The benefits of goats as pets and as livestock on your farm are well-documented.
From their adventurous and playful attitude to their value as a producer of hair, milk, and cheese, to their ability to quickly and effectively clear stubborn brush, they are a great addition to any home.
I was recently asked if goats are good protectors – specifically if goats will protect chickens?
Let’s investigate whether you can count on goats to ward off any predators trying to snatch your chickens.
It may be hard to tell whether goats are especially good protectors, but some owners report that goats tend to run away and try to defend themselves first when a predator shows up to try and steal chickens.
Some of the more common predators of chickens are coyotes, foxes, and hawks.
Goats do not appear to scare these animals or keep them away – in fact, goats can be targets of coyotes themselves.
This article will outline how to protect your chickens, what animals could be good protectors, whether goats and chickens get along, and other information about goat and chicken compatibility.
What is the best animal to protect chickens?
Dogs are a good way to protect chickens and other livestock.
The easiest option may be to find an experienced breeder because dogs require somewhat rigorous training to learn to guard a flock of hens.
There are some dog breeds that are recommended for protecting chickens.
Great Pyrenees are good for patrolling a large yard and can be friendly to humans while running off predators.
An Anatolian Shepherd is best if you live in a warmer climate, but they are less friendly.
The Komondor is also a good livestock guard dog, but they require a little more training and socialization.
The Polish Tatra Sheepdog is said to be a good option because of their “alert barking” and for being willing to place themselves between a predator and the flock they are guarding.
Roosters are another animal that serve as good protection for your chickens.
A rooster’s natural job is to protect hens and it will put its life on the line to do it.
Keep in mind that roosters can be aggressive toward people or other animals like cats or dogs.
Make sure the rooster you pick has a good attitude.
What are the most dangerous chicken predators?
Most chicken attacks happen at night, which is why coyotes, foxes, possums, and skunks are some of the most common chicken predators.
They are all talented at breaking into chicken coops and some are bold enough to do it in the daytime.
Hawks are especially threatening too because of their strength and their ability to see from very far distances.
They can plan a strategic attack and carry it out in one swoop out of the sky.
It’s best to keep your chickens as locked up as possible at night to avoid an attack.
Do goats hurt chickens?
Most goats won’t purposefully hurt chickens, but owners report that the most common injury when goats and chickens share space is a smashed chicken foot.
Goats have hooves and tend to be careless and unaware and can accidentally stomp on a chicken’s foot.
Sometimes chickens will give the goats a sharp peck on the muzzle, but that’s about as bad as it gets.
Can goats eat chicken feed?
No and they can’t digest it.
In some extreme circumstances, it can be deadly for goats, but they will try to eat it so make sure to keep chicken feed out of reach.
Chickens are omnivores so their feed is often made of protein and grains.
Goats have a complex digestive system that is designed for processing lots of dense plants, but not protein and grains.
As a result, they struggle to digest chicken feed and it can make them very sick.
Owners recommend keeping chicken feed in a hanging feeder inside a chicken coop and making sure the opening is small enough to keep goats out.
Can you keep goats and chickens together?
Yes, but make sure that each has its own space.
Chickens need a warm place to roam free of predators and goats need a place to eat free of chickens because they leave droppings that could be toxic to goats.
Salmonella bacteria live in the intestines of chickens and since they leave droppings anywhere it can easily spread.
Try to keep your goat shed and chicken coop as clean as possible and if any animals show signs of sickness make sure to quarantine them immediately.
The sooner they are treated the better.
Will geese protect chickens?
Yes. Not all birds will necessarily protect chickens, but because geese can be very territorial and aggressive, they can be a good option to keep your chickens safe from predators.
Even if a goose can’t fight off the predator, they are very loud, and their squawking might be enough to alert owners to an attack.
They are also skilled at spotting predators like hawks and can give enough advance warning to help chickens take cover.
Experts say that they often raise one goose with a flock of chickens so that the goose accepts them as their flock and is willing to protect them.
A flock of geese can be very intimidating to predators and may be enough to scare them off.
In this article we learned that goats will not protect chickens from predators, but dogs and roosters are good alternatives and so are geese.
Goats and chickens are both valuable livestock and this article examined how to ensure they can co-exist on your farm without getting sick or hurt.