pridegoethb4thefall
Ridin' The Range
- Joined
- May 12, 2010
- Messages
- 353
- Reaction score
- 6
- Points
- 74
I see a few potential issues with the feed and roost situation-
If the feed is off the ground and not caged in, the chickens will roost on the egde of the feed container and poop in it. If the roost is too close to the feed, they will still manage to poop in it. Which could mean alot of wasted feed.
Chickens tend to make a bit of a mess depending on the feed container and could spill alot on the ground below, goats could potentially eat it off the ground, and it could attract mice and rats.
A low placed feeder will be accesible by goats on their hind legs, a high placed feeder could be far too high for chickens to fly up to. Larger breeds are heavy and should not be roosting or feeding too high up, or they could break their legs by their own body weight hitting the ground- they might not have enough time to get any weight-lifting wing action to stop them hitting the ground too hard.
You could consider a ground feeder that is enclosed with no-climb fencing that allows the chickens to stick their heads through the holes, but not the goats. Consider the length of the goats tounges when placing your feeder so a goat cant lick feed out of the feeder. Chickens can stick their necks out pretty far to get the feed. Be sure your feeder cannot be tipped over by a determined goat either. A secure top to the enclosure is very important.
I have pygmies and chickens in the same pen, heres what I did- I took the roof of an old kids playhouse and put it OUTSIDE the pen, but right up against the fence of the pen. The pen has no-climb fencing (small openings, 1x2 or 2x4, cant remember right now, but small) all the way around the inside of the pen. Then put my feeders under the playhouse roof to protect them from bad weather and rain, and adjusted how close to the fence they are by watching my goats try to stick their tounges into the feed (that was kinda funny actually, they reeeeeeeeaaaallly wanted that feed!) and watched to be sure my chickens could still get to the feed.
So far it works great! On severly windy days with rain, some moisture gets into the feed, but its a small price to pay knowing my goats cant get into it and my chickens can. I just dump any wet feed on the ground outside the pen the same or next day and all the birds eat it just fine. Then I fill the feeders back up. You could try your own version of housing for your feed to protect from the elements.
As for the whole pygmy VS nigerian, are they pets thing? I say if your rules say you CAN have pygmies, WHO is gonna nark on you for having nigerian dwarfs?? Whats the likelyhood someone is going to know goats well enough to spot the difference, AND what if you just say they are a pygmy or pygmy hybrid? Nigerian dwarfs are said to have wonderful milk! I cant wait to get mine!
Oh, and WELCOME TO BYH!!
( i was a byc'er, but couldnt deal with the changes. i will be sad when this forum changes because i will have to look elsewhere for goat talk. i just dont have the time or desire to learn all the new stuff)
If the feed is off the ground and not caged in, the chickens will roost on the egde of the feed container and poop in it. If the roost is too close to the feed, they will still manage to poop in it. Which could mean alot of wasted feed.
Chickens tend to make a bit of a mess depending on the feed container and could spill alot on the ground below, goats could potentially eat it off the ground, and it could attract mice and rats.
A low placed feeder will be accesible by goats on their hind legs, a high placed feeder could be far too high for chickens to fly up to. Larger breeds are heavy and should not be roosting or feeding too high up, or they could break their legs by their own body weight hitting the ground- they might not have enough time to get any weight-lifting wing action to stop them hitting the ground too hard.
You could consider a ground feeder that is enclosed with no-climb fencing that allows the chickens to stick their heads through the holes, but not the goats. Consider the length of the goats tounges when placing your feeder so a goat cant lick feed out of the feeder. Chickens can stick their necks out pretty far to get the feed. Be sure your feeder cannot be tipped over by a determined goat either. A secure top to the enclosure is very important.
I have pygmies and chickens in the same pen, heres what I did- I took the roof of an old kids playhouse and put it OUTSIDE the pen, but right up against the fence of the pen. The pen has no-climb fencing (small openings, 1x2 or 2x4, cant remember right now, but small) all the way around the inside of the pen. Then put my feeders under the playhouse roof to protect them from bad weather and rain, and adjusted how close to the fence they are by watching my goats try to stick their tounges into the feed (that was kinda funny actually, they reeeeeeeeaaaallly wanted that feed!) and watched to be sure my chickens could still get to the feed.
So far it works great! On severly windy days with rain, some moisture gets into the feed, but its a small price to pay knowing my goats cant get into it and my chickens can. I just dump any wet feed on the ground outside the pen the same or next day and all the birds eat it just fine. Then I fill the feeders back up. You could try your own version of housing for your feed to protect from the elements.
As for the whole pygmy VS nigerian, are they pets thing? I say if your rules say you CAN have pygmies, WHO is gonna nark on you for having nigerian dwarfs?? Whats the likelyhood someone is going to know goats well enough to spot the difference, AND what if you just say they are a pygmy or pygmy hybrid? Nigerian dwarfs are said to have wonderful milk! I cant wait to get mine!
Oh, and WELCOME TO BYH!!
( i was a byc'er, but couldnt deal with the changes. i will be sad when this forum changes because i will have to look elsewhere for goat talk. i just dont have the time or desire to learn all the new stuff)
