Keeping goats safe on your property may seem like an easy job. But like any goat lover will assure you, it is everything but that.
Goats are among the most impatient and active farm animals you can have. Without a fence that holds them well, you’ll have tons of problems later on.
But a fence doesn’t have to just for protection. It could also be practical and attractive to step-up your farm game. Here, we want to show you some of the best goat fencing ideas to achieve that.
So, want to give your goat farm a new look or slight safety improvement? Then keep scrolling!
Why Install a Goat Fence?
If you have a farm, this is an obvious answer for you. But if you’re just learning how to take care of goats, you may think fences are not necessary.
To keep you from making the mistake of bringing goats together without a fence, here are a few reasons you need to consider:
Goat Organization
Like most other farm animals, goats need to stay within a fenced area if you don’t want to lose them. Otherwise, they’ll travel all around making messes, eating your lettuce, spinach or anything they find in their path.
Goat Safety
You never know when there’s a goat robber around trying to snatch one of your goats out. How to prevent that? A secure fence.
Predator Protection
Coyotes, wolves, dogs, pumas, cougars, or whatever animals there are in your area – they will all try to get in any way possible. With the right fence, you can make it harder for them.
Improved Farm Looks
Apart from all that, a well-made and good-looking fence could also add up to your ranch’s looks. Keeping your goats safe but also making your whole farm look cuter.
Considerations Before Building a Goat Fence
Now that you have a better idea of what a goat fence is beneficial for, let’s give you a heads-up on deciding which one to build. Below, you’ll find the most important factors to think about:
Materials
First and foremost, what fence materials do you want to use? More importantly, which materials work better for goats? And if you’re looking for a good-looking fence, which one lets you make a cute one?
When it comes to safety, nothing beats metal. A sturdy steel fence never disappoints. And if you’re looking for looks, then wooden fences are your best bet. Yet, wood wears down faster and is less resistant.
Other materials like nylon webbing and wire fences are less resilient and a lot less attractive. However, they’re super cheap and require less effort to install.
Area
How big of an area are you building a fence on? This could give you a better idea of what materials to use and what type of fence you need.
For example, a fence larger than 1,000 square feet made of steel tubing can be costly. In that case, you may prefer a wire fence instead.
A 500-square feet fence, in contrast, should be enough for a few goats while still being little work and not much money upfront. Here, you can use more expensive materials without emptying your wallet.
Height
Generally, goats need at least 4 feet of fence height to keep them from jumping over. As goats are very adept jumpers, they may not hesitate to go over anything shorter than that.
But be aware that only 4 feet of height won’t keep predators out. Any animal willing to go the extra mile for a meal won’t find any problem to go over fences of less than 10 feet.
If your farm, ranch, or home is located in a predator-rich area, going for a tall fence is the best alternative. Be aware that this means more money and work.
Head Gaps
Among curious animals, goats stand out as the most annoying of them all. In contrast with other animals, goats are often getting stuck everywhere, whether because of their clunky bodies or horns.
That’s why it is always essential to leave significant gaps on the fences. And if you’re going to feed them through a fence, this is even more important.
Generally, you’ll want to leave head gaps of at least 10 inches in height for goats to stick their heads in without getting stuck. In case you have male goats with large horns, you may want to leave a slightly bigger gap than that.
Entrances & Access
Finally, goat fences are for keeping animals in check and keeping them safe whenever they’re not roaming around.
When you want the goats to feed on the tall grass or simply pasture around to meet their food needs, then you’re likely to release them. At the same time, you may want to get inside the fence from time to time, either for cleaning or just checking on the goats directly.
Either way, it is essential to keep a gate, small entrance, or simple access where goats and humans can quickly get in and out.
12 Goat Fencing Ideas for Goat Lovers!
You’re now aware of what makes goat fencing so important and what factors you should consider when building one. With everything clear on your mind, let’s take a look at some exciting fence ideas you can start building right away!
1. Palisade with Entrance
Thin timber, bamboo, or large cylindrical branches with a bit of wire tying them together. This could bring up an excellent fence system that keeps your goats safe.
We recommend going to no less than 7 feet in height for a better experience. This should keep goats from trying to jump over and bringing down the palisade over time.
To make it a practical fence, don’t forget to make a small entrance where goats can go in and out. Gated entry is better, but gateless also works for convenience.
2. Metallic Grilled Fence
The best way to keep goats safe from outside dangers while still keeping them in check inside is a metallic fence.
We don’t mean wire fence because that’s easy to make and may not offer the safety you’re looking for. But a sturdy, high-quality grille fence can get the job done.
