Fencing Suggestions

[emily]

I am looking into some fencing options for goats. Part of our reason for having goats is to let them clean up some land that we are getting ready for pasture. I'm trying to come up with something temporary. I need something that's mobile(but safe) as we have different sections that we want to put them on. I was thinking I might do electric fence or I might just bite the bullet and try to fence the whole acreage at once. If I were to do electric fence, what's the minimum amount of strands I could do for nubians. Is three too few? I'm afraid they might try to get out if it's only three. I had another person tell me to do five. Any thoughts, suggestions? I would love to know what you have done! Thanks.

 

[kstaven]

When I run portable electric to quarter a field I use 5 strands.

 

[freemotion]

It seems that many people have success with a multi-strand electric fence. Not me. I tried to cross-fence with it and they just laughed at it. Have you looked into electronet? I wonder if my girls would snicker at that, too, as they hopped over or limbo'd under it.

 

[arabianequine]

The two pens I have right now for goats are secured with cow/hog panels. They are kinda of spendy though.

You can see the panels I use below.

 

[20kidsonhill]

I would say minimum would be 4 strands and they will even consider going through that. If you are trying to seperate males from does, or kids from mom's electric wont work at all. If you are just putting electric up and moving it around to rotate fields and all of the animals are moving together, then it will probably work just fine.

did you look into the electric rope fencing? It would be easier to roll back up and move to a new location, compared to wire/

something like this, there are different kinds though, and thicknesses of the rope.

http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail....0-4c8b-b739-cc30f8b2d1c5&gas=electric fencing

 

[kstaven]

If they laugh at electric you run a ground wire between the hot wires. They don't laugh anymore. Many people don't get a good enough ground with electric and it renders them ineffective.

 

[chels24]

We use 5 strands in front of a barbwire fence. We haven't had any problems with the adults getting out and the babies usually stay pretty close to their moms. We did have a problem a couple weeks ago when we bought a 12week old and she was going under the fence to hang out with the neighbor. We just put her in a fence without electric, I didn't want any of the others getting ideas. Our charger puts out a lot of joules and is recommended for bulls and after touching it a time or two I've learned to stay away and so have my goats. If you have a predator problem I wouldn't use electric by itself although you might be able to keep a LGD inside it with your goats. I've never heard of anyone who uses only electric and has a dog though.

 

[KinderKorner]

Hog panels are the easier option for mobile fencing in my opinion.

They are light, and very easy to set up. I think they are fairly cheap too. I can get 16' ones for $18.

 

[herdnerd]

I use

light livestock fencing from

http://www.lightlivestockequipment.com/

The company is great, customer service excellent and product came fast.

I use the mesh fencing 4' tall. It is still metal but even my smallest Nigerian kids can barely get their heads through. They cannot escape. It is easy to move and connects well. They even have connectors so you can connect to walls and fence posts if needed. Plus I can carry and move it easily without anyone else helping me, even 8' wide sections.

I plan on using it for permanent fencing once we are done with our pasture as well. I do not have it electrified. My girls went right under the netting fencing - in under 5 minutes and they were 8 weeks old.

It is a bit expensive but as I said, I plan on using it ALOT.

 

[kstaven]

Hog panels work for small areas. But I would hate to try it when crossing 10 acres like I do.