Best Fence for Goats – Buyer’s Guide

Keeping goats on your farm can be a joy, but also comes with unique challenges. One of the most important considerations for goat farmers is the type of fencing that will be used to contain them. Goats are notorious for being escape artists and can quickly find weaknesses in fencing. Choosing the best fence for goats can be a daunting task, but it is crucial for keeping your animals safe and secure.

In this blog post, we will explore the different types of fencing that are suitable for goats, and provide you with the information you need to make the best decision for your farm. We will discuss the pros and cons of each type of fence, including cost, durability, and effectiveness at keeping goats contained. Whether you are a new goat farmer or looking to upgrade your current fencing, this post will help you choose the best fence for your goats.

1. Premier Electric Fence – Best Electric Fence for Goats

The Premier Electric Fence stands as a prominent choice among contemporary goat fences available in the market. Its wide popularity can be attributed to various compelling reasons.

First and foremost, the installation process is remarkably straightforward. The fence is conveniently supplied in a comprehensive roll, complete with pre-installed posts that are ready for immediate grounding. The entire setup, spanning 164 feet, can be efficiently installed within a mere 15-minute timeframe.

As implied by its name, the Premier Electric Fence operates on electricity. However, it outshines other electric fences due to its enhanced conductivity. Incorporating a stainless steel conductor and a woven tinned copper superconductor, this fence demands a mere 35 ohms of resistance per 1,000 feet of fencing. Simply connect a suitable energizer, and the fence is ready for operation.

Noteworthy Design Features

Beyond its electric shocking capabilities, carefully calibrated to ensure safety while effectively fulfilling its purpose, the Premier Electric Fence boasts an impeccable overall design. The vertical and horizontal strings are meticulously spaced to effectively contain goats within the designated area while effectively deterring intruders, even without electrical activation.

Furthermore, the intervals between the strings gradually diminish towards the lower portion of the fence, preventing the entry of smaller pests and predators. Whether it be goats, chickens, guard dogs, or cattle, this fence has been ingeniously engineered to keep domestic animals secure within the boundaries while effectively repelling coyotes, foxes, bears, raccoons, and other similar creatures.

2. Red Brand 7035 – Best Non-Electric Goat Fence

If you’re not keen on the idea of using an electric fence or have a lot of land and a lower budget to work with, this galvanized steel mesh fence from Red Brand might be the fence for you. Made specifically with goats and sheep in mind, this highly durable fence is made of Class 1, 12.5-gauge steel that’s just as durable as it is strong.

Strong Mesh Design

Since there are no wires to deal with or energizers to connect, this quality non-electric fence is also super easy to install. Whether you have flat or hilly terrain, it can be set up and in use in minutes rather than hours. Did we mention it’s made in the USA?

Unfortunately, depending on your point of view, it isn’t electric. There’s no friendly zap of electric current to keep your goats away. However, its strong materials and closely spaced mesh design have been proven to work for most.

All things considered, it’s one of the best non-electric fences for goats around. If you love your goats and want to protect them the old-fashioned way, you may want to give this durable, easy-to-use fencing a closer look.

3. Gallagher G70000 Smart Fence – Best Goat Fence for Portability

It’s not computerized and doesn’t feature artificial intelligence, but the Gallagher G70000 Smart Fence definitely features a smart design. The portable all-in-one fencing system combines the wire, posts, and reels into a single convenient system, making it ready to move at a moment’s notice.

Easy to Install, Take Down, and Move

As mentioned, it’s also quite lengthy, making it a great value as well. Of course, it’s also sturdy as a rock and designed to keep goats and other farm animals safely secured. It’s perfectly safe but provides sufficient shock to make the most ambitious goat think twice about trying to jump over, crawl under, or squeeze through.

All that being said, once again, it’s the portable design of the Gallagher G70000 Smart Fence that really shine through. If you hate pinning your goats down to one locale and want a high-quality self-contained portable goat fence, it might be just the solution you’ve been looking for.

Best Type of Fence for Goats – Buyer’s Guide

If you’re new to goats, or fences, or fences for goats, it helps to know a little about your options.

Types of Fences for Goats

4-5 Strand Electric Fencing

Traditional 4-strand or 5-strand electric fencing is an excellent option for keeping goats, cows, and other livestock contained in a large pasture. Goats are inquisitive and testy, but they’re also quite smart and have a difficult time getting past the psychological barrier of an electric fence.

