How Far Apart Should Fence Posts Be For Goats
How Far Apart Should Fence Posts Be For Goats
Fencing for goats is fairly simple, depending on what type of fence you use. Many goat owners use wooden posts for fencing, and the most common type of fence used for goats is woven wire with 3- or 4-inch square holes. If you’re using woven wire, you’ll want to drive the post a bit deeper than usual — about 15 inches (whereas with other animals, posts are typically driven 8 to 10 inches into the ground). Post spacing should be no more than 12 feet on center (measured from the center of one post to the center of the next post), but if you’re constructing an electric fence or a woven wire fence, some goat owners suggest placing your posts every 6 feet instead of every 8 to 12 feet as you normally would with other livestock animals. As far as height goes, 5 feet should be sufficient for containing most breeds of goats.
The majority of goat owners in the U.S. use wooden posts for fencing.
You can use almost any material you want to build your fence, but the majority of goat owners in the U.S. use wooden posts for fencing. Wooden posts are more durable than metal posts and less expensive than metal posts. They’re also easier to install, repair, and move because they’re usually made out of trees grown on your property or nearby farms that have been felled during a storm or drought (you may be able to barter for some free lumber!).
The most common type of fence used for goats is woven wire fence with 3- or 4-inch square holes, but in many cases, electric fence will work fine too.
The most common type of fence used for goats is woven wire fence with 3- or 4-inch square holes, but in many cases, electric fence will work fine too. Woven wire is the more expensive option, but it is also more effective and durable than electric. Many people prefer using woven wire because their goats can’t learn how to jump over it like they can with electric fences.
If you’re using woven wire, you’ll want to drive the post a bit deeper than usual — about 15 inches.
If you’re using woven wire, you’ll want to drive the post a bit deeper than usual — about 15 inches. The woven wire is designed to go into the ground at a 45-degree angle, and that’s how you will drive your posts, too. This is because goats like to push on fences with their heads and horns in an attempt to break through them. The pressure applied by their head or horn when they do this can easily cause damage if there isn’t enough tension in place to hold things together.
If they hit at an angle rather than straight on, however, it will be much harder for them to cause damage since the force isn’t being transferred directly into those areas where you’ve installed posts for support.
Post spacing is typically 8 to 12 feet on center (measured from the center of one post to the center of the next post).
Post spacing is typically 8 to 12 feet on center (measured from the center of one post to the center of the next post). If you use woven wire fencing, post spacing is closer together than if you use wooden boards or natural fencing materials.
If you are planning to build a permanent goat pen with wood posts and boards, consider using pressure-treated lumber or cedar wood so it won’t rot in your climate. You can also paint treated wood with an oil-based paint for extra protection from rain and moisture.
For woven wire and electric fences, some goat owners suggest placing your posts every 6 feet instead of every 8 to 12 feet as you normally would with other livestock animals.
For woven wire and electric fences, some goat owners suggest placing your posts every 6 feet instead of every 8 to 12 feet as you normally would with other livestock animals. Goats are smaller and lighter than most other livestock, so they can jump over a lower fence. They’re also more agile and can jump even farther than that! Plus, goats are smarter than most farm animals—they’re curious and will try to escape if an opportunity presents itself. If a goat is able to see through or under your fence or get around the end post (which should be buried at least 4 inches), then it can find its way out of its enclosure.
You want to make sure you have enough fencing material so that there isn’t any space between the wires where they cross each other—this is called “crossover.” Crossover areas are where sheep and goats will get stuck trying to pass through.
As far as height goes, 5 feet should be sufficient for containing most breeds of goats.
The height of your goat fence is dependent on the terrain and the breed of goats you’re containing. If you have a herd of Nubian goats, for example, which tend to be larger and more aggressive than other breeds, your fence should be at least 5 feet tall. For most other types of goats (including LaManchas or Toggenburgs), a fence height between 4 and 5 feet should suffice.
If you live in an area with steep hills or rocky terrain that would allow your animals to jump out over shorter fences, then you’ll want to keep them contained by using higher fencing. This can get expensive though so make sure it’s really necessary before investing in taller fences (and if it is necessary then try finding some cheaper solutions).
Fence Posts should be driven deep into the ground and should be no more than 12 feet apart
When it comes to building a fence for goats, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. First, the posts should be driven deep into the ground and should be no more than 12 feet apart. Second, make sure that your fence is at least 18 inches tall and has barbed wire running along the top of it. Third, you should attach some sort of wire mesh or netting over the bottom half of your fence to protect your goats from digging underneath it. Fourthly: dig holes for each post before installing them so they’re stable when they’re up! You don’t want any falling over on those little critters!
Finally: most importantly – don’t forget about slant-post fences! These can be installed above ground level or below ground level depending on what works best for your yard layout (or how much time/money/effort you have).
As you can see, there’s not a lot of science involved in choosing the best fence for your goats. Rather, it’s more about being practical and using common sense. It’s also important to remember that one type of fence may work best for one person, but another type might work better for you depending on your location and budget.