Something to Eat Paddock

I currently own 4 large goats (Nubian/Boer mixes) and 1 really large Suffolk mix ewe. As for "would they eat it?" I would pretty much bank on it! My goats are pigs, and love just about anything. You just need to makes sure nothing in that area is toxic ie: Tansy, Rhodies, Azaleas, etc. However, depending on the size of goats/sheep you might use, durable fencing is a must. In my experience, goats are harder to contain. They will climb, go under, or just plow over easy fencing. My ewe is pretty big, apx 250lbs, but she doesn't climb. Now, my goats are kind of big, ranging from just over 100lbs being the smallest, to the boys that are around 200ish. I've had to switch from field fencing to cattle panels in some areas, because they will stand on the fence, trying to reach up and or over for food. This completely destroyed the fencing. The cattle panels have withstood them for a year so far.Guess you could run some hot wire if need be. Not sure a mesh would work. They probably would just go right through it, or try to chew it up. I've seen farmers use portable electric type "strands" for allowing sheep to graze in certain areas. You might consider this.I'm going to guess that if it is just weeds and grass, and somewhat flimsy fencing, sheep might be a better answer. Hard to say without seeing the fencing, though. Good luck

 

Here are my naughty monsters, before they annihilated the fence and we had to put up the cattle panels. The three on the fence are the boys, the worst climbers of them all. Those three always seem to find trouble

As for the temporary electric fencing, I do think you have to run an electric cord to it. I think it is basically like hot wire tape that you can put on stakes. The sheep seem to respect it pretty good. I know my boys wouldn't though, lol!

 

Agreed.
Get a goat!

 

Goats are notorious for eating all sorts fo bruch and being difficult to contain. I would tether and move the tether every day. Better than chasing them all over the county!

 

Unless your going to be able to supervise them, I worry about any kind of animal, especially a goat, being tied up. Years ago, my hubby did this every once in a while to eat back some berry bushes, while we were home. It never failed that they would get themselves tangled on something. Alot of the times, they tangled up their own legs, pretty much hogtying themselves. Depending on what you use to tie them, that could really injure them. Just a thought.

 

Yomama, your goats are beautiful! I also have 3 boer boys but mine are not de-horned! I do use cattle panels for the areas I let the boys go in when I am around. I can't let them be in without checking on them for very long though because they WILL get their heads stuck in the cattle panels because the weeds are always yummier on the other side of the fence!! LOL

 

Tying a goat out depends on the goat. Some are excellent tied out, others will kill themselves. Maa and Bay are good tied, ShyShy well, not so much! I tie maa and bay and move them all over the property with their dog house. They get the best food that way. ShyShy is a naughty goat and has to be properly contained, lol. If you can do goats, they are excellent at eating ...EVERYTHING.