If you are looking for a DIY goat playground that is easy to make using mostly supplies you may have on hand, then this guide is just what you need.
How to raise dairy goats that are active and healthy playing and climbing as they love to do. Add a playground to your pasture and watch your goats have fun getting exercise at the same time.
If you have goats, you know one thing for certain: They love to climb! A wood pile, a hill, a tractor, or even a concrete block will do the trick.
I have this old plastic exercise step in my barn that I put in for the goats a few years ago. My gals still fight over who will get to stand on that thing. Being higher than anyone else, even if it’s just a few inches, seems to be a goal for any goat.
One day, I realized my goats needed a bigger area to climb around—a DIY goat playground where they could all climb. From our oldest does to our younger goat kids. Just like human kids, goat kids are full of energy. Giving them an outlet like a playground will help keep them active without resorting to annoying other goats in the herd out of boredom.
I turned to the internet looking for options and found many wonderful ideas. Unfortunately most looked pretty elaborate and expensive, but I am cheap (to a fault) and needed something that would work without a hefty price tag.
Hi there, my name is Tracy and I am a city girl gone country. I am a redneck frugal living goat owner and I am working everyday towards living a more simple life. Now I am teaching others how to do the same. From growing their own food, making their own cleaning supplies, cutting back, and paring down. It’s all about making more of what we need so we spend less, save oodles of money and live better! About me →
15 Comments
This sounds like a lot of fun for your goats. I’ll have to keep my eyes open for some empty spools. Thank you for sharing at the Our Simple Homestead blog hop.
So glad to see I’m not the only crazy goat mama! I picked up 4 spools from my electric co-op over the winter after I got my goats and they love them! We used leftover plywood and an unused dog ramp with textured floor too.
How do you keep your goats fenced? I’ve been hesitant to get goats because of the propensity to escape. I’m older and can’t chase as I could’ve a few years ago!! Thank you for your input and article. Hope to hear from you soon, Star &Billy Graham
Hi Star!
I have several different ways I keep my goats fenced in. I have cattle panels (5 foot high) for my permanent small areas off the barn. I then have electric netting for my bucks grazing area and high tinsel fencing for my main pasture where my does are. The easiest to move is the electric netting which is great for rotational grazing. I have only had 1 escape and if you have a bucket of feed and your goats are trained they come right to you. 🙂 I am doing a new post on fencing next week, so check back or you can sign up for my email so you don’t miss it.
Glad you stopped by!
Tracy Lynn
My lion head doe has a litter box, food, and water on our screened porch. She loves my coffee table. She runs and jumps, hops, and thumps, dives under the furniture. It’s a hoot to watch. She terrorizes my Yorkie, and poodle .
i want to know the sizes of the scrap wood. if the wood is too thin in thickness it could break under the goat weight. if it is too thin in width the goat could fall off of it or be forced to preform a balancing act. please give more information for the wood. another fact, if the wool is splitting or not sanded down well enough your goat might get splinters of all sizes everywhere(including the mouth). there might be different types of wood that is dangerous for goats as well.
it would be nice if you tell me the measurements of your scrap wood boards, i want my goat to be safe.
thank you.
The boards we used are 1 inch thick and have held our heavy Nubians for years. Remember, goats can climb trees and will try to stand on branches and limbs, so they are pretty nimble. With that being said, we inspect all of our toys, outbuildings, and other structures thoroughly throughout the year to catch issues before they cause a problem. This will also catch any rot, cracks, or other issues. We have had to replace boards as we see it is needed.
As far as splinters, goats get injured more often from hay than any other surface so please don’t worry! Splinters in feet are pretty much nonexistent since their hooves are there to protect them. Just like with any buildings you will want to inspect your goats routinely too, again, catch any injuries or other issues asap.
Finally, use your best judgment. This is a setup that has worked for us for years and that is why I like to share it with others. If the board does not feel safe to you, then do not use it.
All the best!
Tracy Lynn
WOW, will have to share this with our Son and DIL as they will be able to make use of this information.
I visited you via Homestead Blog Hop 443
If you are not already part of SSPS, this is a personal invite to hop over and come and share your posts with us at Senior Salon Pit Stop, every Monday to Saturday.
See my entries: 9+10 and then navigate to the bottom of my page for the Senior Salon Pit Stop linkup, we hope to meet you there virtually
This sounds like a lot of fun for your goats. I’ll have to keep my eyes open for some empty spools. Thank you for sharing at the Our Simple Homestead blog hop.
So glad to see I’m not the only crazy goat mama! I picked up 4 spools from my electric co-op over the winter after I got my goats and they love them! We used leftover plywood and an unused dog ramp with textured floor too.
How do you keep your goats fenced? I’ve been hesitant to get goats because of the propensity to escape. I’m older and can’t chase as I could’ve a few years ago!! Thank you for your input and article. Hope to hear from you soon, Star &Billy Graham
Hi Star!
I have several different ways I keep my goats fenced in. I have cattle panels (5 foot high) for my permanent small areas off the barn. I then have electric netting for my bucks grazing area and high tinsel fencing for my main pasture where my does are. The easiest to move is the electric netting which is great for rotational grazing. I have only had 1 escape and if you have a bucket of feed and your goats are trained they come right to you. 🙂 I am doing a new post on fencing next week, so check back or you can sign up for my email so you don’t miss it.
Glad you stopped by!
Tracy Lynn
I am working on a “hobby” farm and I grew up with goats, so I’m interested with whatever I can learn. Thank you
So glad you are here, Marie!
What about toys for horses, chickens, rabbits, or guineas(because they aren’t like chickens).
My lion head doe has a litter box, food, and water on our screened porch. She loves my coffee table. She runs and jumps, hops, and thumps, dives under the furniture. It’s a hoot to watch. She terrorizes my Yorkie, and poodle .
Love goats and like to know more about them.
i want to know the sizes of the scrap wood. if the wood is too thin in thickness it could break under the goat weight. if it is too thin in width the goat could fall off of it or be forced to preform a balancing act. please give more information for the wood. another fact, if the wool is splitting or not sanded down well enough your goat might get splinters of all sizes everywhere(including the mouth). there might be different types of wood that is dangerous for goats as well.
it would be nice if you tell me the measurements of your scrap wood boards, i want my goat to be safe.
thank you.
The boards we used are 1 inch thick and have held our heavy Nubians for years. Remember, goats can climb trees and will try to stand on branches and limbs, so they are pretty nimble. With that being said, we inspect all of our toys, outbuildings, and other structures thoroughly throughout the year to catch issues before they cause a problem. This will also catch any rot, cracks, or other issues. We have had to replace boards as we see it is needed.
As far as splinters, goats get injured more often from hay than any other surface so please don’t worry! Splinters in feet are pretty much nonexistent since their hooves are there to protect them. Just like with any buildings you will want to inspect your goats routinely too, again, catch any injuries or other issues asap.
Finally, use your best judgment. This is a setup that has worked for us for years and that is why I like to share it with others. If the board does not feel safe to you, then do not use it.
All the best!
Tracy Lynn
WOW, will have to share this with our Son and DIL as they will be able to make use of this information.
I visited you via Homestead Blog Hop 443
If you are not already part of SSPS, this is a personal invite to hop over and come and share your posts with us at Senior Salon Pit Stop, every Monday to Saturday.
See my entries: 9+10 and then navigate to the bottom of my page for the Senior Salon Pit Stop linkup, we hope to meet you there virtually
Great idea!!!
What do you use for collars?
I use break-away collars for all of my goats. You can find them on Amazon, just search “break away collar goats plastic chain”