Chicken feed

[Rescuechick76]

Do any of you have trouble keeping your kids out of the chicken feed? If so, any tips on what you do?

 

[Latestarter]

You really have to lock it up... Get a metal trash can with tight fitting lid and keep the chicken feed (all/any grain really) away from the goats and vice versa. You could even put a bungee over the lid through the handle to keep them from knocking the lid off. When feeding the chickens, try to do it in an area where the goats can't get to. If you have to, you could always build a creep area that the chickens can get into but the goats can't, then only feed the chickens in that creep area.

 

[Southern by choice]

Never had a creep area that worked for kids. We do have hotwire that divides an area so the chickens can have their feed and be unmolested by goats. Goat kids will get through anything their head fits through. Chickens are bigger than a goat head. LOL

 

[chiques chicks]

I walked through my goat pen yesterday with a coffee can full of chicken feed and got mugged. I managed to keep the goats from getting more than a couple grains, fortunately.

Metal cams, tight lids, chains, locks, hot wire and guard dogs MIGHT keep goats out of chicken feed, lol. I keep mine in a separate area, in cans. Chickens are fed where the goats can't get without going through a couple fences and hot wire. I suppose one could design a chicken feeder the chickens can get there heads through that goats can't, but I'm convinced goats would find a way. Separation is the best method.

 

[Rescuechick76]

We keep our chicken feed in a large can with a lid, but I'm talking about what's in their feeder. Right now my goats and chickens are housed separately, but we would like to fence in the area behind the buildings allowing them to be together and have more room. But...if I have the door open to the chicken pen my little female goat who is soo tiny goes right in there through the coop door and gets into their feeder. Yesterday I must have taken her out 7 times in a row :/
They all seem to enjoy each other's company, but I don't want to do something that will put my goats health at risk.

 

[Apaulsen2890]

When I read the opening post I had to laugh... We have a massive tool box in our barn that holds the cow, horse, and chicken feed. And every time you go in it about 5 chickens do too... They're free range and think they should get to roam right into the cow feed bucket as you're filling it up and carrying it out to feed the big beasts! It's ridiculous. I try so hard to keep them from doing it but it just doesn't happen. Lol

 

[babsbag]

I fed my chickens in their coop and it had a 12x15 pop door and the kids went right in to help themselves. So I set up a fence around the coop, just 3' tall field fencing with pretty big squares, not even stretched tight, then a couple of rows of hot wire. Put the wire at kid nose height and lower. It kept the kids out and still allowed the chickens to get through the field fencing into the pasture for free ranging.

Make sure they don't get in the chicken feed, it can make them very sick.

 

[Lizjax]

My goat loves cracked corn, that's what the people we got him from were feeding them with feed. He is healthy and has regular poops, but is it dangerous?

 

[babsbag]

No it isn't dangerous in moderation and if they are accustomed to it. This is from the Maryland Small Ruminant Page.

General Guidelines for Feeding Grain to Ruminants



Do not feed large quantities of grain to ruminant livestock at one time. Large amounts of grain will promote the growth of lactic acidic bacteria, which increases acidity in the rumen and could lead to acidosis. For goats and sheep, a large amount of grain would be in excess of one pound per feeding.


Do not feed large quantities of finely ground grains. Fine grounding increases the rate of digestion and increases acidity in the rumen.


Ideally, feed hay before grain to ensure that the grain is not digested too quickly.


Feed a minimum amount of forage to ensure a healthy rumen. A common recommendation is to feed ruminants at least 1.5 percent of the in body weight in forage.


NEVER change rations too abruptly. The rumen bugs need time to adjust to a new diet, usually a 1 to 2 week period. This is especially true if you are changing from a forage-based diet to one which contains more grain.


Feed grains whole. Cracking grain increases the rate of digestion and may increase the risk of acidosis.


Consider feeding supplements in the middle of the day so that you do not disrupt normal grazing activity.


Provide plenty of feeder space to accomodate uniform consumption.

 

[Lizjax]

Thank you, that is very helpfulittle. He also eats cat food, he will almost break his neck to get to it.