Coccidiosis is one of the most common kid-health problems goat owners face, and it’s one of the most misunderstood. Some herds battle it every year. Others hardly see it. In this episode, I’m breaking down what coccidia actually is, how it functions inside the gut, which strains are the most dangerous, and why stress and environment play such a big role in outbreaks.

I’m also sharing the major shifts we made in genetics, kidding season, and management that completely changed our coccidia situation. After years of losing show goats to coccidiosis, we haven’t had a single case in our main herd in three years—and I’ll walk you through exactly why.

And I’ll touch on some natural, tannin-based supplements that some producers use to support gut health in herds that battle chronic coccidiosis pressure. We’re incorporating one into our mineral mix right now, mainly for our show-goat breeders, and I’ll share updates as we see results.

Finally, if you think a kid might be dealing with coccidiosis, I explain why getting your vet involved quickly makes all the difference.

• What coccidia is and how it functions in the intestinal lining
• How infection spreads and why kids are most vulnerable
• The strains of coccidia that cause the most damage
• The genetic component: why some goats struggle more than others
• How stress, moisture, overcrowding, and management influence outbreaks
• Our real-world experience with coccidiosis in show goats
• How shifting genetics and kidding season broke our coccidia cycle
• Why chickens donot give goats coccidia
• Natural tannin-based supplements some producers use for gut support
• When it’s time to call your vet and why timing matters

• Coccidia are microscopic protozoa that damage the gut by destroying intestinal cells.
• The most pathogenic strains includeEimeria ninakohlyakimovae, arloingi, and
• Stress + moisture + high oocyst load = ideal conditions for coccidiosis.
• Genetics and kidding-season timing have a huge impact on resilience.
• Chickens cannot give goats coccidia—the strains are species specific.
• Tannin-based supplements may support gut health in high-pressure herds.
• Bottle kids remain more vulnerable due to stress and barn exposure.
• Good management prevents most cases—but if you suspect coccidiosis, contacting your vet early is critical.

• 86 | Can Goats and Chickens Live Together? What’s Safe, What’s Not, and How to Do It Right

• 82 | Internal Parasites in Goats: Monitoring, Prevention, and Treatment for Barber Pole and Other Worms
• 68 | New to Raising Livestock? Risk Management Strategies When the Learning Curve is Steep
• 08 | When Animals Aren’t Working Out on the Homestead/ How to Evaluate Your Livestock Projects and Decide to Keep or Sell

All the Best, Millie

• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts+ grab the free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.getgoatwise.com/kidding-chart
• Get Dry Creek meat: https://drycreekheritagemeats.com
• Join my insider email list: https://www.getgoatwise.com/insider
• Join the FB community: https://www.getgoatwise.com/community
• Email me:millie@drycreekpastures.com
• See ranch life on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drycreekpastures/

Disclaimer: The information shared in this episode is for educational purposes only and should not be considered veterinary advice. Always consult a licensed veterinarian for animal health guidance.

This week on the ranch, we’ve got our young hens working half the barn, scratching through the bedding and cleaning up after the goats. They’re doing what chickens do best—turning packed areas into loose, manageable bedding. Watching them work reminded me how often I get asked whether goats and chickens can safely live together, so that’s what we’re diving into today.

In this episode, I’m breaking down the real benefits of keeping goats and chickens together, the legitimate risks you need to manage, and the simple guidelines that make mixed housing safe. I’m also sharing what the newest research says about coccidia—specifically whether chickens can give it to goats—and how to decide if this setup is right for your farm or homestead.

At the end of the episode, I’ll give you a quick preview of next week’s topic where we’re going deep into coccidia: what it is, how it works, why some strains are more dangerous, and the management shifts that helped us break the cycle of coccidiosis in our own herd.

In This Episode, I Cover:

• Why goats and chickens can safely share space
• How chickens help disrupt goat parasite cycles
• The barn-cleanup advantage of having chickens around goats
• The #1 rule of mixed housing: keep goats out of chicken feed
• What modern research really says about coccidia and species-specific strains
• When mixed housing becomes risky
• How to set up a safe, low-stress environment for both species
• When you should NOT mix species—especially if anyone is sick

Key Takeaways:

• Chickens do not give goats coccidiosis. The strains are species specific.
• Goats getting into chicken feed is the biggest danger—and it’s completely preventable.
• Dry bedding, enough space, and clean feeding areas make mixed housing much safer.
• Some diseases can move between species, so never mix sick animals.
• With the right setup, mixed species can simplify chores and support parasite management.

