Goat Fencing

[ArtisticFarmer]

Can goats be kept it without Using electric fencing? Would they rub against it/stand on it? Also, is there a limit to how big the mesh of the fence should be? How tall should it be? Thank you.

 

[cindyg]

I don't have electric, we use wire. We have a cross piece in every section because the goats do rub against it, they lean their whole weight on it as they walk along to scratch their sides. One goat stands up at the fence so it's also good to have something other than the wire for him to put his hooves on. The taller the better if you are trying to keep bucks in as I have seen my little ND buck clear four feet easily from a standing start to get to a doe in heat. Constant maintenance is key.

 

[ArtisticFarmer]

Thank you! I have almost unlimited access to 4' wire. What do you mean by cross piece?

 

[cindyg]

We put a piece of 2x4 between the posts, at about shoulder height to the goat, then when the goats rub along they are putting their weight on the cross piece, rather than pushing the wire out. Helps keep the posts sturdy too.

 

[ArtisticFarmer]

Ah, smart! What type of posts did you use? How far apart? Thank you for answering my bombardment of questions. Do you think the goats would get their heads stuck in a 4"x4" mesh fencing?

 

[cindyg]

We use a variety of posts, 4x4's on the corners, and also some rough posts that are spruce trees trimmed. We bury them at least three feet deep and set them 6 to 8 feet apart, depending on the terrain. Support the corner posts with braces and then stretch the wire between. We use wire that is smaller openings on the bottom and larger as it goes up, and the goats don't seem to get caught at all. Also, I like the wire that is wrapped around at the joins, rather than the welded as the welds break with the weight of goats on them. My goats actually don't roam very far from the barn, maybe to the tree line once in a while to munch on leaves but spend most of their time closer to home. I also then put chicken wire on the outside of the fence to keep my chickens from going through.

 

[ArtisticFarmer]

Yes, my wire is wrapped around at the joins, not mesh. I might do what you do, and put some chicken wire at the bottom to keep heads in. Thank you! (Maybe the bottom 2 feet?)

 

[ArtisticFarmer]

I went and looked at the place I am hoping to fencing in for the goats. The more I look at it, the more I think it's going to work! I was estimating prices, and it was getting pretty expensive. (Posts don't cost much, but they can really add up!!!) But I went out and rediscovered that most of what I will be fencing is on the edge of a grove, so I will be able to mostly use trees at posts! In all, I will only have to get like 10 posts! I am so excited!

 

[ArtisticFarmer]

After refiguring my fence costs, it'll be around $60. If I can find suitable limbs for posts, it'll drop to around $30. I love it when that happens. Question. What do you use to secure your fence? Staples? Fence ties?

 

[AshleyFishy]

both