For the most part, electric fences are also relatively inexpensive and super easy to install.  That being said, goats can sense when an electric fence is down, so it’s important to periodically trim nearby trees and keep debris away in order to keep them working. 

Square Wire Fencing

Wire fencing with 4-inch squares or so are strong enough for goats to lean against but able to keep them at bay without hurting them whatsoever. Not only is the wire usually smooth on at least one side, but the squares are small enough to keep goats from squeezing their heads through.

If you opt for this type of fencing, just make sure to look for an option over 48 inches tall as some goats have been known to leap right over this height.

Woven Field Fencing

This type of fencing utilizes a woven wire with larger holes in which goats can stick their heads through. While durable, the woven wire is thinner than the wire used in traditional wire fencing, making it less strong.

Nonetheless, it’s less expensive than other types of fencing and may be suitable depending on the size of your pasture or containment area and the nature of your goats and livestock.

Welded Wire Fencing

Wire fencing with welded connections aren’t as strong as other types of wire fencing, so they’re not suitable for withstanding abuse from goats or any other livestock. More often than not, goats can push down on the wires and break them, so they’re not ideal.

Cattle Panels

Cattle panels are durable and come in large 16-foot sections. Although they’re great for dividing pastures and making corrals, they’re quite expensive and have larger openings that increase the odds of a goat getting stuck.

Location, Location, Location – Where to Place a Goat Fence

Where you plan on putting your goat fence will help you determine which type of fence you should use. Some fencing can only be used on flat, even terrain, while others are better suited for hilly spaces.

Some goat fences are also better suited for moist, damp soil, so this is an important consideration, especially if you live out west.

Things to Consider

Goats and many other livestock and wildlife will get to know the fence by appearance, site, and pain memory. In no time at all, they will learn to keep away from a strong or painful fence.

However, before you purchase and install a goat fence, there are some basic rules to follow, such as:

• Adult males require taller fences with closer spacing in between strands or stronger electric pulses.
• Some breeds, like Romanov or Columbia sheep, require taller, better fencing than other breeds.
• If you have goats of different sizes, more strands, and closer spacing will be needed.
• Many goat fences can also be used to contain cattle. However, many cattle fences aren’t suitable for goats.

Is Visibility Important?

Some animals, like horses and deer, can run quite fast but suffer from restricted color perception. This means they may not be able to see thinner fence wires and could run right through them.

To avoid such a scenario,  it’s best to go with a high-quality fence with thicker wires. However, you c�n also attach some brightly colored tape or rope on parts of the fence to help these animals identify it prior to charging right through. 

What About Climate?

While dry, hardpacked soil typically found in dry climates can be tough to dig a post into to, it can also hinder the performance of electric goat fences. How so?

In many electric fences, the moisture in the soil is used as a natural conductor. Therefore, they’re simply unable to perform properly if the soil is dry.

However, if you live in a dry climate and opt for an electric fence, there are some things you can do. For instance, you can use wide-impedance energizers, which are more effective in dry soil conditions. You can also use earth-return wires.

Tips for a Great Goat Fence

1. It should be designed to keep goats and other animals in. When shopping for goat fencing, it’s important to choose strong and sturdy fencing with thicker wires and smaller holes to keep goats from getting out.
2. It should keep predators out. In addition to keeping goats in, a great goat fence should keep predators out. To do so, the wires should be strong and over four feet in order to keep animals from trying to jump over and get their paws on your goats or other livestock.
3. Electric fencing works. While it’s slightly more expensive, electric fencing is a strong deterrent and definitely worth the added investment.
4. Fencing must be maintained. As a goat or livestock owner, fence maintenance should be a regular part of your routine. Even the smallest gap or hole can provide an ambitious goat with an easy way out.

Why You Need a Quality Fence

Goats are incredibly clever and creative escape artists, so you need a quality fence able to keep them contained. You also need a strong fence for:

• Starving predatory animals looking forward to a meal
• Goats that are weaning and coping with separation
• Goats and other animals that are bored or breeding

Conclusion

Building a fence to protect your goats, livestock, or crops can be difficult and time-consuming. However, with the lives of your goats at stake, it’s definitely something you should try to get right the first time.

Make sure to choose a fence with quality materials and a goat-friendly design created to keep goats from getting out and other critters from getting in. Once you decide on a quality fence and install it, you’ll be able to enjoy it and the peace of mind that comes with knowing your goats are alright when you’re away or sleeping at night.

So, pick out one of the great fences above and protect your goats today. Happy grazing!