Читать книгу Raising Goats For Dummies - Cheryl K. Smith - Страница 92

Goats need good fencing to keep them in and to keep predators out. You can also use fencing to protect your trees and shrubs from goats. (See the section “Making trees goat-proof.”) Goats are intelligent and curious, and if they spot a weakness in your fencing, they take advantage of it and escape.

Adequate fencing means different things in different situations. If you have kids and adult goats, you need to make sure the kids can’t get through the fencing and the adults can’t get over it. Permanent fencing around the perimeter of the goat area has to be strong enough to last for many years, while temporary fencing that allows goats to browse in different areas only has to keep them in for a limited time.

Goats love to rub on walls, fences, and even people. If you put in new fencing, make sure that you set your fence posts deep enough so that they can withstand the weight of a goat dragging his body across the fence regularly. If you use wooden posts, they need to be at least two feet deep. If you are using metal T-posts, make sure to pound them in past the V at the bottom that holds them in the ground.

If you have an area with existing fencing, walk the fence line and

 Inspect the fence for holes in or under it. Patch holes in the fence and fill or block holes under it.

 Check each fence post to make sure it’s solidly set. Replace, add a new post, or solidify the weak one.

 Measure to see whether the fence is high enough. The necessary height depends to some degree on the type of goat and the type of predators in your area. A 4-foot fence is adequate in most cases. If it isn’t, add a strand or two of electric wire or fence it higher.If the area you’re fencing borders a busy road, don’t skimp on fencing. Make sure your goats can’t get over it and cause an accident or get injured.

 Determine whether any trees need to be fenced out or around. Keep goats away from trees you don’t want eaten or that are poisonous. See the section “Protecting Your Plants” for more information.