Do sheep and goats get along?

Chickengarden · #1 02/27/13, 08:00 AM

I've had goats for 2 1/2 weeks now. I have Dwarf Nigerians and full sized goats. I'll be getting two 5 mo. old ewes in the summer and was wondering how they will all get along. Should I build separate enclosures?
I'll begin fencing soon so I was just wondering what to expect.
Thanks.

mekasmom · #2 02/27/13, 08:02 AM

I have never had any issues with keeping both together. I haven't had a huge herd of either, but in the small numbers we have had, there were no issues with them being together.

unregistered168043 · #3 02/27/13, 08:11 AM

You know so much of these types of questions really depend on the individual sheep and goats. The more I work with animals the greater my appreciation for the fact that they really are individuals with their own personalities. The real answer of can goats and sheep live together? Sometimes.

yarrow · #4 02/27/13, 09:41 AM

I have a herd of 25 or so adult nubian does.. a wee flock of 5 sheep (3 shetlands, 2 ewes and a wether and 2 romney, a mother & daughter)... the sheep follow the goats out and hang around the edges of the herd while they browse (the sheep do not venture into the woods with the goats..they prefer to stay in the meadow area).. they pretty much ignore each other.. except when the sheep are in heat.. then they pester my wether (that runs with the doe herd) they flirt, they follow.. he gets tired of them and pull their wool.. I never see the does pay any attention to the sheep.. everyone is just sort of out there together.. Does go into the doe barns at night (and are fed there) Sheep have the choice of staying out all night or going inside to sleep (we have LGDs.. who will stay out all night in the meadow with them, if that's where the flock chooses to stay).. I love the way the land looks with the addition of the sheep.. I call them my lawn crew LOL.

susie, mo ozarks

prairiedog · #5 02/27/13, 10:20 AM

Other than the different mineral requirements I don't see a problem

luckyinkentucky · #6 02/27/13, 09:10 PM

I also have had no trouble keeping mine together, I only have does and ewes together because I don't have any rams yet. I have heard from other goat people that rams are too dangerous to keep with bucks, but I have no idea myself.

I do have to copper bolus the goats because the sheep can't have copper so everyone has to eat food that the sheep can have. Personality wise, everyone gets along. Although as we all know, personalities differ, so it will depend on your herd.

Frosted Mini's · #7 02/27/13, 10:42 PM

Mine are okay, but the goats are definitely dominant to the sheep!

Bearfootfarm · #8 02/27/13, 11:43 PM

Quote:

I have heard from other goat people that rams are too dangerous to keep with bucks, but I have no idea myself.

Rams are dangerous to both other animals and people.

GoatJunkie · #9 02/28/13, 06:08 AM

I echo the rams being dangerous comments. I would not put a ram with anything but a ewe in heat, and only while she is in heat. The farm I worked on last year had a ram who sent the farmer to ER (internal bruising) and broke the neck of a ewe partner, who died from her injuries. Even bucks are no match for the damage rams can do.

In another pen there were five lambs, one ewe, and a recently bred yearling doe. When put in with the regular goat herd, the yearling doe tried to get back to the herd of sheep at every opportunity. (The Herd Queens -sisters- were merciless to the new yearling.) If it were my call I'd have left her with the sheep.

Guess it's too late for a "long story short" version

but I think it depends on the animals involved too....

Chickengarden · #10 02/28/13, 07:50 AM

Thanks everyone! Really good to know about copper and rams. I wasn't planning on having rams so that won't be a problem.

unregistered168043 · #11 02/28/13, 08:00 AM

My ram is a sweetheart, goes back to what I said about them all being individuals. I put a collar and leash on my ram and walk him around like a dog, comes right up to people and wants to be petted, never shows aggression accept during mating season if you go near one of his ewes.

My neighbor had a Khatadin ram and it was a killer. You couldn't even go near his cage or he would slam it and try to break your hand. He eventually had to put him down for being too dangerous. Rams are like people, some are nice and some aren't. All can be dangerous if put in the wrong position.

zephyrcreek · #12 02/28/13, 11:20 AM

I have Romeldale sheep and Mini-Nubian goats. My ram, buck, wether goat, ewes, and does are all together as we speak. They were even together during breeding season. The buck was NOT here when the ewes were in heat though. They really do not interact much. I have had no aggression problems, but they will be split up next year for breeding season.

Gritty · #13 03/01/13, 01:08 AM

We have had a small flock of icelandic ewes for the past two years and just purchased a ram for this years breeding season. We want to keep him seep rate until breeding time, but know he needs a "buddy". I am thinking about getting an angora wether, but don't want bloodshed! He is a dominant (but not aggressive) two year old ram. He runs away if a human enters the pasture, but has butted heads with the breeding rams at the farm he was raised at--- he was then placed with immature ram lambs with no issues. I am planning on using electro netting (he got his first shock today and I don't think he'll be approaching it anytime soon), but I've heard nothing but drama around goats and fencing. I know we can't have a horned icelandic on the loose! We live on six acres and to three sides we have about 96 acres of rural acreage. To the other side we have train tracks, a bike path and a cemetery. The area I'm wanting the main ram yard located abuts the train tracks and I'm hoping his presence will make the ne'er do wells that like to cross the ancient wire and barbed fence to drink beers and leave litter in the willows think twice about trespassing.

Anyway, angora wether + icelandic ram = ???
Let me know what you think.