Can you house chickens & buck goat together?

[backwoods]

I have a young buck that needs to be separated from the girls, and was thinking of putting him in the chicken lot. He would also have access to the chicken house to get out of the weather. Can this work? Is there a "disease" issue for not doing it?

[karenp]

I don't know about disease, but my goats tear things up just because. They would reek havoc in the chicken coop.

[Helena]

I have a few chickens that always seem to get out of the coop.They actually sleep with the does not problem except I do not like the "poop" in their pen. Now for housing a young buck within the coop..as mentioned they would destroy any thing wooden if they want or try to get out or just rubbing his head around the boards. Plus..I don't know if you want him eating all of the chicken feed that is left out for the chickens. And is too much chicken feed actually good for a young buck. so..my answer would be no..Don't put him in with the chickens..don't think it is going to be healthy for him..

[picklehopper]

Hi, I'm new here but I was kinda thinking the same thing. We have a pinned area for chickens about 60' x 100'. It is fenced about 5' tall. I believe a fox got into the pen and is responsible for the death and disappearance of all 35 chickens. There was to sign of break in or dig in etc. One day we went out and they had just all been killed in the night. The only thing we have ever seen here was a fox. They climb fences and trees and we have seen them on the roof. I was really thinking we would get a goat for the pen just as a form of intimidation. I realize my reason for adding a goat was totally different than "backwoods" reason but I wish they could mix. Now I am not sure what to do. Way too expensive to cover the whole area with chicken wire. Any ideas for me?

[FarmboyBill]

My goats would get into the rabbit pens if I forgot to close the door and eat the feed out of the feeders.

FROM ONE WHO KNOWAS. You cannot make a secure ENOUGH enclosure for a buck during doe dropping time. They will smell the process which takes them into rut, and they will tear down nearly anything to get to the doe, and in the process, likely kill the kids. I had a buck in a 2 high cattle panel fence pen. Thought I was OK. He worked at the gate as I guess he thought that since that was where I came in and left out, that would be the easiest place to exit. he did. Killed 3 outa 4 babies.
Build his pen the strongest and at least 8ft high, and then build the door/gate strong enough to hold a buffalo, and then you got a chance of keeping him in place. Rain wont kill him. He wont like it, but a cold shower cant hurt lol.

[Shygal]

Yup you can, if you like chicken poop all over your goat, and your goat eating all the chicken food and tearing up the feeders and fence and replacing the run , etc

[Minelson]

Goats can easily bloat on chicken food. There are no disease issues. Maybe you can make the building half for the chickens half for the goats (he should have a wether for a companion). That way you could feed them separate.

[Clod Kicker]

I hear goats make excellent watch dogs for protecting our fowl feathered friends. Maybe you could build him a small shelter in the chicken yard. Can one put goats on an overhead wire and pulley with a collar?

[FarmboyBill]

Yes, as long as there are no dogs to hound the goat.

[Alice In TX/MO]

1. Do not house goats and chickens together where the goats can access feed, eggs, feeders, etc.

2. Do not tether goats.

[bhawkwind]

LOL - at least there's no chance of getting bored after asking for advice here. Too funny!

[lmrose]

When we kept a buck he had his separate little house big enough for him to stand in, lay down and turn around in. The door was a canvass fastened at the top and draped down over the opening and easy to access.

The buck wore a leather collar and a heavy snap hook. To it was fastened a length of chain secured to the the snap. We drove two stakes in the ground fifty feet apart and stretched a heavy cable between them just above the ground. To the cable was attached a heavy ring also attached to the chain. The buck could move freely the fifty feet along the cable and the chain was just long enough so he could go in his house and lay down or eat and drink.
The first few times he broke the ring or snap . We finally bought a ring and snap heavy enough to hold a bull. Then he stayed secure even in rutting season when the goats were in heat!

A buck can be dangerous when the does are in heat. Our bucks weighed upward of 250 lbs when fully mature. They would use their head and neck to slap us around if we got to close during rutting season. A buck also stinks during mating time. A buck would not only tear up a hen house ; eat the feed but your hen house would smell horrible.

Our buck houses were well away from the house and barn. When we had a gentle buck; when does were not in season; we would turn him loose. Then he got aggressive and protective so had to return to exile in his own house. When bucks are born we castrate them at a week old and kill them in the fall for meat. They run with the does for their short life. Never is anything in the hen house but hens!

[backwoods]

Thanks everyone! We've made other arrangements for this little guy. My dh suggested it, but I wasn't on board with it, due to the feed & destruction issues as well! Lol...sometimes you just need to get a 2nd opinion Thanks!