The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: langdon on November 29, 2010, 10:50:55 pm
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is it ok for these two to run together on same plot of land?
i think that it maybe ok, but thought i would ask in case of anything like worms etc.
langdon :chook: :goat:
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Pop your question on the goat forum too, the chickens won't care much about the goats if the goats keep themselves to themselves, but I'm not sure the goats will leave the chickens alone - they will certainly be all over their housing and that might cause you problems. I wouldn't keep them together.
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i have 2 goats in the same paddock has 6 orpingtons and never had any bother with them getting along
sam :chook: :goat:
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I've always found they get on quite well. The chickens particularly like it if they have access to the goat shed because then they can scratch up any spilt bits of goat food and eat that as well. They do perch on the goats back's sometimes too. I would probably make a run for the chickens too, so that you could shut them if necessary, but they can run around with the goats.
Beth
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mine love going in with the goats. I used to have to fight them away from the milking bucket when we still had a milker! Goodness only knows how my chickens have survived the fox as they never stay where they are supposed to!
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I have 4 goats with the chickens. One of the pygmy goats sometimes has a run at the hens when they get too close to his trough but the hens always seem to get out of the way.
Only problem to watch for is the hen pellets- my other pygmy got a belly full and was very poorly. Thought he wasn't going to make it. Vet sorted him out but still forewarned is forearmed.
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Yes - goats (and sheep, lambs, dogs etc etc) eating layers pellets would be your biggest problem. There must be something in these that makes them irresistable to any farm animal (maybe I should try them too!!!!), but not recommended.
Also if any laying hens have access to the goatshed - expect eggs in the most unsuitable places, I visited a farm where one of the hens was laying her eggs in the hayrack, and they ALL fell through the mesh... unless you got there very quickly! Just makes a mess and probably encourages vermin too.