How to Build Fences for Goats

Goats, being both nimble and intelligent, are notoriously difficult to fence. They happily chew and weaken most traditional fencing materials, and have been known both to dig under or climb over a wide variety of fence types. The most economical type of goat fencing is a heavy gauge stock fencing, which is available at most farm supply outlets. Cheaper versions will rarely last, so test the strands for strength before committing to a purchase.

Things You'll Need

  • Cement
  • 7 inch wooden fence posts
  • 4-by-4 lumber
  • Wood saw
  • 1-1/2 inch heavy-duty staples
  • Tape measure
  • Metal lumber spikes
  • Metal T posts
  • Wire ties
  • Brightly colored string
  • Post hole digger
  • Ratchet-type wire stretchers
  • Livestock gate
  • An assistant
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Instructions

  1. Building The Fence

    • 1

      Dig your corner fence pole holes at least 3 1/2 feet deep and four inches wider than the post on all sides. This space allows for enough cement to hold the post solidly for years.

    • 2

      Run a brightly-colored string around your corner posts to mark the fence line.

      This will ensure that your inner posts are neatly aligned.

    • 3

      Place braces six feet away from each corner post on either side according to the desired shape of your enclosure.

      Set these posts deeply with cement.

    • 4

      Cut single 4-by-4 boards to fit between the corner and brace posts. Using your tape measure, mark lines roughly 2/3 up the posts, and spike the 4-by-4 boards into place along these lines, joining the corner posts to their braces.

    • 5

      Identify your intended gate area.

      After digging post holes of a minimum depth of four feet, place your posts and set them with concrete at the width appropriate for your selected gate.

    • 6

      Pound steel T-posts at eight foot intervals along your string line.

    • 7

      Begin stretching the woven wire along the posts.

      Place it on the "goat side" of the posts, and draw it taut with two ratchet-style wire stretchers. As a rule of thumb, the fence should not be pulled so tight that the small waves in the wire are pulled straight.

    • 8

      Staple the wire to the wooden posts using 1-1/2 inch heavy staples.

      Wire the fencing tightly to the metal posts every six inches.

    • 9

      Attach the gate, and introduce your goats to their new enclosure.