Good for housing goats?

[WingItRanch]

I've been wanting goats for a long time. My future plans are to get Nigerian Dwarfs for milking but I don't have the time to dedicate to milking. However, I just got new acreage that is very overgrown and thought this would be a good time to maybe get some wethers as pets and for landscaping. Can someone with goat experience tell me if this is good housing for goats until I can get stables built?

It's pretty overgrown with weeds and small trees. I think it was used to house pigs many years ago. It's fully fenced with 3 pens but there's pathways I could keep open for access to the whole encloser. I checked and it's very solid.

 

[StinkyAcres]

The only thing I can see that concerns me is the fence panels. Goats can get their heads stuck in fences that have gaps that are too big, especially if they have horns. They make goat and sheep panels that have smaller squares.

 

[WingItRanch]

The only thing I can see that concerns me is the fence panels. Goats can get their heads stuck in fences that have gaps that are too big, especially if they have horns. They make goat and sheep panels that have smaller squares.

Hmm good point. Haha that was an unintentional pun.

If I got goats that have been disbudded when they were young, would that be ok? If not, I'll just wait until my stables and proper fencing is done... years from now.

 

[StinkyAcres]

Hmm good point. Haha that was an unintentional pun.

If I got goats that have been disbudded when they were young, would that be ok? If not, I'll just wait until my stables and proper fencing is done... years from now.

One of my goats who was disbudded got his head stuck between the bars of a hay feeder and we had to cut a metal bar in order to get him out. Goats will find a way!

 

[StinkyAcres]

One of my goats who was disbudded got his head stuck between the bars of a hay feeder and we had to cut a metal bar in order to get him out. Goats will find a way!

And we were warned not to get the corner hay feeders that have tapered bars because goats get stuck in them. But this hay feeder didn't have tapered bars!

 

[WingItRanch]

Oh boy... haha ok thank you!! I know they'll be a handful!

 

[StinkyAcres]

I know they'll be a handful!

You better believe they will be!

 

[The Moonshiner]

The only thing I can see that concerns me is the fence panels. Goats can get their heads stuck in fences that have gaps that are too big, especially if they have horns. They make goat and sheep panels that have smaller squares.

#facts
Goat fence has 4"x4". Bigger then that doesn't work. I had one strip with "field fence" 6"x6". They'd get their head stuck and fought like you were trying to kill them when trying to get their heads out. I took to cutting the fence. Then as I did a quick repair They'd walk two foot down and stick their head through another spot.
Chain link even when super tight they'd quickly learn to push up the bottom and wiggle under. Other fence they'd stand up and push till it gave a little then climb over.
Someone once told me to check goat fence take a bucket of water and throw the water against the fence. If it doesn't hold the water in it won't hold a goat in. That isn't far from the truth.

 

[WingItRanch]

#facts
Goat fence has 4"x4". Bigger then that doesn't work. I had one strip with "field fence" 6"x6". They'd get their head stuck and fought like you were trying to kill them when trying to get their heads out. I took to cutting the fence. Then as I did a quick repair They'd walk two foot down and stick their head through another spot.
Chain link even when super tight they'd quickly learn to push up the bottom and wiggle under. Other fence they'd stand up and push till it gave a little then climb over.
Someone once told me to check goat fence take a bucket of water and throw the water against the fence. If it doesn't hold the water in it won't hold a goat in. That isn't far from the truth.

Haha oh no

I did do research on goat fencing and know I need at least 4.5 ft woven wire with smaller openings. I just was hoping to use this pen since it's already finished for me. No worries, I'd rather do it right the first time than having to constantly rescue goat heads.

Not sure what else I could use this enclosure for.. I don't really want pigs.

 

[The Moonshiner]

Disbudding isn't always good either. My male was disbudded but he grew horns anyways. They grew wonky and one curved back a bit to much. As he was getting closer to adulthood it was obvious it would soon be going against his skull.
I was researching about dehorning him at that age and if it was possible.
Then one day he somehow escaped and my neighbor stopped to tell me he just hit my goat out front with his old pick up. Said goat went cartwheeling into the field across the road. He was sure he was dead.
He was upset with himself and I was telling him my goat, my bad, not to worry etc when the goat walked up to us in the driveway.
Didn't even phase that goat except it took that one horn off right at the skull and it was clean not bleeding or anything. That ended up being a good thing but ya goats are a pita. I had Nigerian Dwarfs