Wannabe newb goat owner here, again. First question: everything I've read so far suggests goats and chickens can be penned together without problems, so long as the goats don't have access to the chicken feed. Is this true in real life as well as on paper? It would make my life simpler!
Second, the actual pen. We were up at TSC earlier pricing various options. Stock panels seem pretty reasonable for the smallish pen we're planning. Four panels would get me a pen 16' square, or actually a couple feet larger with a couple gates. Is this going to be a good size for two small (probably Nigerian dwarf) does, plus kids? How about umm... four does? (Just throwing that number out there, should I decide to keep a doeling or two down the line.) Plus a few chickens!
I might go bigger than that. I don't have access to my future yard right now to measure and see what will "fit" and what won't. I'm positive 16' square is quite doable so let me start there.
Are stock panels the right way to go, here? They seem to be what all the books recommend, that or electric fencing. I could go electric but it seems like more trouble than it's worth for such a small pen.
Okay, and maybe this is a dumb question, but I'm a newb here remember -- what about gates? TSC sells them but they're ugly and expensive. It seems like we could built something out of scrap lumber and not only would it be cheaper, but better looking. But is it going to keep goats in? What do you use?
Second, the actual pen. We were up at TSC earlier pricing various options. Stock panels seem pretty reasonable for the smallish pen we're planning. Four panels would get me a pen 16' square, or actually a couple feet larger with a couple gates. Is this going to be a good size for two small (probably Nigerian dwarf) does, plus kids? How about umm... four does? (Just throwing that number out there, should I decide to keep a doeling or two down the line.) Plus a few chickens!
I might go bigger than that. I don't have access to my future yard right now to measure and see what will "fit" and what won't. I'm positive 16' square is quite doable so let me start there.
Are stock panels the right way to go, here? They seem to be what all the books recommend, that or electric fencing. I could go electric but it seems like more trouble than it's worth for such a small pen.
Okay, and maybe this is a dumb question, but I'm a newb here remember -- what about gates? TSC sells them but they're ugly and expensive. It seems like we could built something out of scrap lumber and not only would it be cheaper, but better looking. But is it going to keep goats in? What do you use?