Ah, goats. Who doesn’t love them? They’re cute, they’re funny, and they help maintain your lawn. But sometimes having a goat on your property can be a real hassle — and there is no greater hassle than a goat stuck in your fence.
Unfortunately, goats getting stuck in fencing is a more common occurrence than you may think. After all, goats are curious animals and persistent escape artists. If they want out of their pen, they certainly have the will to find a way.
But if you have goats on your property, don’t worry. You’re not destined to spend every day freeing a goat from the fence line. Here are a few tips that will ensure your goats hardly ever get stuck.
Install Woven Wire Fencing for Goats
The first question many people ask us when it comes to building a goat pen is, “What type of fencing will I need?” There are several different types of fencing available — but if you ask us, a woven wire fence is the most suitable for a goat pen.
The reason for this is very simple: the wire gauge of woven wire fencing is strong enough to withstand being rammed, the knotted construction is durable enough to stay standing over the years, and designed with small enough holes that your goat won’t get his head or horns stuck in the fence. Creating a safe enclosure for your goats can present a unique challenge, but with the proper installation your goats will be safe and secure.
Mow Around Your Fencing
Goats love to eat grass and weeds, and they are practically bottomless pits. However, this means that your goat will spend a lot of time grazing throughout his pen… and if you’re not careful, his appetite could lead him right to the fence line.
There’s a simple rule of thumb with goats: if they can get their head through a space, they’re going to get their body through eventually! This is precisely why many goats find themselves stuck in fences — they put their head through the fence to get a snack just on the other side, only to find that they couldn’t get back in! If you keep the grass around your fence neat and trim, there won’t be much temptation for the goats.
Use PVC Piping
A goat’s horns can be very difficult for them to manage, especially when they are very young. As a result, many goats wind up stuck in fences because their horns got trapped between the wires or the posts. Some homesteaders avoid this problem by affixing PVC pipe to their goat’s horns, usually with duct tape.
However, it is important to remember that this method is not suitable for the long term. If you’re lucky, your goat will eventually learn not to stick his head through your fence, and his horns will almost never get tangled up. But if your goat simply won’t learn, it’s better to invest in a higher-quality fence with a smaller weave to prevent his head from fitting through.
How to Free a Stuck Goat
Of course, even if you install woven wire fencing, keep the fence line mowed, and teach your goat to keep his horns to himself, you may still come out to the pen one day and find him stuck. What do you do when you find a stuck goat? Follow these steps to free him:
- Approach the goat very slowly so you don’t startle it.
- SLOWLY lift the goat by his back legs, like a wheelbarrow.
- Tilt the goat forward to encourage him to lower his head.
- Pull back. The goat’s head should slip out of the fence easily (If it doesn’t, you might need to bend or cut your wire fencing).
While you can use this method to free a goat from your fence, it’s better to avoid this problem in the first place. Keep your goats safe by using Red Brand’s 4″x4″ Sheep & Goat wire fencing. Learn more about the features and benefits here or talk to your local Red Brand dealer to find the right woven wire fence for your herd.