Fencing in acres for goats, need advice

[OneFineAcre]

Bossroo please remember that some of us have animals we choose to keep because we like that breed, it makes us happy, and in my case, I have milk goats to feed my family. There is more to farming than money. I would never advocate for getting more animals than one can care for, but having a small goat herd that makes me smile every day is what I'm looking for.

Amen to that.

 

[farmerjan]

I would make the alley twice as wide which will allow for swing room. Whatever pasture they are in it will be open to that alley, so you will not be losing any grazing. I would also make the gate into 1 a straight shot like NH said. Also a gate on the short stretch between the barn and 3 so that you can drive right around the barn and not even have to turn around. That way you can go in one gate, straight into 2, go in the other gate straight into one or around the barn and straight into 3. For only 2 little goats you will have minimal hay needs compared to larger animals, but if you get one trailer load then going in, unloading and out the other gate with no turn around will be handy. Also. what if down the road you decide to have a steer for beef, it will make getting hay or feed in easier. 16 ft gates are definitely in order.... a 12 will not allow any wiggle room. You could go with 2 - 8' gates if you are thinking that access with larger equipment will be minimum. That way you won't have to open and close a bigger gate but since it seems that you have fairly flat ground, you will be less money into it if you just do a 16 and don't have to think about accommodating slope of ground. You might also want to consider a gate between each pasture... it's a pain to climb over and gets harder as you get older.
Shelters can be as simple as the cattle panel hoop house idea which are easy, or even something like some old truck cap/camper shells up on a base, or anything like that. A couple of rolls of hay with a cattle panel over the top with a tarp or piece of plywood and they can eat the hay and still have a shaded spot. Those little guys will be a long time eating the rolls.... and adding some organic matter back into the soil.
If you plant any trees to grow into shade for them, make sure that they are well protected so that the goats cannot get to them as LS is right, they will nibble and eat anything they can get ahold of to "browse" on. Fencing off a couple feet in every direction. They will strip the bark off a tree in a matter of days.

 

[Frolic&Malarkey]

There are actually a number of registered Nigerian breeders in my area. I'm acquaintances with a couple of them. While they make money, I'm sure, I also see where they often have a hard time selling them for what they're worth, locally. Locally in Texas means within several hours drive. I don't see any need to add to that logjam. I'm solely in it for enjoyment. I can afford to, and don't care if I take a loss.

 

[Frolic&Malarkey]

Thank you for the input and great advice, farmerjan. You guys are giving me great ideas to think about, and I appreciate it!

 

[OneFineAcre]

There are actually a number of registered Nigerian breeders in my area. I'm acquaintances with a couple of them. While they make money, I'm sure, I also see where they often have a hard time selling them for what they're worth, locally. Locally in Texas means within several hours drive. I don't see any need to add to that logjam. I'm solely in it for enjoyment. I can afford to, and don't care if I take a loss.

Good plan.
We aren't in it for the money either.
I bought a camper last year for going to shows in. Then, in the summer a great buck became available and I sold the camper to buy the buck.

 

[Bruce]

I think most everything I was going to say was covered by @Baymule, @Latestarter and @farmerjan said. 4' fence on posts 5' out of the ground gives you the ability to put the hotwire and carried ground above the wire fence. Your dog could possibly go over a 5' fence but I seriously doubt it will go over a 4' fence with pain above it

Drive around alley rather than a cul-de-sac - YES!!
Gates at the far end of the fences between the pastures - YES!! In this case between 1 & 2. Probably don't need one between 2 & 3 especially if you move the gate into #2 so it lines up with the gate you will be putting in between the barn and #3. I was going to suggest one at the far end of the other side of #1 until you said that narrow space was a shooting range. But I would put a people gate there anyway. You just KNOW there will be times when you want to go there and don't want to go all the way back to the alley then around.

Don't know if you have a clue as to how much this fencing will cost. If not, be sure to sit down before they tell you

 

[Baymule]

We fenced our 8 acres in 2"x4" non climb horse wire. We used 7' T-posts and lots of gates. We have 4 pastures and a fenced garden. We did the labor. Cost came in just under 10K.

 

[Bossroo]

Thanks for the advice. I'm not expecting an return investment in them. They are solely for my enjoyment and amusement. They won't be any more expensive than the horses I used to own.

• When one selects an item soley for enjoyment and amusement one expects No return for the money expended on it because one can afford it at this time. But when these animals somehow seem to multiply either by reproduction or purchase more of the same and adding more and more housing, fencing, etc. expenses rise exponentially. Then when suddenly and unexpectedly the source of income could decrease or stops all together, what happens then ? Crazy cat lady syndrome comes to mind after the animal rights people come a calling to rescue the cats. Anyone can choose an animal type or breed that has an advantage of being marketed to at least break even and hopefully make one a profit and still be able to be enjoyed and be amused by. Just why do you no longer own horses ?

 

[Bruce]

@Baymule Wood H braces for the gates or something else with T-posts?? For me (and I ASSUME most) the wood post sections were horribly time and labor consuming.

 

[CntryBoy777]

Being in W Tx ya may want to avoid allowing a roll of hay sitting in your pasture, because of Fire Ants. They will be very happy to build a nest all around it and in it. We've had that problem here in Ms. If you are only going to have a few goats it will sit there long enough to attract them. If a larger herd, then it might not be such an issue but could save ya from problems down the road.