Electric fence not good for goats?

Mango

Exploring the pasture
Joined
Jul 22, 2010
Messages
49
Reaction score
0
Points
22
I have 3 pygmy does and one wether. I had an estimate for extending my chain link fencing yesterday and that won't be happening at $5000-$6000! I will be pricing other options doing it ourselves and would prefer chain link.
Another option was electric but after some reading on here it seems like a waste of time for goats.
Is there not any success with goats and hot wire?
 

DonnaBelle

True BYH Addict
Joined
Sep 3, 2009
Messages
1,797
Reaction score
37
Points
228
Location
McIntosh County, OK
We have 3 strand heavy tensile electric wire fence for our goats. No problem.

They do figure it out and do not like to be shocked. We have 7,000 volts going thru it.

We have a friend who has cattle on the other end of the ranch and he has his cows trained to electric fencing. Works for cows too.

Electric is very much cheaper than chain link. Plus it's movable and easy to install.

DonnaBelle
 

Mango

Exploring the pasture
Joined
Jul 22, 2010
Messages
49
Reaction score
0
Points
22
Oh yeah, glad you have good luck! How many feet do you have? I have 800 feet that I need to run.
 

20kidsonhill

True BYH Addict
Joined
Jan 7, 2011
Messages
6,246
Reaction score
118
Points
243
Location
Virgnia
We have 3 strands on part of our fencing, and most the time they stay in, Have to keep it working well. I would say 4 strands would be much better. But once a goat decides it can keep going under it or over it, then it becomes a real problem, We had one doe, that we had to keep in the part of our field with no electric, she kept jumping the electric, but it isn't as high as our field fencing. I would say you want to go atleast 42" high, our electric is much lower than that. Maybe only 32" in spots. It is on our project list to fix it.

I guess it would also depend on where your goats go after they get out, can you take a chance of them getting out, we are way off the road, so an occasional goat out isn't the end of the world, maybe the end of my vegetable garden.
 

Mango

Exploring the pasture
Joined
Jul 22, 2010
Messages
49
Reaction score
0
Points
22
I'm a dead end rd and don't think they'd go far. If I do electric, I don't think I'd let them stay in the area when I'm not home until I know for sure they're not gonna test it. We also want to add a gate in the chain link that goes to the other 1/2 acre. Then a night they can come back to my backyard where it's safe from night time predators.
 

Hillsvale

Loving the herd life
Joined
Nov 5, 2009
Messages
521
Reaction score
4
Points
106
Location
Hillsvale, Nova Scotia
I have field fencing and barb wire but a friend up the road runs three strands which keeps in her goats and llamas... BUT, the goats figured out immediately that there the insulatd handles were wasn't charged and kept getting out so they added a little charged dangly bit there and no escapees since.
 

ohiofarmgirl

Overrun with beasties
Joined
Jun 17, 2009
Messages
689
Reaction score
2
Points
89
Is there not any success with goats and hot wire?
oh heck yah! we run hotwire on the inside of field fencing. works great!

and remember that not only do you want to keep your goaties IN but you want to keep predators OUT - so electric is a great solution.


:)
 

Mango

Exploring the pasture
Joined
Jul 22, 2010
Messages
49
Reaction score
0
Points
22
Alright Great! Pricing what I need now. I have a fence charger but will get a stronger one.
 

kstaven

Purple Cow/Moderator
Golden Herd Member
Joined
Jul 3, 2008
Messages
2,011
Reaction score
39
Points
158
Location
BC, Washington border
I used a hot wire to stop goats from going under the fence. Turned it off two years ago and they still don't try.
 

freemotion

Self Sufficient Queen
Joined
May 19, 2009
Messages
3,271
Reaction score
22
Points
236
Location
Western MA
I didn't have success with just hot wire but I live in a close suburban neighborhood and on a very busy road and I didn't continue trying to make it work by making adjustments. When the neighbor had one of my goats IN HIS HOUSE I put up field fencing with electric on top. :lol:
 
Top