I am still in the process of planning my homestead. It will have 4 90x120 paddocks set aside for ruminants with a central 60x60 sacrifice pen. The male(s) of whatever species will be housed seperately, or not on site. I have been told that this space will support 6 Nigerian Dwarf goats and their kids. I have also read that this space can support 5 Shetland ewes and their lambs. Is it realistic to house a mixed flock/herd in the same space? I'm thinking 4 sheep and 2 goats. I know that I'd have to supplement goats with more copper, but since I'd be milking them I could do it then. I'm looking at these breeds because of their small size, reproductive capacity, hardiness, and production of marketable goods (goat milk soap & wool). Is keeping a mixed herd of this size realistic? If I decide to keep males on site can they keep each other company? If I get whether companions do I need one of each species? Will the does and ewes share a shelter? Are there any problems I'm not seeing?
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From my liminted experience goats and sheep don't really share the same body language. Sheep run at each other and butt heads while goats rear up and butt heads. This might mean that one or the other won't recognize an attack coming. I'm not sure if this would be a problem or not. They don't seem to form one flock with each other when penned together. This might mean they won't accept being in the same shelter together willingly. Rams can be especially aggressive, so I'd be cautious about putting one with a buck myself.
Also, you wouldn't likely be milking year round, so the minerals might be an issue when the does aren't being milked, usually for a couple of months at least. You might have to still find a way to get the does some extra copper. I think Shetland sheep have a higher copper need than other sheep, so you might be able to give them a goat mineral part of the time. Deborah knows better about that, so maybe she will chime in again here when she has time.
Best wishes with your developing farm! :)
It really depends on what part of the country you are in, as well as how much rain you get during grazing season. And since goats are more browsers than grazers, are these paddocks just grass, or is there any browse? If there is just grass, the goats and sheep will both be eating it. If it's mixed, then the goats will eat things that the sheep won't eat, and you can put more animals in there.