Goats are adorable and useful creatures but they have one annoying habit – they love to wander off. Whether you live in a country farm with pet goats, have a commercial arena for goats or have goats in any other setups, you will be well-aware of their curious nature.
Since goats aren’t known for their sense of smell, this can be harmful for both goats and owners in case the goats can’t find their way back home. Apart from this, there is always a risk of intruders and thieves when it comes to pets. Hence, it is imperative to create a protective space for your goats.
Thus, a fence specifically made for goats or sheep is essential for your goat’s safety and health.
We have inspected the market to see which fences perform the best. We have categorized each fence to make the choice easier for you. If you scroll down a bit, you’ll find our expert guide on how to pick the best goat fence for you.
Best fence for goats
“This one is specially designed for sheep and goats”
Best Portable Fence: Family Portable Electric Fence Polywire
“Then this is definitely one of the best fences out there”
Best Non-Electric fence: Keystone Steel and Wire 70305
“A non-electrical fence that sticks out due to its quality and good durability”
Popular: Premier 42’ Electric Goat Net Fence
“carefully designed to effectively keep your goats safe”
Best Overall: Starkline Electric Sheep and Goat Netting
- Versatile
- Renowned brand
- Lightweight and portable
- Ideal gaps between strings
- Double-spike feature means this fence will keep standing in any condition
- Easy and steady insertion in soil
- Visible colors: green & orange
- Energizer is not included
Starkline have more than 20 years of experience in manufacturing fences. Over the years, Starkline has introduced many innovative designs in accordance with popular demands. Each of their products is designed keeping in mind requirements for different animals. This one is specially designed for sheep and goats.
This goat fence from Starkline is 35 inches tall, which is good enough to keep animals like goats and sheep inside a designated area. It is 164 feet in length. Its vertical strings are distanced at every 8.5 inches. This distance will effectively keep animals like sheep and goats contained. Simultaneously, this design will keep intruding animals like raccoons and coyotes out.
This fence works with low resistance. It requires around 0.8 Joules per net to effectively conduct an electric charge.
The feature that sets this fence apart from others is that it has double-spiked fiberglass posts. This was done to provide twice as much support for the fence setup. For those living in hilly areas, single-spiked posts may present some difficulty in supporting the whole setup due to harder ground.
Best Portable Fence: Family Portable Electric Fence Polywire
- Enhanced durability in sun
- Can be cut in desired shape/size
- Can be reshaped again
- High visibility
- Not expensive
- Very portable
- Recommended for temporary fencing only
- Tall grass around fence may decrease its conductivity
Usually, electric fences are heavier and not really portable, but this is not a problem with Family Portable Electric Fence. It only comes in at 2.4 pounds!
This fence has a length of 1312 feet and weighs around 2.4 pounds without packaging, making it one of the most lightweight fences. This product consists of 6 strands made of stainless steel. The stainless steel wires are a good conductor of electricity. To protect stainless steel from rusting, a braided exterior layer is added.
Normally, constant exposure to the sun can cause damage to fence wires. However, the Family Portable Electric Fence features UV stabilized polymer webbing. This makes the wires flexible and allows you to wrap them around posts or woods with ease.
Its alluring features are that it is very easy to install and repair. If you want a specific length of fence, its wires can be cut or spliced quite easily. It can be repaired in similar fashion again.
Best Non-Electric fence: Keystone Steel and Wire 70305
- Durable
- Safe for humans and animals due to safe edges
- Good value for money
- Ideal for both plain and hilly areas
- Perfect fit for building a cage for plants or animals
- Not electrical
- Only available in silver color
If you prefer products made in America, you will love this as this company manufactures everything locally. For goat fencing, we picked their Keystone Steel and Wire 70305 fence. No sagging over time, just pure quality that secures your animals and keeps them safe.
Keystone Steel and Wire fence has the following dimensions; 48-inch height and 100 feet length. This height and length are perfect for creating fenced areas for goats or similar animals. The material used in this fence is 12.5 gauge, class-1 galvanized steel, which is quite strong and sturdy.