Related Episodes:

• 06 | What Livestock Should I Get First? My Top Pick for Your First Homestead Animals
• 20 | Lessons from Raising Livestock: 5 Problems That Can Be Avoided or Solved with a Good Mentor
• 21 | Seeking Sustainability? How to Evaluate Options and Make Decisions with a Sustainability Mindset
• 31 | Are Winter Heat Lamps Bad for Chickens? How to Prepare Your Flock for a Comfortable Winter

All the Best, Millie

Resources & Links:

• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts then grab the free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.getgoatwise.com/kidding-chart
• Get Dry Creek meat: https://drycreekheritagemeats.com
• Join my insider email list: https://www.getgoatwise.com/insider
• Join the FB community: https://www.getgoatwise.com/community
• Email me: millie@drycreekpastures.com
• See ranch life on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drycreekpastures/

Disclaimer: The information shared in this episode is for educational purposes only and should not be considered veterinary advice. Always consult a licensed veterinarian for animal health guidance.

In today’s episode, we talk about the mindset that actually makes farming, homesteading and livestock work sustainable. Not ease, not perfection — but gratitude, grit, and learning to find the good even when the hard days hit. I’m sharing two real-life stories from our ranch that shaped how I approach challenges, and practical ways you can apply this mindset on your own homestead.

• Why gratitude is a daily management tool, not a once-a-year feeling
• How accepting “hard” as normal keeps you steady with livestock
• The value in finding the good inside messy or frustrating situations
• What a difficult kidding season taught me about leadership and problem-solving
• How a major off-grid setback revealed long-term clarity we wouldn’t have gained otherwise
• Practical ways to build a resilient, realistic homesteading mindset

• Gratitude keeps you grounded, especially when things go sideways
• Hard days aren’t a sign you’re failing — they’re part of learning and building competence
• Finding the good in a situation helps you move forward instead of getting stuck
• Livestock and off-grid life will test you; mindset determines whether you burn out or grow
• Long-term sustainability depends more on steadiness than skill

• 02 | Overwhelmed? 4 Steps to Create a Practical Plan for adding Livestock to Your Homestead Successfully
• 15 | The Most Important Lesson We Learned Going Off-Grid, and How You Can Do the Same Thing to Simplify Your Off-Grid Plan
• 30 | Livestock Decision-Making: What to do When You Make a Wrong Decision and How to Use that Information to Make Progress
• 68 | New to Raising Livestock? Risk Management Strategies When the Learning Curve is Steep

All the Best, Millie

Resources & Links:

• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts then grab the free Kidding Due Date Chart: https://www.getgoatwise.com/kidding-chart
• Get Dry Creek meat: https://drycreekheritagemeats.com
• Join my insider email list: https://www.getgoatwise.com/insider
• Join the FB community: https://www.getgoatwise.com/community
• Email me: millie@drycreekpastures.com
• See ranch life on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drycreekpastures/

Disclaimer: The information shared in this episode is for educational purposes only and should not be considered veterinary advice. Always consult a licensed veterinarian for animal health guidance.

Hi friends! Today we’re talking about the transition from conventional agriculture and livestock production to a regenerative or restorative system. I spent two days in the truck, listening to Will Harris’ book, A Bold Return to Giving a Damn, and it gave me some great insights into the decades-long journey of White Oak Pastures, as well as a look into the future of our ranch. If you’re considering a production system that is closer to nature’s design or if you’re in the messy middle like we are, this episode will help you see the possibilities, problems, and the beautiful potential. Let’s get to it!

All the Best!

Millie

Related Episodes:

53 | Livestock and Land Management that Works WITH Your Environment and Resources, Not Against Them

45 | Health Benefits of Ruminant Red Meat, Grass-Fed vs Grain-Fed, and Special Characteristics of Goat Meat

21 | Seeking Sustainability? How to Evaluate Options and Make Decisions with a Sustainability Mindset

08 | When Animals Aren’t Working Out on the Homestead: How to Evaluate Your Livestock Projects and Decide to Keep or Sell

Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, then grab your FREE Kidding Due Date Chart here:

https://www.getgoatwise.com/kidding-chart

Get your farm fresh meat here:

https://drycreekheritagemeats.com

Join our email list and be first to get updates and special offers: https://www.getgoatwise.com/insider

Join the FB Community: https://www.getgoatwise.com/community

Connect with me:

Email: millie@drycreekpastures.com

See what’s happening on the ranch: https://www.instagram.com/drycreekpastures/

Disclaimer: The information shared in this episode is for educational purposes only and should not be considered veterinary advice. Always consult a licensed veterinarian for animal health guidance.

