What type of fencing is good for goats?

Question

i know goats can climb fences, but i was wondering what is the best fencing to get for goats? i was thinking that i want to stick to a smaller breed/type of goat just because i seen those ones at the fair and liked what their owners had to say about them. again any tips about goats and what type of fencing/shelters they need would be good as well. thanks.

Answer 1

Goats are great escape artists, so you have to be pretty stringent with your fencing selection.  I know some people that swear by electric, but I don't use it because I have lots of visitors and kids around (both two legged and four legged).  The benefit to electric is that they can't walk it down or scoot under it, it's less expensive in the long run, and it only takes one time for a goat to learn that they don't want to touch it.

I use a couple different kinds of fencing here.  There was a chain link fence already set up, which has held up great.  It's strong enough that they can stand up on it without pulling it down and it's pretty durable.  I've had to make a couple of repairs because our one goat, Fawn (aka "the cow") likes to scratch her big fat butt on it and sometimes pops the chain link from the uprights.  

If you're not using electric, you probably want to secure the bottem of your fencing with L-rebar.  You hammer it into the ground and use it to prevent them from slipping underneath it (and pygmies are terrific at that trick!)

My choice for fencing is calf panels or the 5-foot welded wire attached to sturdy t-posts.  The panels are rigid and can be clipped together.  They come in 16' sections at around $17 each.  I've also used these to construct kidding stalls and moveable pastures.  Great stuff if you want to rotate grazing or give your goats a couple of days in the weeds.  I also like to keep my fencing temporary and moveable.  This works great for both the goats and sheep, who are heavy grazers.  

For shelter, goats need to stay out of drafts and stay dry, particularly during the winter months.  Wet goats and drafts = respiratory problems.  They do need ventilation, because particularly during the winter (when they don't want to go outside), the amonia from their urine can really build up.  At the very least, a 3-sided run in shed is needed, something that has enough room for your animals, plus an area for them to bed down and feed.  Most goats don't want to be outside at all in bad weather.

As far as breeds are concerned, I raise pygmies and Nubians, and I have to say my Nubians are my favorite.  They have the sweetest personalities (except Fawn the cow, who's my alpha doe and bully of them all), and you get the added benefit of fresh goat milk.  Feed can get expensive, and it's nice when your animals can "earn their keep".  I sell goat milk fudge at farmers markets and some kids in the spring (but I fell in love with and ended up keeping 3 of them this year!)  Pygmies are fun and a little goofy, and work well as pets, but I think they tend to be a little shy compared to Nubians.

If you need any specific info, feel free to email me.  

Answer 2

Try electrical fencing, or barbed wire. That way, they'll know that something bad will happen to them when they try to climb.

Answer 3

lol..barbed wire for goats...now that's funny.

Anyways...you now that horse fence that has the 4 x4 squares? That stuff works good. And it's durable. Just don't put anything close to the fence (like their shelter) for them to jump on and then jump over the fence.

I like pygmy goats..;)