Backyard Goats-- Fencing?

[Chirpy]

There's already great ideas for fencing above. I'm just wondering... do they have 'toys' to climb on and keep them busy? Sometimes that will help keep goats from wanting to go find something to do. Some goats just seem to think it's their mission in life to get "OUT"!

 

[cozycritters]

Yeah, they have climbing toys, a tree to chew on, and everything, they are just very insistent that they should be on the porch looking in my door maa-ing at me all day

We're going to try covering the top (we've done this for our garden) and to see if that helps.

We have the one ultra-smart goat who just finds weak areas and escapes and then the nut who will jump and jump and jump against every surface until something gives and she's out. She seems to have no sense of self-preservation at all.

 

[wynedot55]

Yeah, they have climbing toys, a tree to chew on, and everything, they are just very insistent that they should be on the porch looking in my door maa-ing at me all day

We're going to try covering the top (we've done this for our garden) and to see if that helps.

We have the one ultra-smart goat who just finds weak areas and escapes and then the nut who will jump and jump and jump against every surface until something gives and she's out. She seems to have no sense of self-preservation at all.

sounds like she is the same as my billy.we finally turned him loose in the pen.so we will see if he stays put.or finds a new way out.

 

[cozycritters]

Well, we built Alcatraz... three layers of chain link, covered on top, completely surrounded on all sides...

Went to the store to get some feed, came back and they were on the front porch again.

Thinking teleportation?????

 

[Rence]

can you take a picture of that?

Yeah, I don't know how they're getting out of that. Time to set up a nanny cam

 

[FarmerMack]

I use a four ft welded wire fencing with a double ribbon of electric fence at the top. the new kids all have touched the electric ribbon at least once after that they respect electricity. I tend to unplug the electric ribbon but not always, but once they get zapped they never go near it again. But don't be fooled goats are expert escape artists and will find any flaw in your fencing.

Farmer Mack

 

[FarmerMack]

Well, we built Alcatraz... three layers of chain link, covered on top, completely surrounded on all sides...

Went to the store to get some feed, came back and they were on the front porch again.

Thinking teleportation?????

Damn that Scotty and his teleporter

 

[nightshade]

we use dog kennels and live stock fencing. Making sure the fence is fastened to the posts really well is a must no matter what type of fence you use I think.

 

[nightshade]

I know a friend that trained their goats not to jump fences, eat fruit trees and jump on people by using a dog shock collar.

now that is a good idea Hubby has to training collars maybe I should think of borrowing one. I wonder if it would work for breaking a billy of being mean to every other goat he comes in contact with.?

 

[freemotion]

If you are quick on the trigger and he doesn't know you are there, he will get a negative association with that behavior. It is like the hand of God! Give him a quick zap when he does the behavior a couple of times, then time it so when he is making his very first move to try it again, zap him. But, every single zap needs to be righteous, or you can create a neurotic animal. Use the lowest setting that gets a reaction. Try to get it done in one session so he doesn't learn that he only gets the negative reinforcement when the collar is on, and that he is free to be his bad ol' self when the collar is off.

In the right hands, it is no different from an electric fence. No more cruel. The animal learns that if he touches the fence, he gets a zap. So he doesn't touch the fence and he is safe. If he bonks another goat with his horns, he gets zapped. Same thing. He stops the behavior, and stays out of the freezer, and the herd remains uninjured.

He must not see you and associate it with your presence, though. So no giggling, either!