Fencing question

[ykcharrier]

Our family is new to homesteading, having just moved to the country this summer. We plan to have goats and chickens next spring (when we have appropriate housing). We have access to 160 feet of 4' chain link fencing. What modifications might I need to the goat and/or chicken yard if I used chain link? Or is it not even an appropriate beginning?

[fishhead]

I think you'll need to run an electric fence along the inside of the chain link to prevent the goats from standing on it. In that case you'd be better off to just fence in their pasture with 4-5 strands of hot electric fencing.

[pookshollow]

Chain link will hold them as long as the top and bottom are stiffened in some way. We like to use it to "line" page wire fencing - stops the little ones from oozing through the fence.

My goats tend to go under wire fences, so the bottom must be taut and tight to the ground.

[Alice In TX/MO]

Definitely a couple of strands of electric on the inside, or they will ruin it quickly.

[HappyFarmer]

We installed chainlink on the permanent doe pasture & our temporary buck pasture. The rest of the property is field fence.

Our biggest downfall was using landscape timbers (a duh!). They rotted and it is only year 6. Now we have the task of replacing poles-not fun. We are slowly converting to telephone poles.

The buck pen we put 2/4's alongside the interior, about shoulder height. This stopped them from ruining the fence. The are 50 or more feet away from any does, so not a lot of fence butting going on. Poles 5' apart.

The doe ( & dog) pasture, we ran electric along the inside, 18" and along the top. On the ground we ran old welded wire fencing we had laying around. This looked lilke Fort Knox when we were done, but it keeps my LGD's inside with no issues, kids (4-legged), and ducks (all but the really young ones). Poles were 5' apart.

Chain link works really well. Just find good poles to use, sturdy to hold the weight of the fence & not rot.

HF