The goats love the chickens

The mini donkeys used to get along “okay” with the chickens, but there were signs of some light bullying here and there. If a chicken was in Trixie (or especially) Lillian’s way, they would not hesitate to forcefully nudge them to the side. The hens learned to keep their distance. And the donkeys didn’t really hang around the chicken areas unless there was a shade advantage to doing so.

These goats are so different! I think it is hilarious how much the goats seem to LOVE being around the chickens and the chicken run. They have all but worn out our chicken run netting by dragging their fluffy bodies across it to get some good scratches. (Steve will be re-securing the entire structure later this summer because of it!) They often get quite excited by watching the chickens getting fed scratch grain, and I am sure they only wish they could be in there getting some for themselves.

But most adorable is how the goats just HANG OUT in front of the chicken run. They sun themselves there, they like the birds sitting, walking, squawking right on the other side of the netting barrier. We occasionally see them sniffing a bird (and the bird lets them!) Any pet owner knows that it can be SUPER risky to introduce any new animal to your home - you never quite know who will or won’t get along with whom until it’s too late. But in this case, so far so good!

The view in the morning before I have opened up the chicken coop or run.

That goat looks pretty relaxed!