Fencing for goats - UPDATE - They're Here

[Fessy_s_Mom]

We want to keep some goats in an approximately 3/4 acre pasture that is currently fenced with 5 strand high tensile with the middle wire hot on wooden posts. We’d like to hang three or four strands of electric wire on the inside starting about 10" off the ground and 10" apart. The goats are Nigerian dwarfs - three adult nannies and their 7 (!) babies.

We are new to goats and obviously want to prevent escapes. Does this plan sound good? If not, how would you do it?

And yes, I am totally excited to be getting goats and will post pics when they arrive.

[Ambitious_Kate]

I don’t know how goats respond to electric never tried, I always assumed if there was a gap they could get through they would. Always used board reinforced no climb

[moving_to_dc]

One of my pastures has high tensile coated cable along with electric wire. All tight, posts spaced ~8 ft. apart. I tried my goats in it… They SHOT right thru the strands so fast they never even got shocked.

Instead of refencing the pasture, I bought electrified goat mesh fencing. Found it on Amazon - $80 for each 165’ section. Linked 3 sections together to fence the inside of the perimeter, hooked it up, and not a single loose goat since I installed it years ago. I have it on a Parmac solar charger, which provides enough zap to keep the goat’s respect, even through the last 18 days of non-stop rain.

I have babies in the pasture, too, and they have all tested the fence and stay away from it.

[Hulk]

I am no goat expert and only have one goat, bestowed upon us. (long story) However from what I have observed to keep in goats is a challenge. The only fence that holds her is sheep and goat fence from TSC. Other than that we have to tie her. Good luck with your goats they are fun creatures!

[Bluey]

We had a small goat dairy and the only way to keep goats in for us was some kind of wire mesh fences.

We didn’t have all that electric fence then, but I would not count on any fence with just wires, not woven in some way, to be able to keep goats in, or out.

Let us know what you decide and how it worked.
Pictures would be wonderful!

[maunder]

A friend of mine is successful in keeping her large goats in electric wire. I prefer a solid mesh fence - five feet high. I don’t like the idea that if the electric goes off for any reason the goats would be out.

Before my Nigerian Pygmy wether had a bout of meningeal worm he was able to clear four foot fences in a single bound. I have him because he would not stay in any electric at his former home.

The five foot fence did deter him. He would, however, attempt to go under the fence commando style if he thought he could fit. Same with any gaps, gates or possible weak links. He’s an amazing little booger. My Boer cross girl likes to try to smash her way through obstacles, but she can’t do that with the wire mesh when it’s installed correctly.

[Fessy_s_Mom]

You guys are bumming me out! :no: There’s no way for us to get any mesh fence up in time for the goats arrival by Saturday, so I really hope the wire works. The guy we’re buying them from thought it would work, but who knows. I hope I don’t have to lock them all up in a horse stall until we get the correct fencing up. I’ll let you know how it goes!

[Long_Shadow_Farm]

My in-laws raise Boer goats. They have about 50 to 70 at a time even. The only way to keep them in is either a goat/ sheep type field fencing, mesh wire or goat/sheep panelings with three strands of electric wire (one about 8 to 10 inches from bottom, one midway and one along top). Otherwise the buggers will get out in a heart beat. Especially if you have the bucks penned off and the does come in heat. Then you need Ft Knox to keep them in. But they are lots of fun!

[betonbill]

If the goats come with horns they’ll simply put their horns under the wire and protect themselves from the charge while they slither through the fence. Lots of luck–you’re going to need it.

[PNW_AMTS_Dealer]

My goats were raised in hot fence so they respect it. I move their pen of 4 strands wire to the best briar patches and they don’t get out.

[saje]

I just introduce my small herd to hot tape yesterday. I have 3 Nubian wethers and one Oberhasli x Boer doe. They didn’t respect it at all until I got on the other side with a bit of grain and got them zapped as they stuck their heads through to get to the bucket. Those long floppy ears are sensitive! And Nana doe managed to stick her nose right on the tape and got bit, which is good 'cuz she has horns and a thick coat and will crawl under anything. I’m not trusting it as my only fence, but it’s nice to be able to let them mow the barnyard area and not have them get into the not-goat-fenced horse pasture.

