Put a deposit down on two Nigerian Dwarf goats! Need to get ready for them...

[Bayleaf Meadows]

To keep deer out of our paddocks, I augment my fencing with 10' electrical conduit pounded in about 2' to give me an 8' high pole to which I attach deer netting. You can see it in this photo.

 

[Jeanne Sheridan]

To keep deer out of our paddocks, I augment my fencing with 10' electrical conduit pounded in about 2' to give me an 8' high pole to which I attach deer netting. You can see it in this photo.View attachment 44707

That's about Identical to what I'm going to put around our garden this year as far as the poles are concerned. Instead of using deer netting, neighbors have show me that by stringing a wire around the top of the poles and tying pieces of metal ribbon to the wire the deer see it as a solid wall. One also does the same with criss-crossed wires across her garden to keep birds from pecking at her fruits and vegetables. I think I'm going to try that too.

 

[Hipshot]

I can only afford chain link in small areas . Like chicken runs and kennels . High tinsel single strand is cheaper but very dangerous .I run several strands and keep the top and middle of bottom charged . Works good for horses and cows . Haven't tried it for my goats yet . But any kind of fencing is high these days . And almost all mine need replacing to be suitable for goats. Lot of work too

 

[Devonviolet]

First off, welcome to BYH! You have come to the right place to get advise raising your livestock. We have some excellent goat people here, who will be happy to answer questions.

We moved onto our five acres 3 years ago last January. I am starting my 2nd year with LaMancha dairy goats. I LOVE having the kids and milking my girls. I have learned to make several different cheeses and Kefir, since I started milking last April.

The advise about good, sturdy, "woven wire", "no climb horse fencing" is excellent!

However, I would highly recommend that, in addition to good fencing, you get at least one, but preferrably two good LGDs (livestock guardian dogs). We got our two, Maremma pure bred LGDs before we got our first goats (4 wethered ND goats). We believe that they have been crucial toward keeping our goats, chickens and ducks safe! Our female even "guards the sky"! When birds of prey fly over the chickens and ducks, in our fenced side yard, Violet sees them and starts barking at the sky. The Hawks and vultures fly away right away! We have never lost an animal to a predator, since getting our dogs. Just before we moved here, the previous owners lost a chicken to a raccoon.

Before we got our dogs, we used to find coyote and wild pig prints just outside out chicken yard. Since we got the dogs 3 years ago (as puppies), we haven't seen prints anywhere close to our livestock/chicken pens. The closest we see any coyotes,,during the day, is about 1500 feet from our property line, in the hayfield.

It's important to get LGDs, that are full LGD. Many people have great success with Great Pyrenees (GP), or cross GP with other LGD breeds. Latestarter has a cool dog that is GP crossed with Anatolian.

It's important to not get an LGD crossed with a hunting breed, as the dog can struggle with that part of their makeup.

If you can't get LGDs right away, the advise about adding hot wire is also good. Although, 5 strand wire, even if electrified, doesn't work with goats, especially kids and/or small goats, as they will go under or through. The best option is 2x4" woven wire.

If money is an issue, you can put the kids in a smaller paddock, and put pasture fencing in as you are able.

 

[Devonviolet]

I too am getting my first two bucklings in late april. We are going to use 8 foot chainlink for the interior part of acreage
Which will house the open air living quarters. More air flow im told is better.
Later we will add more chain link after we put in a gravel drivewAy.
I found a pic off pinterest that i liked for their living quarters and re drew it doubling it in size.

Congratulations on getting your new goats. How exciting!

Chain link fence ink fence will work, in the beginning, if it is already in. However, woven wire is sturdier and holds up to goats scratching/rubbing on fencing. I have seen goats destroy chain link fencing. If you don't have the fencing already, you would probably be happier, in the long run, if you buy woven wire fencing. If you can't get LGDs, a hot wire (top and bottom) would work fine, without needing the added expense of 8 foot fencing.

I don't know the difference in price, between the two. We bought welded wire, before we knew better, and the goats have destroyed it. However, the woven wire fencing, has held up, nicely, to goats rubbing on it.