Hi friends! Today we’re talking about goat fence, specifically, a night trap which is one part of a big fence project we’re working on. A night trap is a pen that is used to keep goats in at night and when they can’t be out grazing during the winter. It’s designed to easily contain the goats as well as protect them from outside predators. We’ve built a few of these over the years, and I’m going to give you the overview of how to do it with very little tools like we did in the beginning to now, using some helpful equipment, but not required. Having a secure place to contain your goats will ease your mind and make raising goats so much easier.

All the Best!

Millie

Related Episodes:

55 | Fencing for Goats: Two Things You Must Have to Keep Your Goats Contained and Safe

56 | True or False? Goats are Escape Artists (Hint/ The Answer Is in Your Management Strategy)

13 | Using Electric Fence with Goats? What You Need to Know to Keep Your Goats Contained and Alive with Electric Netting

Get your farm fresh meat here:

https://drycreekheritagemeats.com

Join our email list and be first to get updates and special offers: https://www.getgoatwise.com/insider

Join the FB Community: https://www.getgoatwise.com/community

Connect with me:

Email: millie@drycreekpastures.com

See what’s happening on the ranch: https://www.instagram.com/drycreekpastures/

Disclaimer: The information shared in this episode is for educational purposes only and should not be considered veterinary advice. Always consult a licensed veterinarian for animal health guidance.

Hi friends! Today we’re talking about internal parasites, or worms, different species, the problems they cause, and how you can help your goats resist parasites, how to monitor your herd, and how to treat them when you need to. Internal parasites are one of the biggest problems that goat owners face, and being armed with some strategies to monitor, support, and treat your goats is the best defense against these little invaders. Let’s get to it!

All the Best!

Millie

Mentions:

https://kinderground.org

https://lakelandfarmandranch.com/usa/

Related Episodes:

08 | When Animals Aren’t Working Out on the Homestead: How to Evaluate Your Livestock Projects and Decide to Keep or Sell

17 | Do My Goats Need Mineral? How to Meet Their Micronutrient Needs and Keep the Herd Healthy

22 | What Is the Perfect Meat Goat? How to Choose the Right Breed for Your Farm or Homestead PART 1

23 | Boer vs Kiko, What Meat Goat Breed is the Best Fit for Your Farm or Homestead? PART 2

Get your farm fresh meat here:

https://drycreekheritagemeats.com

Join our email list and be first to get updates and special offers: https://www.getgoatwise.com/insider

Join the FB Community: https://www.getgoatwise.com/community

Connect with me:

Email: millie@drycreekpastures.com

See what’s happening on the ranch: https://www.instagram.com/drycreekpastures/

Disclaimer: The information shared in this episode is for educational purposes only and should not be considered veterinary advice. Always consult a licensed veterinarian for animal health guidance.

Hi friends! Today we’re talking about breed registries, making decisions based on performance data, livestock industry problems created by breeding for maximum production, hybrid vigor, and what you need to know before you decide if you should raise registered or unregistered goats. Let’s get to it!

All the Best!

Millie

Related Episodes:

22 | What Is the Perfect Meat Goat? How to Choose the Right Breed for Your Farm or Homestead PART 1

23 | Boer vs Kiko, What Meat Goat Breed is the Best Fit for Your Farm or Homestead? PART 2

27 | Which Goats Should I Keep to Breed? How to Select Replacement Does and Plan Your Goat Breeding Season

76 | How to Choose Future Breeding Bucks for Your Goat Herd

Get your farm fresh meat here:

https://drycreekheritagemeats.com

Join our email list and be first to get updates and special offers: https://www.getgoatwise.com/insider

Join the FB Community: https://www.getgoatwise.com/community

Connect with me:

Email: millie@drycreekpastures.com

See what’s happening on the ranch: https://www.instagram.com/drycreekpastures/

Hi friends! Today we’re talking about weaning goat kids, different methods for weaning, timing to prevent unintentional breeding by buck kids, if you should wean wether and doe kids at all, and how to decide what weaning strategy will work best for your goat herd and management system. Let’s get to it!

All the Best!

Millie

Mentions:

46 | Early Banding vs Late Banding in Buck Kids: Will Your Goats Be Healthy if You Band Them Early?

Related Episodes:

14 | When Should My Goats Kid? Timing Your Production Cycle to Optimize Goat Fertility and Forage Nutrition

20 | Lessons from Raising Livestock: 5 Problems That Can Be Avoided or Solved with a Good Mentor

26 | Is My Goat Old Enough to Breed? How To Decide When Your Does Are Ready Have Their First Kids

Get your farm fresh meat here:

https://drycreekheritagemeats.com

Join our email list and be first to get updates and special offers: https://www.getgoatwise.com/insider

Join the FB Community: https://www.getgoatwise.com/community

Connect with me:

Email: millie@drycreekpastures.com

See what’s happening on the ranch: https://www.instagram.com/drycreekpastures/