goat pallet fence?

[mad_misky]

I don't have a goat yet, but I want to get one this summer for milk and I've heard many horror stories of goats escaping and destroying the garden. I was thinking of making a movable goat pen out of wooden pallets (like this: http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/sawyer69.html) and am wondering if this seems sturdy enough to you goat people. I have 160 acres of pasture, but it's not fenced in a goat-proof way, so I was thinking of just building a pen I could move around, you know?

Anyway, so what do you think?

[ihedrick]

If I had mine in a pallet fence and they wanted out; they'd be out! And then beg to be let back in...

[ladycat]

If it's only 40 inches tall they may jump right over it.

[Backfourty,MI.]

If they have a big enough area with enough to eat & play with or on they might not want out too bad but you'll need at least 2 goats. One will be too lonely & eventually will quit milking because of it most likely. A bored goat is an unhappy goat.

[mad_misky]

Are cattle panels sturdy enough if I made a square out of them? Also - is a mom and baby goat enough to keep each other company?

[ladycat]

Cattle panels with a mom and baby goat should work.

[4h farmer]

eeek a can we say the goats may not so much jump it but might eat thier way out .. its a known fact goats eat wood not saying they will but they might lol

[RiverPines]

Our pens are pallet fenced.
We used large pallets and didnt take them apart. They are 4 1/2 feet tall.
We nailed them together, overlapping and staggered, one in front, one in back, repeat for a straight row.

Our goats dont get out or eat them.

Best of all free.

[BobDFL]

Originally Posted by mad_misky

Are cattle panels sturdy enough if I made a square out of them? Also - is a mom and baby goat enough to keep each other company?

I was cattle panels and T-Posts all the time, and they work great.

But if you could get a Solar or battery charger and moveable electric fence may be a better option. You can make as big or small as you want and can go around trees and other obstacles.

My Nubians and Boer crosses are so scared of the electris twin I use, that just 2 strands keep them in (or out) as the case may be.

[Madfarmer]

You'll get real tired of pulling de-nailing pallets REAL fast. Quickest, easiest, moveable pen is livestock panels on T-posts, held on with zip-ties. Premier one also sells a spiral rod that can be used at the joints to tie two panels together.

Madfarmer

[Minelson]

My favorite is cattle panels..although I actually use combo panels which is the same but the square hole openings are smaller on the bottom and gradually get larger towards the top. Around here they call them hog panels. Here is a picture of my goats in their summer pen where I used the panels
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b8...D550/ry%3D400/

[ladycat]

Originally Posted by Minelson

My favorite is cattle panels..although I actually use combo panels which is the same but the square hole openings are smaller on the bottom and gradually get larger towards the top. Around here they call them hog panels.

Around here, cattle panels and hog panels are 2 different things.

[Minelson]

Originally Posted by ladycat

Around here, cattle panels and hog panels are 2 different things.

Here too...but some people call combination panels hog panels...

[mad_misky]

RiverPines - do you move the pallet fences around ever or are they too heavy?

[oldtimer 417]

I have heard so many complaints of goats and fences.I guess I have just been lucky.My fainting goats are easy on fences,because they can't jump very well.Some of them have trouble getting over a 1 foot high partision in the barn.If you are worried about goats and fences,I suggest Tenn.Fainting Goats.They are good meat goats,and I have heard fair milkers.