These grilled fences typically come at heights of about 5 to 8 feet. Anything within that range should be enough to keep predators out and goats in.
3. White Farm-Style Fence
Looking for a more cottage-style or vintage appearance? Then a small wooden palisade with planks and an attractive pattern should make it work.
You can paint it up to make it look even better. We recommend white paint if you like a vintage touch.
Either way, be sure it is high enough and sturdy for goats to stay inside. It will undoubtedly add up to your farm’s appeal, but don’t overlook the animal’s safety.
4. Short Rustic Wooden Fence
If you’re short on budget but want to keep your goats in one place, then use a rustic wooden fence.
Building this one is a piece of cake, as you only require a few wooden planks, wire, and some nails. Putting it together may take you just a few hours if you work fast enough.
Either way, it is a good-looking alternative. Not the most protective, but it still gives you easy access to the goats and saves you tons of time and money.
5. Tall Wooden Fence with Head Gap
If you want a place where goats can stick their heads through, but without the chance of getting out, you can always build a small wooden fence with some wire fence attached.
But to make it tall, remember to use 5 or 6-feet stakes where you can place an upper horizontal plank over. If install this top plank at a high enough position, a small gap will form where goats can sneak their heads in.
It is not necessarily the cutest alternative but works as a practical yet straightforward alternative.
6. Sturdy Cattle Panels with Wide Access
Sometimes, goats don’t need to be in a goat-fencing area. You can place them on a cattle panel area and still keep them safe.
These steel fences are a lot sturdier than any other, lasting decades with proper installation. They also look organized and pristine. And more importantly, they’re often taller than 6 feet, which goats can’t jump over.
Be aware, though, these fences often leave wide gaps between steel posts that goats can use to sneak out, and predators can use to sneak in. Before using this one, make sure it is the ideal choice.
7. Short Palisade with Gate
If you aren’t scared of predators and your goats are well-behaved, a small fence can always come as an excellent idea. With a palisade, using rounded wooden planks or some branches, you can build a nice-looking and still protective area for areas to stay in.
This alternative is typically cheap in price but a bit time-consuming. Still, it is often worth pursuing its simplicity and good looks.
8. Indoors Cattle Panels
Do you keep goats inside a stable? Then don’t let them make a mess inside by using a steel fence.
By gathering metal posts and putting them together using wires or clamps, you can create a very sturdy, stable fence that goats can’t take down.
Just understand that goats are often impatient and active mammals, so they may get a bit over-stressed from being inside a stable consistently. To keep them safe inside, build that fence at no less than 5 feet and thin gaps between posts.
9. Easy Head Access Wire Fence
There’s nothing simpler than a wire fence to keep animals in check. Some types of fences come with big-enough gaps where goats can stick their heads through.
When it comes to affordability, these fences have no competitor. And what’s even better, they require little to no effort to build (you can generally build hundreds of feet of this fence per day).
But due to the simplicity and easy installation, you can expect them to last a bit less than other alternatives. And if you decide to big something tall, you will find it a lot more complicated than expected.
10. Grille with Wooden Logs
Keep your goats safe, let them peek over, and still make the fence last – combined a meshed metal fence with some wooden logs, and you’ll be good to go.
If you’re creative enough, you can also make this one a good-looking choice. But however you proceed, make sure it is tall enough for goats to not go over.
11. Red Nylon Web
Are you on a meager budget but still want something effective at keeping goats in a safeguarded place? Then nothing will help you more than a nylon webbing net.
These typically come in orange or red colors. The advantage is how easy they are to put on. With built-in stakes, you can easily set them up in less than a day.
Something important about these fences is versatility. You can arrange the nylon net in any shape, allowing you to create the perfect area for your goats.
Most of these nets are between 4 and 6 feet in height. That’s more than enough to keep goats inside. Sadly, these nets are not the most resistant either against external factors or goats themselves. We only recommend these as short-term alternatives.
12. Short Handrail Fence
A sturdy metal fence could be more than enough to keep goats in. But if you have aggressive and highly active goat males, then you’ll want something sturdier.
In that case, a hard-rail fence will come like a charm. It can be hard to install and very expensive, but it looks good while still adding tons of safety to your goats.
Most of these fences are small enough for goats to sneak their heads over but still high enough to prevent them from jumping over.
Conclusion
Goats are fun animals to have. They’re also decently easy to maintain. And often help keep the grass in check. But despite all of that, they can be extremely active and annoying to keep up with.
Luckily, our goat fencing ideas above can help you keep them in check. Whether it is safety, organization, or attractiveness, there’s a fence idea to consider in this list.
So, what are you going for? Your goats are waiting – don’t leave them hanging around with no fence!