If you run goats and chickens on the same property, this question probably comes up fast. Your goats will absolutely eat chicken feed if they can get to it, but that doesn’t mean they should.
Chicken feed can be genuinely dangerous for goats, and in some cases it can kill them. Here’s what you need to know to keep your herd safe.
Can Goats Eat Chicken Feed?
Goats will eat chicken feed without hesitation. They’re not picky, and the grain-heavy taste appeals to them.
But chicken feed is formulated for poultry, not ruminants, and the nutritional profile is wrong for goats in several important ways.
A one-time nibble probably won’t cause a crisis. The real danger comes from repeated access or a goat getting into a bag and gorging on it.
Goats are herbivores with a complex four-chambered stomach designed to break down plant fiber, and grain-heavy chicken feed throws that whole system off balance.
Why Can’t Goats Eat Chicken Feed?
The biggest danger is monensin, also sold under the brand name Rumensin. Many medicated chicken feeds contain monensin as a coccidiostat, and it’s fatal to goats even in very small amounts.
There’s no antidote and no treatment once a goat has ingested a lethal dose.
Beyond the monensin risk, chicken feed has way too much calcium for goats. The same calcium issue exists with cattle feed and calf starter pellets.
Excess calcium can cause urinary calculi, especially in male goats, which creates painful and potentially fatal kidney stones. Chicken feed also lacks adequate copper, which goats need but chickens don’t, leading to copper deficiency over time.
What Is the Best Thing to Feed Goats
Goats do best on a diet built around quality hay or browse, which gives their rumen the long-stem fiber it needs to function properly. Good grass hay or alfalfa should make up the bulk of their daily intake.
A goat-specific grain mix can be offered in small amounts for extra energy, especially for lactating does or growing kids. Safe grain supplements like oats and corn work well when properly portioned.
Loose minerals formulated for goats are also important since they contain the right balance of copper, selenium, and zinc that goats need. Fresh, clean water available at all times rounds out a solid feeding program.
Top Reasons Why Not to Give Goats Chicken Feed
Monensin toxicity is reason number one. Even non-medicated chicken feeds are problematic because the calcium-to-phosphorus ratio is wrong for goats.
Too much calcium and not enough phosphorus leads to urinary stones in bucks and wethers.
The high grain content can also cause ruminal acidosis, a condition where the pH in the rumen drops dangerously low. This leads to laminitis, bloating, diarrhea, and in severe cases, death.
Chicken feed simply doesn’t contain the fiber, copper, or mineral balance that a goat’s body requires.
How to Keep Feed Separate on a Mixed Farm
Store all chicken feed in a goat-proof area. Metal trash cans with locking lids work well, or a feed room with a door your goats can’t open.
If your chickens free-range into the goat area, use a creep feeder that only the chickens can access.
Feed your chickens in an enclosed coop or a fenced section that goats can’t enter. Timing your feeding so chickens eat while goats are in a separate paddock also helps.
It takes a little extra planning, but keeping feeds completely separate is the only way to guarantee your goats never get into something that could hurt or kill them.
If your goat does manage to get into the chicken feed, watch her closely for the next 48 hours. Offering timothy hay helps buffer the rumen and restore normal digestion.
Signs of trouble include bloating, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and grinding teeth. If the feed was medicated with monensin, contact your vet immediately because time is critical.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, chicken feed can be genuinely dangerous for goats. Many medicated chicken feeds contain monensin, which is fatal to goats. Even non-medicated chicken feed has too much calcium and the wrong mineral ratios.
The biggest danger is monensin, which is lethal to goats even in small amounts. Beyond that, chicken feed has excess calcium that causes urinary calculi in male goats, and lacks adequate copper that goats need.
Quality hay or browse should make up the bulk of their diet. Supplement with goat-specific grain and a loose mineral formulated for goats with the right balance of copper, selenium, and zinc. Fresh water at all times.
