Portable goat fencing
If you are looking for ways to set up portable goat fencing, this will get you started. My number one way to house your goats so you can easily move them around your pasture and property.
No matter what type of goat fence ideas you are using now, having a portable option is a great thing to have just in case.
Introducing portable goat fencing to your family homestead is a great way to provide good, comfortable housing for your herd. This type of goat fencing offers practicality and convenience for goat owners mainly because it can be easily stored away when not in use or moved around the farm.
As someone who has owned goats for years, I’ve learned to love portable goat fencing. Not only is it useful outside in a pasture, but it is also surprisingly useful inside a barn.
As a midlife homesteader I am always looking for easier ways of doing things and this is especially true with our goats.
If you want easy, portable fencing might be just what you need to streamline how you raise and house your goats.
What is portable goat fencing?
In a nutshell, portable goat fencing is any fencing that can be moved. This is helpful if you want to relocate your herd, do rotational grazing, or separate out different goats during the breeding season.
By having fencing that can be moved around you can manage the care of your herd more efficiently.
Be sure to grab the FREE Goat Fence Options Quick List below!
Types of Portable Goat Fencing.
There are a few types of fencing that will work great as a portable option. Each comes with its pros and cons. Read through them all before you decide which will work best for your setup.
1. Electric Fence Netting
Fence netting is a woven electrified fence made of panels of about 8-10 feet. This type of fencing comes in rolls up to 160 feet or more and has different heights available. This allows you to install a lower fence for miniature breeds or a higher fence if you raise larger breeds.
The sections are separated with stakes that you can easily push into the ground using your foot. The stakes have a rubber top, so you can touch them without getting shocked.
Since this option is electrified, you will need a power source to make it hot. If you do not have one, you can invest in a solar box, which is what we use to power all of our fences.
Electric fence netting is my top choice for movable goat fencing. I have been using fence netting since we got our first goats, and even though we have added other portable options into our setup, this has always been our most effective way to house and segment our herd.
When not in use, you will need to take the fence down and store it away so it does not tangle, which can be tricky but I have learned a process that works.
How do you store electric fence netting?
To store electric fence netting, it is better to roll the fence to prevent tangles. We have found that PVC pipe works great as a base and allows you to roll the fence around it and store it away easily. Here’s how it works.
- Lay the fencing down on the ground.
- Fold it up using the sections as your guide.
- Once folded, lay the pipe at one end and gently roll the fence around it.
- Secure with hay twine and store up off the ground.
PROS: Effective at fencing goats in a specific area and is very secure at keeping everyone in. It is easy to move, even alone, and comes in various lengths.
CONS: This type of netting does not hold up well in the snow, so it must be taken down and stored away for the winter.
Extra Supplies Needed: If you do not have a power source, you will need to purchase a solar battery to electrify the fence.
Electric Fence Netting:
Petween Electric Fence Netting for Sheep, Lambs, Goats, Dogs, 35
RentACoop Non Electric White Fence 48Starkline 42Andmon 10 Miles Solar Electric Fence Charger with Day or Night Mode, 0.11 Joule Portable Solar Fence Charger for Livestock, Preventing Predators from Intruding
2. Pallet Fence
Wood pallet fencing is a cheap DIY option that you can use for sectioning off smaller areas for your herd. By repurposing pallets, you can create walled-in spaces that will work great for separating out for different reasons. Things such as keeping small newborn kids safe from older goats, separating goats during breeding season, setting up a birthing pen, or a sick bay.
Be sure to reinforce any loose boards before using a pallet in this fencing setup. Stakes help keep the fence in place, and nails or brackets attach the pallets to each other to create a wall.
A final pallet can be hinged on to use as a gate.
PROS: Just about every homestead has a collection of wood pallets, but if you do not you can find them for free at most stores. This option is a great low-cost way to section off one or more areas, is easy to set up, and will work in all weather.
CONS: This type of fencing is time-consuming to set up, and even though it can be done alone, help will make this project easier. Because of the work involved, pallet fences do better in smaller areas as opposed to large ones. ,
Extra supplies needed: Heavy-duty fence posts or stakes to anchor the pallets in place and hinges for the gate.
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3. Steel Fence Panels
Steel fence panels are a form of livestock fence you can purchase in 10-foot lengths or longer. They come in two heights, 3 feet, also called pig fencing, and 5 foot, also called cow fencing.
They can be attached using zip ties, allowing you to quickly create fenced-in areas with little to no help.
This fence option is another favorite of mine because the strength of the panels will hold up well to even the rowdiest goats.
Goats like to stand on whatever they can find, and this option will hold up to repeated standing.
PROS: It can be set up alone, although you will need to muscle to move the panels. Durable enough to withstand the wear and tear of the weather and a goat herd. Can be purchased at your local feed store or Tractor Supply.
This type of fencing can be manipulated to form a circular pen, which works well if you have a small area to work with.
CONS: The panels can be expensive, which is something to keep in mind. Also, the panels are heavy so you will need to move them one at a time or get help.
Extra supplies needed: Heavy-duty stakes to anchor the fence into place. You will also need zip ties to attach the panels and secure them to the stakes.
Where to use Portable Goat Fencing.
Portable means temporary, and when you are raising goats, I have found you need to be able to spin on a dime. These are a few times a temporary fence will come in handy.
Separating Goat kids from the herd
When you have young kids in a herd, it is helpful to have a separate spot to house them. This is called a goat kid pen and is a separate pen for young goats to play safely without upsetting the older goats in a herd.
Having a kid pen allows you to separate the kids from the moms at night so you can milk full udders each morning.
What we recommend: Steel fence panels are your best option since they can be seen through, which is calming for both the moms and the kids.
You can set up a corner in your barn with a low gate entry so only your kids can get in and out. This will keep that area free from mess and, in turn, keep a cleaner area for your young kids.
setting up a Sick Bay
If you do not have a stall available in your barn for injured or sick goats, you can section off a corner of your barn to keep goats separated safely and give them time to heal. This helps the separated goat still feel a part of the herd without the risk of being bullied or injured as she recuperates.
What we recommend: Since you only need a small area, steel fence panels or wood pallets are the best option.
to Control Breeding
If you have goats you do not want to be bred; you can separate them from the herd with a portable fence. On the flip side, if you only have a few goats to breed, you can separate them with the buck. Either way, having a separate space during breeding season can be very helpful.
More Goat Fencing Resources:
What we recommend: We find electric fence netting works best for this situation. If you choose to use steel fence panels, you may need to double the height to keep any determined goats in or out of the area.
Whatever portable fence you choose, be sure it is sturdy enough to keep the buck on the desired side.
A buck in rut will go above and beyond to get to any does he has not yet bred. Keep this point in mind and choose the most secure option.
to implement Rotational grazing
To help keep parasites to a minimum, moving your herd around your pasture is crucial to healthier grazing ground.
Portable fencing will allow you to section off areas in your pasture, giving the grazed areas time to recover and replenish, ensuring any parasite eggs die off.
Rotational grazing goats is an effective way to raise a healthier herd.
What we recommend: For our setup, we find that electric fence netting works perfectly for sectioning off portions of our pasture.
When raising goats, having a system and setup that works for you and your herd is crucial. Portable goat fencing is a key component that gives mobility that you can use both inside and outside of your barn.
