Escape proof goat fencing
If you are looking for escape proof goat fencing options that you can use with your own herd, this guide will be the help you need.
When researching the different types of goat fencing, be sure to find an option to keep your herd safely inside and predators out.
Raising goats on a hobby farm or family homestead can be a fun and rewarding experience. But it’s important to ensure you have the right goat fencing to keep your goats safe, and secure.
Knowing the different fencing options will help you to find an escape proof solution that will ensure your goat herd is well protected.
What is escape proof goat fencing?
Escape proof goat fencing is an enclosure or barrier that prevents goats from leaving their designated area. This can be done in a variety of ways, such as using electric fences, goat-proof netting, wood fencing, and woven wire fence panels.
No matter what type of goat fence you choose, it’s important to make sure it’s strong enough to contain your goat herd and keep them from getting loose.
Why goat fencing is important
Goat fencing is actually has two purposes. First, it is meant to keep your animals in an area so they cannot get out and get into trouble. It also is crucial to keep them from damaging your crops, garden, or other property around your home.
A goat that has escaped can be difficult to locate and capture, so it’s important to make sure its enclosure is going to keep them in.
Proper goat fencing also helps protect goats and your other animals from potential predators in the area. Where we live, coyotes are common and we rely on our fence to keep them away from our herd, especially our young goat kids.
Why do goats want to escape the fence?
May times the main reason why goats try to get out of a fenced in area is heat or rut. Heat is when a female goat is ready to be bred. She releases an odor that male goats, bucks, can smell.
Rut is when a mail goat is ready to breed. He also releases a scent that attracts the female goat.
When a goat is in heat, she may try to get to a buck on the other side of the fence. More often, however, it is the buck that will do just about anything to get to a female goat, especially when he is in rut, and she is in heat.
Be sure to have adequate and secure fencing in place to reduce the risk of unwanted breedings.
Escape Proof Goat Fencing
The number one purpose of goat fencing is to keep your animals in. A large majority of goats will never try to get out of a fenced in area but every now and then you get that one goat that will do anything to escape.
Fence Option #1. Steel panels.
Steel panels are long sheets of fencing. You can get them in two height sizes.
- Hog panels are 36″ high and come in lengths of 6-8′ long.
- Cattle panels are 50″ high and come in lengths of 8-16′ long.
Both are made of durable, high-quality steel that will stand up to the wear and tear of a goat.
For our bucks, we prefer the cattle panels since they are higher. These work quite well at keeping our bucks contained even during the breeding season.
You will need to have heavy-duty fence posts to ensure the panels stay intact. Also, wire or thick zip ties will work to attach one panel to another.
Fence option #2. Electric Fence Netting
Electric fence netting is a woven option that is electrified. The size of the openings vary and you will want to choose that size depending on the breed of goat you raise. This style of fence is a no-climb option that will really help to keep your goats secure.
This type of fencing is powered by a solar box that can be placed anywhere along the fence line. Another bonus of netting is it can be moved quite easily. This will allow you to relocate your herd’s grazing area and help keep parasite outbreaks from occurring.
For our goats, we use electric fence netting works great for both our female goats as well as our bucks. The key is to train them when they are young so that lesson remains instilled in their minds and reduces the attempts of escape.
READ: How to Train Goats on an Electric Fence
Fence Option #3. High Tensile Electric Fencing
Finally, high tensile fencing is another great escape proof option to consider. The most expensive of the three, this type of fencing is permanent but will outlast the first two by years or even decades. Sometimes called the 50-year fence, this is a good option if you plan to raise animals for many years to come.
Large posts are secured in the ground with concrete, and a high-carbon steel wire is attached to each post. Heavy swing gates are installed for easy access of animals along with any farm equipment.
For our goats, we use high tensile fencing as our main border fence and section off the interior with panels of electric fence netting.
Over the years we have found that a combination of all three options listed above keep even our biggest escapees in place.
Goat fencing is an essential part of keeping your goat herd safe and secure on a hobby farm or family homestead. By choosing the right goat fence for your needs, you can ensure your goat herd is well-protected and escape-proof.
Invest in goat fencing that will fit your herd size and the property where you live. Goat fencing does matter so be sure to choose the best escape proof option for your goats.