How does everyone let their goaties free-range?

[Livinwright Farm]

I will say, the USDA's definition of FREE RANGE or FREE ROAMING is:
Producers must demonstrate to the Agency that the poultry has been allowed access to the outside.
So, by USDA standards all of my animals are Free Range, and by the sounds of it, so are all of yours everyone.

I agree by their definition as long as your goats are not in a feed lot or locked in the barn at all times then they are free ranging.

My ultimate goal is to have almost my family's entire property(6.75 acres) triple fenced in(goat fence, chicken wire fence, and electric fence). I just want our herd & flock to be able to go where they please. The only off limit areas will be the flower and fruit & veggie gardens and the orchard that we are going to start buying & planting for this year in the front and side yards, (they will be outside of the fenced property).

 

[St0rmyM00n]

I have a full acre fenced off by 6 ft fence non climb horse fence but there is a middle section that is fenced off for the chickens with only a 4 ft fence which I had to modify to keep my goats from jumping. They will do anything and I mean everything even break their necks to get to chicken feed or grains.

My goats just come and go as they please within the fence, but Malina is the only one that gets locked up at night cause she is due to kid.

 

[warthog]

I don't recommend tethering either, it didn't work for me, although I believe it does for some. My goats free range on several acres of brush.

If I am going out I bring them back to their pen and put some branches in for them, they also have access to hay 24/7.

I used to rattle the feed bucket and they would come running, now they know when feed time is and wander back to their pen at that time. I always keep their pen gate open for them, safety if needed.

I don't know if you have or intended to have your goats collared, but in brush, I don't, there are so many things for them to get tangled on.

The only time I put collars on is when I tether them at feeding time. If I didn't I would have two very faaaaat goats and three very skinny ones.

 

[Kaitie09]

We let them out a few times a week supervised. There is no fence but they do not go anywhere, and come right back when we call their names. Our lighter Boer/Nubian has figured out she can easily jump the fence and so she tends to go in an out of the fenced area multiple times a day. She is too nervous to go far away from the Pygmy and her sister, so she stays in about 10-20 ft along the fence line.

Just wanted to add, We are 1 of 2 homes on a 10 acre plot, and our neighbor grew up on a farm so he does not mind occasionally waking up to see goats on his front porch. We also are the only ones with dogs, and both are kept inside and were taught as puppies to leave the goats alone.

 

[savingdogs]

I let ours free range with supervision. They can tend to get into areas I would rather they not be. However they never leave. I do not tether mine but do take them for walks on leashes and stop for them to graze when I hit areas I want them to clear.

So I guess mine "range" but not exactly "free"....

 

[TwoGoats]

Ours Free-Range full time. Their goat house is within a 1 acre fenced pasture (4 ft high no climb horse fencing with a strand of barb wire on top).

Be careful where you let the goats free-range. Everything is fair game to be chewed/eaten!

 

[savingdogs]

Yes, that is why mine have to be supervised. They go right for the roses, peonies, rhododendren and azaleas first.

 

[TwoGoats]

Ah.... OK. They could make quick work of a flower garden!!!! :/

 

[Chirpy]

I live on 40 acres with at least that size plots of land all around us - so my goats get to free range anytime we're home. Our barn is about 250 yards from our house and the chicken coop is about 20 yards from the barn; forming a triangle with the three buildings. The goats rarely leave that triangular except for grazing around all the buildings. When my llamas are up in the front pasture the goats often go out much further to graze with them. They are in sight of the house when they are out further grazing. They are all always under the very watchful eye of our german shepherd mix dog.

If we are not going to be home then they are locked up safely in a large fenced area. My goats also come running when I call them. Food is a great 'learning' tool for that.

I would also never tether my goats. It's too risky for them to get tangled in the tether or get it tangled around something.

I only have collars on my milk goats (in case I need to 'help' them going back to their pen after milking (they do love to run to the feed container to see if they can get the lid off and a few extra bites before I get to them ...)

I've had one of my Nigi's get her collar caught on a fence two years ago ... thankfully I was there and immediately heard her struggling and breathing problems. I got her unstuck and took all the collars off my little goats.

 

[Mzyla]

Ours Free-Range full time. Their goat house is within a 1 acre fenced pasture (4 ft high no climb horse fencing with a strand of barb wire on top).

Be careful where you let the goats free-range. Everything is fair game to be chewed/eaten!

How very true!
As to free ranging; my goats act the opposite; they won't go farther then few feet away from the house.
Most of the time hanging on a porch and waiting, when momma it's going to come out?
Only when I'm outside working, they happily graze and go little further. Nevertheless, they are gazing over the shoulder, if I'm still outside.
The moment I'll go to the house, they are right back waiting!

This must be, because I got them as little babies and they got used to me too much.

I had various stuff on a porch, but now I need to clear it out.
They do munch on anything; beer box, pot flower, doll, shelf, Christmas lights, garbage bag.etc.