Dwarf/Pygmy Goats & Chickens?

[MsLadyChickens]

Hi guys!

Got a couple questions! (I'm a user from backyardchickens.com and just joined herds)

1) Does anyone have the curious combination of pygmy goats (or any dairy goats) and chickens? Any issues?

We're thinking of selling our old chicken coop that we fixed up and buying a chicken coop/goat house
(hopefully for cheaper, they want $3,200 or $3,600 with shipping)

2) There are cheaper buildings made of resin/vinyl. Would this be harmful to the chickens or goats? I am hoping I can cut through the material with a saws-all to make a goat door and a chicken door. 15x8x8 for $1,629. They are supposed to last for a life time and never rot or need painting like a wood structure.

3) I live on 1.5 acres in a farm area of Williamston, MI. Yet I am zoned residential. Am I only allowed to have pygmy goats (as "pets") or could I get away with having a dwarf dairy goat? I'd really love some fresh milk/goat cheese! As long as I can claim them as pets and give them names I heard I was safe lol. But is it only for pygmy goats? Our township is a pain to deal with, so I was just wondering if anyone had experience with this already.

4) Would a 12x8 be enough space for 2-3 dwarf goats and 10 hens?

Thank you guys! SPRING WILL BE HERE ONE DAY!!!! Keep faith lol!

 

[SmallFarmGirl]

Hi guys!

Got a couple questions! (I'm a user from backyardchickens.com and just joined herds)

1) Does anyone have the curious combination of pygmy goats (or any dairy goats) and chickens? Any issues?
They should get along fine, just make sure you don't end up with eggs in the barn.
We're thinking of selling our old chicken coop that we fixed up and buying a chicken coop/goat house
(hopefully for cheaper, they want $3,200 or $3,600 with shipping)
That may work just remember chickens will need they're nest box and roost where they can't poo on the goats.
2) There are cheaper buildings made of resin/vinyl. Would this be harmful to the chickens or goats? I am hoping I can cut through the material with a saws-all to make a goat door and a chicken door. 15x8x8 for $1,629. They are supposed to last for a life time and never rot or need painting like a wood structure.
I think that sounds fine.
3) I live on 1.5 acres in a farm area of Williamston, MI. Yet I am zoned residential. Am I only allowed to have pygmy goats (as "pets") or could I get away with having a dwarf dairy goat? I'd really love some fresh milk/goat cheese! As long as I can claim them as pets and give them names I heard I was safe lol. But is it only for pygmy goats? Our township is a pain to deal with, so I was just wondering if anyone had experience with this already.
I consider my nigis "pets" I think if your area says "mini goats" you should be fine.
4) Would a 12x8 be enough space for 2-3 dwarf goats and 10 hens?
Hmm. 12x8? Is that a run/pen area or a barn? If it's the run/pen I would try to get a little bit more room and only stick with 2 nigis (it's pushing but, I think you would need some toys.
Thank you guys! SPRING WILL BE HERE ONE DAY!!!! Keep faith lol!

(and pygmy's can do milk too! You can also try a cross between the 2)
I'm trying!

 

[SmallFarmGirl]

Also, My goats and chickens do great together! Just remember goat feed and chicken feed DON'T MIX! The chicken feed should be placed where hens can fly up to it and it can't sill or reach the goats. AND don't let the chickens eat up all the goat feed although my chickens don't. My hens once slept in the barn and my goats didn't care.
This was a acc. by me of course. Hope it all goes well! Just make sure your hens can get away from goats when they need to but, the goats can too.

 

[SmallFarmGirl]

Would this work?

something along those lines where the feed would be elevated and they could roost and eat feed?
(chicken feed) And the nest box would be elevated too.

 

[MsLadyChickens]

Thank you guys!!! SO helpful!

The chicken coop/goat house is actually divided by a wall/screen with a door that can connect the two areas so the chicken feed would be out of reach of the goats I heard they like chicken feed! The goats and chickens will have free reign of our entire back yard (will have to fence the garden in this year lol). We have over an acre fenced so they should be happy! But the 12x8 shed/barn should fit 2-3 Nigerian dwarfs/pygmies...I hope!

Someone tried scaring me away from goats milk saying that it "tastes like @$$" and that I will probably die from raw milk lol. Needless to say, I spent a lot of time reading about all the wonderful benefits of raw milk that our grocery store milk greatly lacks! As long as I don't heat/cook the milk, I'm sure it won't taste bad at all! SOoooo excited!!!

 

[SmallFarmGirl]

Thank you guys!!! SO helpful!

The chicken coop/goat house is actually divided by a wall/screen with a door that can connect the two areas so the chicken feed would be out of reach of the goats I heard they like chicken feed! The goats and chickens will have free reign of our entire back yard (will have to fence the garden in this year lol). We have over an acre fenced so they should be happy! But the 12x8 shed/barn should fit 2-3 Nigerian dwarfs/pygmies...I hope!

Someone tried scaring me away from goats milk saying that it "tastes like @$$" and that I will probably die from raw milk lol. Needless to say, I spent a lot of time reading about all the wonderful benefits of raw milk that our grocery store milk greatly lacks! As long as I don't heat/cook the milk, I'm sure it won't taste bad at all! SOoooo excited!!!

I'm so glad! The goats will be fine in that setting/home! Don't let them scare you. I drink it raw and I LOVE IT! It's creamy,sort of sweet and
I don't heat it! I just strain it and chill it! SO HAPPY FOR YOU! When will you get them?
I suggest with 1 fenced acre and that type of shelter you could fit 2-3 nigerians! I love them because they're small but give alot of milk!


:bun

 

[MsLadyChickens]

I am hoping to get the new shelter put together by March/April, and there are a few people in Michigan that should have some nannies ready by May/June! Gahhhh!!! I want goats now lol! Always loved them when I was little, they would eat my pants whenever we visited the farm

 

[SmallFarmGirl]

I am hoping to get the new shelter put together by March/April, and there are a few people in Michigan that should have some nannies ready by May/June! Gahhhh!!! I want goats now lol! Always loved them when I was little, they would eat my pants whenever we visited the farm

were they sparkly pants? My goats LOVE sparkly stuff! Glad your getting goats!

 

[hcppam]

Agree with smallfarmgirl. Nigerians are even a bit smaller than pygmies, so if your looking for a pet with good milk, that's the way to go. Good luck.

 

[elevan]

Biggest problem with housing them together is gonna be keeping the goats out of the chicken feed. It could be deadly for your goats.