And they DO crawl under anything, and can get through spots my Labrador won’t try. They may look ungainly, but they’re apparently made of rubber…

[Fessy_s_Mom]

Oh jeez, I’m sorry I posted my question now. :no: Well, hubby called our farmer friend and he said what we have planned will be fine, so we’ll see!

[poltroon]

This is the best source for the electric netting:

https://www.premier1supplies.com/c/fencing/electric_netting

It’s easy to put up and move, and their people are great for explaining the options and what is best for each species.

You’re fairly close to them so you might be able to get it quickly.

Nigerian dairy goats are short and don’t have horns, so they are a bit more containable than some other breeds. They seem to have less of the escape gene than some of the others. They are also adorable.

I would find some Nigerian people to buy off on your plan. The biggest concern I’d have actually is that the gaps in your fence may be too large, especially for the tiny tiny babies.

[ReSomething]

“If it can’t keep in water it can’t keep in a goat”. I haven’t had any but DH and I used to toss the neighbor down the road’s pygmies back over his fence and cut and rewire his mesh field fence that was the exact right size for the horned goats to push their heads through, but the only way to get back was to turn their heads on a diagonal, and they weren’t going to do it on their own and trying to get them to cooperate had a 95% failure rate so wire cutters it was. They are strong little buggers.
The TSC goat mesh is about 4" square and it is a fine size, but if you get into field fence or page wire they really can fit their whole head through there, I tell you, it was pitiful.

[Parrs_Gold_Bar]

Do what the previous farm owner did at my place- dissect a mattress down to the springs and just lay it across the bottom of the fence! :lol:

Good luck getting something that works! I’ll be following this closely to see how it works as we are thinking about goats, too!

[maunder]

[QUOTE=Fessy’s Mom;8669644]
Oh jeez, I’m sorry I posted my question now. :no: Well, hubby called our farmer friend and he said what we have planned will be fine, so we’ll see![/QUOTE]

It might be fine…and then it might not.

Goats are definitely individuals and if they are happy on one side of the fence they may not go to the other - then again…muahahahahaha.

I LOVE goats… but they sure can be exasperating.

If your new gang has pals, lots to munch on and lots of space then they may not want to explore - at least not right away. If they are insecure, though, they may all thunder through the existing fence.

Sorry to worry you - but goats are pretty darned smart and opinionated.

[Chestnut_Run]

We have Nigerians and Nubians. Full size Nigerians generally have a top height of 22-25 inches tall at maturity, the babies will be able to slither under the 10 inch bottom wire with no problem. You could try putting a wire at 5 inches and make sure they are all hot, hot, hot. I found if they learn to respect the electric right away, they’ll be fine, but if they learn they can dart through, they’ll never respect it ever. I would think you could put an extra strand of high tensile up and electrify it before Saturday. You might want to have a stall ready to lock them up at night though, until you are sure they won’t escape while you are sleeping.

Editing to add, we use electrobraid for all our animals. On their website, for goats, they suggest 6 strands, spaced 6 inches apart for all except the top, which they suggest at 10 inches. So maybe keep that in mind when you are stringing the electric on the inside of the posts.

I love our goats, even though they can be a pain to fence. They are such characters and goat milk and goat cheese are awesome.

Good luck.

[poltroon]

I would think Nigerians should probably be locked up at night regardless, for predator safety, especially with babies. Is that not SOP?

[Bluey]

[QUOTE=poltroon;8670294]
I would think Nigerians should probably be locked up at night regardless, for predator safety, especially with babies. Is that not SOP?[/QUOTE]

It is for anyone here, goats and sheep, you have to put them in a predator safe barn, only way to keep them safe around here.

They do need turnout too, that is why fencing some spot for them is necessary.

[Ghazzu]

[QUOTE=poltroon;8669645]

Nigerian dairy goats are short and don’t have horns.[/QUOTE]

Many do, unless disbudded or dehorned.