wire. Even if one wall is open the top foot or two of the wall between then could be wire since the overhang will keep rain out. You probably want that wire to be predator proof, goats will not stop a raccoon at night.

One issue with the chicken coop built onto the end of a shed is that chickens create a lot of dust. You might bear that in mind when designing your storage area and deciding what yo will store there. But I really doubt your goats would mind the dust. I see a lot of opportunities here. Good luck!

 

[KimberlyP]

I'd build it as a lean-to addition onto the barn. Or, otherwise wall off a section for the chickens. I'm imagining an extended shed-roof run in structure for the goats when you say "Goat Barn."

It would be a barn, and the coop structure would be in the barn (with an access door for cleaning it in there.) Nesting boxes would be on the outside wall outside of the barn. Then there would be an enclosed run that would come off one end that goats can not get into.

 

[Chickassan]

This is how the barn was when I was a kid.
Chickens had a shed built onto the end of the barn, nesting boxes were on the inside wall on the left.
There was a ramp in the middle leading to roosts in the back.
The chicken shed was butted up against a small feed room, it had a opening for feeding the goat stalls
since the chicken end was fenced separately it saved a trip inside the goat area
Opposite the chicken end two simple stalls. It was a really old setup, but it worked really well.

 

[aart]

Keep the goats away from the chicken feed.

 

[KimberlyP]

Keep the goats away from the chicken feed.

Chicken feed is kept in a shed, which is probably where I would also keep the goat feed. I don't plan on having a feed room in the barn, I'm way too forgetful with closing doors

 

[KimberlyP]

This is how the barn was when I was a kid.
Chickens had a shed built onto the end of the barn, nesting boxes were on the inside wall on the left.
There was a ramp in the middle leading to roosts in the back.
The chicken shed was butted up against a small feed room, it had a opening for feeding the goat stalls
since the chicken end was fenced separately it saved a trip inside the goat area
Opposite the chicken end two simple stalls. It was a really old setup, but it worked really well.

Glad to hear my idea isn't horrible and can be done successfully! Thank you!