Also, Red Brand Store kept the safety of your beloved pets in mind while designing this fence. Their patented Square Deal knot prevents injury to animals when they try to scratch fence. The product design is such that it will flex on impact, thereby absorbing the force and minimizing the chance of injury. Furthermore, this innovative knot is what makes these fences rigid and durable.
To make the fence stand up straight, special wire crimps are added at the bottom of the fence. These can be inserted easily into the soil and they are able to withstand the harshest weather.
Definitely a recommended fence if you don’t want an electrical one. We like this one a lot!
Popular: Premier 42’’ Electric Goat Net Fence
- Repels intruders like stray animals
- Easy installation
- Multiple rolls of net
- Good electrical conductivity
- Affordable price range
- Energizer is not included
- Using continuous current may lead to damage
- Strings may get a little saggy over time
The fence is 42-inch tall and 164 feet long. Enough height to keep goats contained and safe. Furthermore, the fence is yellow in color, keeping in mind visibility for both humans and animals.
It features 9 horizontal strands that cover a great area. Its vertical strings have 6 inches distance between them. Moreover, to keep smaller animals in or small intruders, like rats, out these net strings are woven closer together at the bottom. These vertical and horizontal strings are carefully designed to effectively keep your goats safe.
Most importantly, as the name indicates, Premier 42’’ Electric Goat Net Fence is an electric fence. It is made from stainless steel to provide good conductivity. Moreover, it has tinned copper superconductor woven into it. For charging, it has approximate resistance of 35 ohms per 1000 feet of fences. It is vital to know that you should keep non-conductive supports at ends and at corners to use this fence safely.
As for installation, it will take 15 minutes at most. For this purpose, this fence has pre-fitted PVC posts at the bottom for easy insertion into soil.
How to find the best fence for goats
Having reviewed some products in-depth, it is now vital to consider factors that may influence the purchase. Since it is about protection of your beloved goats, it is imperative to know the basics of goat fences. There are various types of fences, each with its pros and cons. Moreover, things like height and area are to be kept in mind while designing fences, among other things. You may feel overwhelmed with all the information, but don’t worry – our buyer’s guide will walk you through these basics and help you in finding the best fence for your needs.
Types of Fences
4-5 Strand Electric Fencing
4 or 5 strands of wire are a common choice in electrical fences. When charged, these electric wires have a smooth current running through them, which keeps the goats inside. Similarly, any intruder will be warned off.
Pros
- Easy to install
- Many options available in market today
- Acts as psychological barrier to keep goats in containment
Cons
- Have to cut grass around the fence periodically, otherwise current is disturbed
- Goats can sense when there is no electric current, and try to escape then
Square Wire Fencing
Another popular option is square-wire fencing with 4-inch squares. These are made from sturdy materials to help keep goats inside. These squares are woven closely together to keep goats from putting their heads between them.
Pros
- Big goats won’t be able to put their heads outside this fence
- Easily available in market
- Durable
- The material used in these fences is strong, so goats will not be able to pull them down
Cons
- Smaller goats or younger ones can find way to squeeze through openings
Woven Field Fencing
This category of fences utilizes woven wires which are strong and durable. Such wires have wider gaps between them. But you may have seen them being used in mini farms or other such areas.
Pros
- Less expensive than square wire fences
- It is preferred for smaller areas
- Useful for larger animals, as they won’t be able to escape from the gaps
Cons
- Wider gaps mean some smaller animals can escape or get in
- Goats heads can get stuck in these gaps, risking injury
Cattle Panels
One of the strongest options in animal fencing is cattle panels. They are commonly available in 16-foot sections and have good durability. They are used for containment purposes around big farms.
Pros
- Strong fences made specially for caging
- Good length – they can be used for larger areas
- They are used as dividing panels between different animals too
Cons
- Not viable option for smaller areas
- They are more expensive than other types of fences
Welded Wire Fencing
Welded wires can be used as fences too. They are easily available, and one can construct a fence using welded wires themselves too.
