Best options for vinyl fence for goats

[Green Acres Farm]

We have a big enclosed pasture with vinyl fencing and want to keep goats in it.

What is the best option for adding additional security to it to keep the goats in and predators out?

I was originally thinking a strand of hotwire the bottom and first "gap," but I am afraid they will go through it anyways and I doubt it would keep coyotes out. Lining it with fencing would be less economical and I'm not sure how to line it properly, but maybe it is the best option.

Any ideas?

 

[Baymule]

You have very pretty fencing. I don't know how it would hold up to livestock/goats. We used 2"x4"x48" non climb horse wire, but we didn't have any fence at all when we bought this place. I've seen wood and pipe fences lined with wire and it looked good. You would have to inquire how you would attach it to the vinyl fence without damaging it.

 

[Green Acres Farm]

You have very pretty fencing. I don't know how it would hold up to livestock/goats. We used 2"x4"x48" non climb horse wire, but we didn't have any fence at all when we bought this place. I've seen wood and pipe fences lined with wire and it looked good. You would have to inquire how you would attach it to the vinyl fence without damaging it.

We have 9 rolls of that exact fence, but were hoping to maybe save it for another pasture...we'll see...

 

[Baymule]

How far apart are the slats on the fence? You might could get by with goat/sheep wire which has 4" square holes.

 

[Green Acres Farm]

How far apart are the slats on the fence? You might could get by with goat/sheep wire which has 4" square holes.

Dont want to buy more fencing when we already have a lot of 2×4 , plus, baby Nigerian Dwarfs easily get through it...

 

[Baymule]

Dont want to buy more fencing when we already have a lot of 2×4 , plus, baby Nigerian Dwarfs easily get through it...

True, which is one of the reasons we went with the 2"x4". I wanted to keep ALL mine IN and EVERYTHING else OUT!

 

[chiques chicks]

I would probably use multiple streams of hot wire on the inside to keep them in. May have to add at least low and high outside to keep things out. If there is one thing I've found, goats are hard on fences! I doubt vinyl would last long with them rubbing against it.

I have one that has escaped the last two days. The pen has 5 foot fence, no gaps, and a hot wire at 6½ feet. There is also a 4 four hot netting area that is not down. Not sure where she gets out. Maybe jumping the 4 foot.

 

[Green Acres Farm]

I would probably use multiple streams of hot wire on the inside to keep them in. May have to add at least low and high outside to keep things out. If there is one thing I've found, goats are hard on fences! I doubt vinyl would last long with them rubbing against it.

I have one that has escaped the last two days. The pen has 5 foot fence, no gaps, and a hot wire at 6½ feet. There is also a 4 four hot netting area that is not down. Not sure where she gets out. Maybe jumping the 4 foot.

Definitely not worried about the vinyl holding up- it is extremely sturdy and used as a horse fence, as well as being cemented into the ground.

I would like to do hotwire if it would work, but how would I attach it? I'm sure there's a way...

Also, unfortunately, our goats do not terribly mind being shocked. I put a buckling in a fence with hotwire for the first time and he walked up sniffed the fence and POP I heard him get shocked! He didn't even jump- he did it again 2 more times... I think he liked it!

 

[Latestarter]

You could do individual strands of single wire or braided wire (hot) between the existing vinyl cross beams/rails by anchoring insulators to the 4x4s through the vinyl covering on them. I don't know, but they may make some sort of "strap on" type insulator that you can wrap around the entire post and tighten down so you don't have to drill holes through it. The problem I foresee is the lowest cross beam/rail is too high off the ground, so you'd need a hot wire beneath it, but the likelihood of shorting the whole thing out with grass and weeds growing into it creates a problem. Of course you could do round up the entire perimeter under the fencing 2-3 times a year to keep it all killed back. Or make sure it's high enough off the ground that you can run a weed whacker under the lower wire to keep the growth down (very labor intensive).

IMHO, If your animals are getting zapped and just standing there, then you either have a short/energy drain someplace, you have an inadequate ground, or your charger is not up to the task at hand. When they touch that fence, they should NOT want to do it a second time!

 

[Southern by choice]

IMHO, If your animals are getting zapped and just standing there, then you either have a short/energy drain someplace, you have an inadequate ground, or your charger is not up to the task at hand. When they touch that fence, they should NOT want to do it a second time!

Absolutely!