HELP! lol...2 big goats and an unfinished fence!

[Farminprogress]

I have inherited 2 goats this evening...and they are BIG mind you!! I have a 4 acre field that is strung with electric fence (one wire at 2 ft and another at 5ft. However, the field is overgrown, we are not sure if there is a ground, and we know we need a box...but which one??? We are also "inheriting" a pony in a few weeks. I have 3 toddlers and time and money is short...ANY SUGGESSTIONS PLEASE!!?? (other than getting rid of them...

 

[newbury]

First get a VERY large cooking pot

 

[Soundguy]

Or dig a pit and chop some wood and bring plenty of mint jelly!


soundguy

 

[CurlyDave]

You need to add up the total feet of fence you have. Then go down to whatever local store sells the chargers and ask for help choosing the right one.

 

[MarkV]

Goats are one of the toughest to keep in a fence. Not sure your going to do it with what you have.

MarkV

 

[jimmyj]

Mow the perimiter where you want the fence to run or under the lowest strand of the existing fence. Then if you want spray the mowed area with roundup to stop it growing back. We don't use roundup and I just ride the mower around the inside and outside of the fence once in a while.

Do what curlydave said to determine the length of the total fence run. Then you will know what charger to get and how much more wire. I'd suggest adding 2 more strands to make your electric more goat proof. We have 5 strand electric starting 8 inches above the soil and ending about 52". It's effectively kept in various breeds of goats, cows, sheep, donkey, etc. (And it keeps varmints out which is equally important)

Because you are getting a pony you probably should make sure one of your strands is "electric tape" - it is white and high visibility. If you plan to get horses later you'll probably change the whole thing to another fence but I know lots of people who run electric tape or electrobraid rope for horses.

Ground rods are cheap, throw 3 in when you wire in the new charger.

If you want to use metal tposts then you should buy plastic caps for them. It's cheap insurance against a pony getting impaled. Use wood posts every so often and for sure at the corners and by gates for strength.

Let us know how your adventure works out!!!

 

[Soundguy]

I'd buy the hotest charger i could and run lots of strands and keep them clean.. goats are like mules and cows and will try to lean a fence down if they can.

soundguy

 

[dangerdoc]

I have inherited 2 goats this evening...and they are BIG mind you!! I have a 4 acre field that is strung with electric fence (one wire at 2 ft and another at 5ft. However, the field is overgrown, we are not sure if there is a ground, and we know we need a box...but which one??? We are also "inheriting" a pony in a few weeks. I have 3 toddlers and time and money is short...ANY SUGGESSTIONS PLEASE!!?? (other than getting rid of them...

Give them dog names and pretend they belong in the yard.

Seriously, goats are hard to keep in and some refuse to let any fence stop them.

Make the fence as hot as you can make it. Spray or mow to keep the grass off the fence and run multiple wires. If the gap is narrower than their body, they will often choose to take the shock and just slip through an electric fence.

When I was a kid, my aunt gave us goats. After about 2 months of a losing battle to keep them in, my father sent her an invitation to a goat roast, she picked up the goats and took them back home.

 

[MikeInEburg]

Another trick is to hose down the goats with water when first exposing them to the electric fence. They'll learn a bit faster...
Mike

 

[Farminprogress]

Ok, well I have mowed down the appropriate area, have t posts ready to be put in, and pretty sure enough wire to make 4 passes on the posts. So now, what fence charger do I use? Also, we are making one stall accessible for them at all times, is there anything I should know about this?