Hello everyone!
This is my first post on this forum and I am excited to learn more about these little goats. I plan on getting 2 wethers and 1 doeling in the next few months and want to do everything I can to prepare for keeping them safe. I live in an area with lots of predators: coyotes, bears, cougars, birds.. pretty much every animal that can harm goats. My mom does not want to get a LGD because she says it would be too much work and she doesn't like big dogs, and other guardian animals are out of the question too. So my question is, what do you all do to protect from predators? We are thinking a 6 foot tall woven wire fence and locking them in their shelters at night, but is there anything else we should consider? Thanks so much!
Replies
That's a good idea!
If you use electric, you can put the bottom wire at the bottom on the inside of the fence, and little people won't be as likely to get shocked. If I were picking one over the other, I would pick electric too, because it's more fail safe for predator control/deterrent on a lot of levels. Putting a line on the inside will help keep goaties in the fence also!
Good to know! I'll take a look at the other opinions on fencing. Do you think that bears would be able to jump a 6 foot tall fence?
Bears will jump the barbed wire fence in a heartbeat to get to small kids. I have a friend who lost 2 babies to bears who jumped the 4 foot fence to get them. We have small children who visit our goats and were taught to go only to the gate to go in and never touch the wire. Like goats and dogs, if they do touch it they never will again! I touched it once accidentally and trust me, once was enough! Other people on this forum have had success with other types of fences so read through the posts about fencing-- there are lots of differing opinions on here!
Okay, thanks! I'll think about the electric wire since it seems to have worked so well for you! My mom is apprehensive about using electric because we have small children nearby that may want to go up and see the goats and get shocked on the fence. Do you think that barbed wire has similar benefits in keeping predators away, or is electric fencing really the best option?
I have serious predator problems here in the mountains of NC. We have coyotes howling every night and bears around our neighborhood daily. I just started my herd in the spring, starting with 2 doelings then got a pregnant doe who gave birth 8 weeks ago. I built a 6 wire electric fence with very high voltage charger and the does barn locks up at night. I have heard something "hit" the fence in the night and have seen coyotes casing the fence in the broad daylight but nothing has gotten through. I also put bacon on the fence to draw the bears to it and then they get a very bad surprise when they take the bait. They have never come back since taking the bait. The does each got shocked a few times and learned to respect the fence. Now they walk right along it without fear but seem to know exactly where their boundary is and stay within it. Even the little ones learned quickly to stay away from it. I have been very pleased with how well it has worked.
Thank you! I'm happy to be here :)
PS, WELCOME to our group!
Okay, thanks!
I have read that a strand of barbed wire at the top and bottom of the OUTSIDE (not inside, because barbed wire can hurt your goats) of your fence can help, and I've also heard the same thing about electric.