Homesteading Multipart Series Part VI – Fencing Goats and Sheep

 

Goats and sheep represent a great farming option for the farmer without the dangers of the cow. A 1200 lb cow can break ribs with just the shake of its head with no malice intended and even worse when intended. Sheep and goats can pose a safety risk too but not nearly that of cattle. Sheep are the easier of the two to contain. However, any fence suitable for a goat will also be suitable for sheep.

I have a friend who raises milk goats, Saanans to be exact. He keeps his goats in a small pasture with just 3 strands of electric. Starting about 24 inches off the ground and ending about 5 feet. He moves their fence every couple of weeks as the grass gets worn down. He uses a livestock trailer as a shelter and moves it with the fencing. He has plenty of property and few neighbors so if a goat gets out it does not go far. When they kid in the spring the babies are forever running in and out of the fence, squalling as they hit it, but they don’t get far from mama and go back in. His goats are polled – meaning they do not have horns.

Horns are a real consideration if you are going to put up fencing. A fence with openings big enough for the animal to stick its head through will get stuck and possibly die if their horns get stuck. Trust me goats are great escape artists and can get out of anything except if they get their head caught in the fence. They will strangle themselves trying to get free. At the least they will injure themselves. There is specific goat and sheep fence on the market today that is made with 2x2 wire spacing to prevent them from getting their head through the fence and doing themselves harm, it is the most expensive option. Polled goats mean you can have more varied fencing but it also means you don’t have a handle to hold onto them and move them around. People with polled goats almost always put collars on them for this purpose.

The one thing about fencing of any kind is that the goats will put their feet up on it. Put their head on it and push. They will scratch leaning against it and push it over and over until it loosens enough and they will walk right over it. Goats will climb a 100 foot cliff to get to a saw briar, climbing a little fence is little obstacle to them. There almost always has to be a deterrent. Electric wire is an effective deterrent. I never recommend barbed wire with goats and sheep. Whether you use field fencing with the large holes, or goat fencing with the small holes the goats will continually push against it. It is just going to happen. So your fences need to nearly be water tight to contain a goat. I say that in jest but not really.

The fencing I recommend for goats and sheep is the fence you can afford with the addition of electric wire. For example you can get by with field fencing as long as you put 3 strands of electric inside it and one on top. This has a twofold purpose. First, it keeps your goats from sticking their heads into the fence where they can get stuck. Oh yeah it still can happen but the incidence will be greatly diminished. At least one strand needs to be at the height of their nose. Hair can be a pretty good insulator. Second, the electric will keep them from pushing on the fencing and will improve the durability of the fence. It also makes it possible to get away with fewer more costly wooden posts. You can do a wooden post and then 3 t-posts before you have to put in another wooden post. The tightness of the fence is not as great an issue. Also if the electric goes off you still have a deterrent to the goats leaving because the outer fence is not completely worn down.

The next option is high tensile fence with electric or even electric netting. No matter the fence when it comes to goats I recommend electric. A 300 pound Boer or Kiko Buck will not respect any fence you put up. They will scale a six foot fence any time of the year to get to a locust tree or honeysuckle bush. Did I mention they love blackberry brambles? Also, when the rut hits they are hard to contain in any fence. The only thing they will respect is a minimum 6 joule electric fence that is hot as a pistol. So if you plan to have large breed goats then plan on a high power plug in electric fence. One thing you can do is attach the ground to the outer fencing. This means that even in the driest weather the fence wires will be hot from the inner electric to the outer fence. So if they touch the electric and the outer fence at the same time they will get the zap.

Sheep do not necessarily pay much attention to the electric fence. Wool is a great insulator, but not so much for hair sheep. But they are not bad to rub against the fencing and trying to climb over it. But sheep are ready to die at the drop of a hat and will drop the hat. Every predator out there wants to get at your sheep. Foxes will carry off the babies because unless you bring them in sheep drop them out in the field. They will not come to the barn on their own if there is plenty of shade and grass in the field. They will overnight right out in the field. Coyotes will grab any yearling lamb up to 100 pounds. So your fences have to take this into consideration. A livestock guardian of some sort is in order but not part of the scope of this discussion. Without a livestock guardian a hot wire or two outside the fence helps deter predators from entering. Also, a hot wire on top of the fence is important too. I have seen a coyote jump a 5 foot fence.

The fencing you decide to put on your homestead will determine your satisfaction and peace of mind. Choose wisely. None of the options are cheap. I implore you to stay away from welded wire fencing. It is ok to keep some around for emergency repairs or staking tomatoes but not as a regular fencing material for livestock. Remember you are liable for any injury or damage your livestock might cause off of your property. Inevitably you livestock are going to get out so carry farm insurance. A goat hit by a car at 40 miles per hour will total both the car and the goat and you get to pay for both.

I hope this finds you well. Send up a prayer for us and we will send up one for you. Goats and sheep can be a joy on your homestead. They can also be a liability and headache. Good fences make happy homesteaders. If you want peace then a good fence is a necessity. But, they are expensive and time consuming to install. Also remember that Homesteading, like Life, is a Marathon NOT a Sprint – Slow Down and Enjoy the Ride!!!

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