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

[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...

Have you considered eating one or two legs from each goat? Then you might stand a fighting chance with the rest of the critter.

 

[CurlyDave]

I hesitate to mention this, because it might be expensive, but the people who make the "invisible fence" for dogs claim that it also works very well for goats.

Surely it is not cost effective for a whole herd, but for two goats, it might be less costly than building the world's strongest fence.

I know when I had to keep two dogs in, it was a lot easier (and cheaper) to lay a single strand of wire around the property line and buy two collars than it would have been to upgrade the existing fence to dog-proof it.

You can adjust the range to start shocking the animal 6-8 feet before it gets to the physical fence, which discourages constant testing of the fence.

 

[weldingisfun]

Nice Web site you have there, Chris. Your Old Zach looks a lot like our Ricky.

Hey, BX Tex, I spoke to that same oldtimer and he told me the same story. I also found out, the hard way, that he was right.

 

[JohnDeere4300]

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

I have tried that before.

My goats would walk up to the fence and just stand there looking at the wire...THEN... they would put their nose to the wire and get shocked and run forward...straight through the fence.

It took my goats 4 months to use to the electric fence....but then the deer starting running through it....and i would have to work on it every day until i put up barbed wire.

 

[jimmyj]

What kind of fencing are these goats used to from where they lived before? If it worked there, maybe just copy that.

 

[firefighter9208]

Nice Web site you have there, Chris. Your Old Zach looks a lot like our Ricky.

Hey, BX Tex, I spoke to that same oldtimer and he told me the same story. I also found out, the hard way, that he was right.

Thanks!!! Zach has been sold and we are looking for another Herd Sire. We are currently using Oreo, but he can't breed any of our replacement does, because they are his half sisters.

I haven't found the right one yet. Well, actually I have, but my wife hasn't agreed to the price.

I really need to update our website.

Chris
Hill Farm Boer Goats

 

[Soundguy]

While thinking about this.. deer fence should keep them in as well.

soundguy

 

[carpenter383]

I hesitate to mention this, because it might be expensive, but the people who make the "invisible fence" for dogs claim that it also works very well for goats.

Surely it is not cost effective for a whole herd, but for two goats, it might be less costly than building the world's strongest fence.

I know when I had to keep two dogs in, it was a lot easier (and cheaper) to lay a single strand of wire around the property line and buy two collars than it would have been to upgrade the existing fence to dog-proof it.

You can adjust the range to start shocking the animal 6-8 feet before it gets to the physical fence, which discourages constant testing of the fence.

I've been thinking about trying exactly this. I have a hillside that's too steep to mow, but needs cleaned up. I also thought about putting a leash on a goat and moving it around every so often, but there are alot of trees for a leash to get wrapped around. Anyone out there tried a shock collar on a goat before?

 

[Soundguy]

Having had animals run thru wire fences when spooked.. my advice is that an invisible fence as the only fence is a bad idea. With a backup fence.. sure... possible idea.

soundguy