Pros
- Can be built at home if you have access to such wires
- Cheap alternative
- Good option if you have few animals
Cons
- Not really durable – goats can abuse it easily
To figure out which type of fence suits you, analyze your needs and any possible restraints, and compare them with pros and cons of each type of fence. This will help you make the right choice!
Ideal Height of Fences for Goats
When it comes to the height of fencing panels, you will see different options available in market. The fence heights mostly range from 32 to 48 inches. These are good heights to keep goats from wandering off. If you have bigger animals, then of course you should consider a higher height. In our reviews, we presented some great options in varying heights that you can choose from.
Head Gaps in Fence
Goats have habit of putting their heads in the gaps in fences, out of curiosity or in an effort to get out.
Square wire fences are a great way to deter goats from getting their head stuck in the fence. Generally speaking, a fence with 4-inch square is best for goats.
There are fences with 6-inch squares too. However, we would not recommend these as goats can get stuck in them. There is even a 12-inch square option, but it is too wide to be used as goat fence. Goats are inquisitive, so they will definitely try to escape from such fences.
Area of Fence
Some people tend to overlook this factor, despite it being a crucial one – just as humans prefer their space to be accommodating, animals like a good space too. Your goats should be happy with the space they are in. Although there are no hard and fast rules, we have some general recommendations for you.
250 square feet of space per animal is usually considered to be good. So with two goats, 500 square feet fencing should be optimal. However, it is a well-known fact that the more the area, the happier and more playful the goats will be.
Breed of Goats
Diverse breeds of goats exist, each with their own capabilities in climbing and jumping. If your goats easily take higher leaps and run fast, you may consider getting a higher fence for them.
Visibility of Fence
When running around, some animals may not clearly see thin and bleak colored fences. So it is advised to select brightly-colored, thick fences. Animals may also remember shiny colors. Thereby, using a shiny electric fence is beneficial because goats will remember it and try not to cross it.
Obstacles
Obstacles or distractions are a great idea for making most of your goat fence. An obstacle may mean any tree near the fence or a raised platform. As for distractions, you can use different toys to keep your goats busy in their containment. This will deter goats from climbing over the fence.
Fence Attachment
To make sure your mischievous goats don’t escape through fence, here is a big tip:
You should attach the wire panels with the inner surface of the fencing post. When goats push against it, they won’t be able to detach the wires from fence post. A common mistake that people tend to make is attaching wires with outer surface of posts. This allows the goats to break free.
Climate Factor
Climate is also an important factor. In areas with dryer weather, electric fences will not be able to perform as well. This is due to fact that moisture in soil acts as a natural conductor, and dryer areas do not have very moist soil.
Moreover, some places have harsher climates. For them, it is advised to go for the strongest and most durable fences available. Only strong fences will be able to withstand rains and storms.
Other Tips
- Design of fence should be able to keep predators off
- Be sure to clear debris and tall grass around an electric fence for better conductivity
- Whatever the choice of your fence is, it should be maintained regularly
- It is vital to keep safety in mind. Read product descriptions and view safety instructions before finalizing your purchase
- Look out for sagging and chewing in the wires.
Conclusion
Keeping up with goats sounds like a fun challenge. You may have some funny stories too, when it comes to your goats’ antics. However, taking safety precautions and building a safe confinement space is beneficial for both the owner and the animals. Goats’ fences are used exactly for this purpose. Many companies and vendors are selling different types and builds of animal fences.
We reviewed some great options of goat fences available today. We highly recommend all four of our reviewed products, but your final choice should depend on your specific needs. From the perspective of functionality, you should consider Starkline Electric Sheep and Goat Netting. Its electrical conductivity is good enough to keep your goats safe and inside the fence. Moreover, it allows easy installation and superior grip in soil.
If you are looking for something other than an electrical fence or want a cheaper option, we recommend Keystone Steel and Wire Fence 70305. With great durability, it will provide the best value for money. That’s not all – this fence is designed to eliminate the danger of injury to goats. These versatile fences can be used anywhere due to their sturdy build.
Additionally, for selecting best goat fences, our buyer’s guide summed up all the basics you need to know about goat fencing. By reading that, you will be more confident in your purchase.