Advice for fencing and Shelter for goats

Finge

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So, I'm lookin' for advice before I even start building anything from more experienced goat owners.
I am planning on getting Nigerian dwarf goats, and I'm stumped on what to do about shelter. This year, so far, this year has been pretty hot and only started to get cold around Thanksgiving, and is dropping to the one digit temperatures in the morning, but warms up to 30-50 later in the day. Would large dog houses suffice if the weather keeps going how it is?

For fencing, I've been thinking of using wood pallets since I live right next to my grandfather's farm. I'd only use one layer, but have really tall posts so I could stack the pallets on top of each other incase one layer isn't enough.
I at the moment, am planning on getting the goats this winter break so I have time to socialize with them on my winter break, or in the spring time, when I wouldn't have to worry about it being too cold because it gets pretty hot starting spring and we have mostly rain.
Keep in mind, the place I want to fence in is small, so I can't really afford to build big barns, and i'm not too good at money wise either, which is why im using wood pallets.
 

NH homesteader

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There are a lot of pictures of people's set ups on here. One thing I will warn is that goats are not exactly inexpensive animals to raise. There are vet bills on top of grain and hay. Nigerians do not need as big of a shelter obviously. How many are you planning on getting? How much space do you have for their pen?
 

Alexz7272

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I've never used pallets for fencing but know all too well what happens with inadequate fencing :mad:
Do you have a photo of what you'd like to do? As @NH homesteader asked, what size area are you thinking?
You can definetly build a shelter our of re-use items to save money, thats how I have done it 100% on my farm. I'll see if I can find any pictures and post them here soon.
 

Alexz7272

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Here is just a couple ideas.
I got 2 large window wells for free off craigslist. I used them as a roof and built up around them.
14572213_10154512573464831_7453302820664527619_n.jpg

(I do not have good pictures of the structures themselves, sorry)
I keep alpacas, sheep and goats together. My alpacas like the tall structure but it also fits about 4 goats or 3 sheep.
14639749_10154563521619831_5475209346127313365_n.jpg


Next, I had made this house for my pigs but since butchering them placed it in the goat enclosure for winter. It is made from 2 boards and 4 galvanized roofing panels. It was pretty cost effective. (This is the only recent photo I have of it, sorry!) :lol:
15241904_1181783695251458_2523022766062201281_n.jpg



These are not amazing ideas but they work for me and can hopefully at least give you some ideas!
 

babsbag

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This isn't my fence but I have seen some nice ones. You may have to run a row of hot wire on the inside to keep them from climbing.


images
 

Finge

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@NH homesteader I'm not sure on the size, but the person who owns the land i'm planning on buying or renting from, should be coming over today so I can ask him all the details about the land.
And for the number of goats, i'm not getting more then 3, most likely two does and wether, or just two does. And I know that goats are expensive, and I have 3,000 to work with or maybe 5,000 + whatever dog money I get out of my dog's next litters.

@Alexz7272 Those are great Ideas!

And for my design, there are no other fences like it. I'll try and find some pictures that I can explain my idea off of though.
 

Latestarter

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15241904_1181783695251458_2523022766062201281_n-jpg.25269

Sorry, don't mean to hijack the thread but HOLY HOG! Is that you riding that beast @Alexz7272 :ep:thAny larger and he wouldn't have fit inside the shelter! How much did he weigh at butcher? That had to be a LOT of pork chops! :drool Nice to see such a friendly (happy?) hog as well! Kudos to you!

Here's another thread that was recently started asking about shelters for sheep out in pasture. These things would work for your situation as well.
http://www.backyardherds.com/thread...-a-quick-inexpensive-shelter-for-sheep.34953/
I'm thinking the pallet shelter posted above by TAH would be great and plenty of airflow during the hot months. especially if you have access to cheap or free pallets. Otherwise a hoop shelter made from cattle panels would be very inexpensive and easy to build as well (shown in the link).
 

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