[HelenVF]

Not sure if this question goes here or in goats.


Anyway, we have 2 pygmy goats and a section a sharing a barn.  They are all turned out in the morning and brought in, in the evening.  A few times now, we have found the goats in the stable.  Dusty doesn't seem to mind  but i just want to know if we should be discouraging it?


Helen

[Roxy]

The only thing that would concern me is would the pygmy goats have access to the pony feed?  The horses mixes can cause serious trouble for goats, and also hay nets where they could get tangled.  And is there any chance of the pony kicking or standing on the goats if there is food around?
If they all get on, they I would not have a problem.
My old Shetland boy goes in the stable every night with the small pony, and they share the hay.  They are turned out all day with two goats, and all get along ok.
 

[HelenVF]

Thanks for the reply.  Dusty (pony) as fast fibre but only in the morning when they are turned out but the goats are in their pen eating their breakfast.  Would fast fibre be a problem for the goats as I did see them licking the bucket, although doubt she would have left much! 

In the stable, there is a hay net but will check to see how high it is, although I could take it out once she's finished.  She has a haynet when we put them away, and the goats have their tea.  We also give Dusty some hay at around 10ish.

Dusty doesn't seem protective of her food, and they are round her feet a lot and she has been good.  The goats do really love her and bleat a lot when she is turned out first.

Thanks for your input.

Helen

[WarescotFarm]

I have a pygmy and falabella as companions.
I give them both horse feed - D&H Mare and Livestock and Just Grass.

I know anyone horsey will disagree with this but it is what the falabella breeders (Looking Glass Stud) recommend for lifelong health and we seem to be doing fine with it. They also have pygmys running with their horses and they all eat the same feed.

Main problems for us is they pull the hay bags down and wee on them. (The goat LOVES to pee on hay  )
And I have heard pygmys can chew the horse's tails but we don't have problems with that, she doesn't seem interested.

(Now the vet disagrees strongly with both the feed for the horse and the goat, but the Stud say that falabellas are very different to normal horses and after many years of breeding they find it works best. So please no advice on changing horse feed, we had a real mission getting to this point and got advice off alot of different breeders to go ahead with it)