Fencing
It is crucial to build strong fox and dog-proof fencing. Even though mature goats can defend themselves against foxes, having adequate fencing is a great way to protect your goats from ranging dogs and other predators.
Goats are curious creatures and will always be looking for an easy way out of their enclosures. If there’s a chance they can squeeze out, hop over or climb under it, they will.
Even if you think there’s no way they can squeeze out, hop over or climb under it, they will be looking for a way to do so. Goats are curious animals, and they explore the world around them with their mouth. That’s actually part of the reason that people say, ‘goats will eat anything. It’s not because they are actually eating everything, but they use their mouth to explore. This means that they can open latches, also. Which mine has done on several occasions and we have had to think a little smarter than the goats. Once they accidentally figure out how to open a latch, they’re quick to do it again. You’ll need sturdy latches that they can’t undo. Don’t use a piece of rope tied in a slipknot to keep your goats in! They will chew through it.
The best type of fencing for goats is the one that will keep them in. Not the cheapest fence.
Trust me when I say it is well worth your sanity to spend a little more money to buy fencing that is actually going to keep your goats in place.
This is especially true for female goats on heat.
Also, if you’ve got females that are going to have babies, you don’t want to risk their udders. Goats will try to climb through strands of barbed wire and their udders will snag on them and get ripped up.
We used dingo wire to fence with and have found that to be relatively easy to install and it does the job.
Goats are natural escape artists. They’re curious and will check fences constantly. If there’s a chance that they can get out, they will. And if you have small goats, like pygmy goats or Nigerian dwarf goats, the chance that they can squeeze out or under fencing is even greater. Smaller bodies are harder to keep contained. Make sure fencing is braced correctly.
Of all the livestock that we’ve owned, goats are the hardest to keep contained. Like I mentioned above, they will test your fences constantly. If a tree falls on your fence, they’ll be out almost as soon as the fence is down.
Electric fencing short out? Your goats will notice it within about five minutes. No kidding.
You can’t keep a goat in barbed wire. In fact, I’ve seen someone fence their property off with 9 strands of barbed wire for goats and then have to pull it all back up because it wasn’t keeping their goats in.
That’s a lot of time and money wasted. And I can’t tell you how frustrated they were that even after all of that work, they were still having goats get out almost every day.
Best Fencing for Goats
Do not use field fencing.
Q: What is the best fence to keep in pygmy goats or dwarf goats?
My first choice is electric fencing. There are two ways that fences can work to keep animals in. They can either create a physical barrier that prevents animals from crossing, or they cause a mental barrier that prevents animals from crossing.
When goats are kept in electric fencing, they respect the barrier and won’t try to test it. That keeps them off of your fence, which is the safest method of keeping them enclosed. They won’t push on the fence and steadily test it.
We raise a ton of animals on our farm. I have always loved animals.
All jokes aside, I really do love animals. One thing that I don’t love?
Chasing said animals if they escape their fences and decide to roam the neighbourhood.
I don’t say any of this to discourage you from getting pygmy goats. Or Nigerian dwarf goats. They’re seriously cute and perfect for small acreage. Keep in mind that pygmy and dwarf goats are smaller and you’ll want sturdier fencing to keep them in.
Q: Are goats hard to keep in a fence?
Of all the livestock that we’ve owned, goats are the hardest to keep contained. Like I mentioned above, they will test your fences constantly. If a tree falls on your fence, they’ll be out almost as soon as the fence is down.
The only other option that I would recommend is fencing designed specifically for goats. Goat fencing is a woven wire fencing that has small holes. This is key guys.
The holes in field fencing are the perfect size for them to get their heads in but not get their horns out. Goat fencing holes are too small for them to get their heads through which solves the problem of them getting their heads caught.
