Goats are notorious for escaping even closed enclosures, and they are naturally curious about climbing around any obstacle. Therefore, keeping these mischievous animals with their determination to push boundaries is quite challenging. A secure enclosure or an electric fence for goats is often the need of the hour for goat herders.
With proper installation and planning, goats will be safe. Electric fences are secure for the goats even if they get zapped by the hot wires. Even the young goats will only feel a sting if they wander close to the fence. Quality materials will also lead to a durable enclosure with low maintenance charges. Therefore, it is essential to install the fence properly for zero hassles in the future.
Planning the Goat Enclosure
A goat herder must determine the farm space before installing the fence. A one-acre farm will roughly hold around 10 to 12 goats, depending on factors like breed, land management, and vegetation. The goats also need adequate room for their activities without feeling suffocated. Goats are known to be avid climbers. Therefore, in addition to feeding requirements, the herder must also ensure that the goats do not have an opportunity to jump over the fence. Thus, the enclosure must be far away from vantage points like trees, limbs, shreds, and rocks.
Materials for Setting Up the Fence
An electric fence for goats is a fantastic option for full pastures. Only a few materials are required to set up the fence.
- T-posts
- Galvanized steel wires or aluminum wires
- T-post insulators
- Corner Post insulators
- Electric fence charger
- Grounding rods
Steps to Install Electric Fence
First, the T-posts are dug every 12 to 16 feet apart as electric fencing does not require as many posts as woven wires. There are roughly four to five strands of electric wire in a goat fence; therefore, each T-post will have a similar number of insulators. After the posts are lined along the perimeter, the electric fencing wire is strung.
The electric fencing begins by attaching the insulator to the starting point. Each strand of the wire is wrapped around the insulator. The hot wires are placed nine-inch above the ground. Therefore, there are four hot wires for a four-strand fence.
Every corner needs to have a corner insulator. An electric fence charger is a must for a goat herder, and one must follow the instructions to set the charger correctly. The charger is attached to the fence and also to the grounding rods.
Pros of Electric Fencing
- Electric fencing is cheaper than woven wires. For more extensive pastures, electric wires are convenient and cost-effective.
- Electric posts are possible to construct on uneven terrains. Woven wires leave significant gaps in hilly areas, allowing the goats to escape quickly.
- Woven wires take a lot of pulling and take a long time to wire around T-post clips. In comparison, it is quicker to install electric wires.
- After getting zapped once, the goats do not attempt to climb or push the fence. Therefore, it is easier for the goat herder to manage.
Final Thought
There are many ways of using an electric fence apart from the traditional method. The fences can be used to divide pastures for rotational grazing or the more extensive fields into smaller ones. A single strand of electric wire can also be used on top of woven wires to prevent the goats from climbing the fence. Therefore, electric fencing is the most convenient, inexpensive, and quick option for all goat herders.
