Time for some form of sceurity measures.

[oz in SC V2.0]

Nothing terrible has happened but no need to tempt fate.
We have heard coyotes,and I have seen them crossing the road a little distance from our place so better safe than sorry.

So...will electric fencing be enough to dissuade predators?
The idea is to run a hot wire on top of the cattle panels and maybe something along the bottom as well.

We also have vague plans for pigs,so the electric could be used for them too.

Any and all advice is appreciated.

[Donna1982]

IMO nope wouldn't trust that alone to keep them safe. Get a LGD or llama... personally I would go for the LGD. Momma has a llama who is the best guard ever but she also has a back up LGD too. The llama will come after you (just trying to spit) if you make the goats scream to much... which everyone knows if you hold them long enough they will scream like crazy. Like I said though thats just my opinion.

[nehimama]

I second LGDs. A well-bonded LGD is probably the best protection out there.

[Goat Servant]

Originally Posted by nehimama

I second LGDs. A well-bonded LGD is probably the best protection out there.

Yes! There's a guard animal section here, might wanna read up.
Our LGDs are worth their weight in gold.

[Illini]

Hi, Oz.

I can't speak to the effectiveness of LGDs, but I am pleased with my solution: My sheep and goats have pastures (segregated by gender) radiating off of covered areas attached to the barn. At night, they are brought in from the pastures to runs attached to stalls. The runs are fenced floor to ceiling and allow them fresh air, extra room, and security from our growing coyote population.

I do not have a huge herd of goats, and my sheep flock is not too large, and this works for me, as the local coyotes are most active early in the mornings and after sunset.

Best of luck to you!

Kathy

[oz in SC V2.0]

We have decided to do something along those lines.We have two small(roughly100x100) paddocks close to the house,we run wire round those,and can lock the goats in the little house I built.

Then during the day,we move them to the other paddocks to feed.

With only three very tame goats,this is hopefully possible.

[HappyFarmer]

I also recommend the LGD's.

Dont make the mistake I made & have segregation with no protection, you will lose eventually. Electric is better than nothing, placed well it will do the job, Existing fence, top, and 18" above the ground on the outside.

We put the lower strand on the inside to keep our LGD"s in, if we had no lgd's it would be on the outside of the physical barrier fence. The key is to make sure it is working all the time.

HF

[houndlover]

Good fencing (woven wire at least 48" high, 60 is better) with electric at the top and bottom, for daytime, and a good solid barn at night.

[oz in SC V2.0]

Originally Posted by houndlover

Good fencing (woven wire at least 48" high, 60 is better) with electric at the top and bottom, for daytime, and a good solid barn at night.

We have cattle panels,52'' high,t-posts every 8 feet or so.
No electric obviously and we actually do not lock them in at night,although I built a small goat house that is sturdy and could have a gate easily enough.

[SilverFlame819]

Most coyotes (unless huge) can squeeze right through cattle panels, so if you electrified the top and bottom, they'd learn to step over the wire and squeeze through a hole right above. Unless you're meaning cattle/acreage wire? I've never had a coyote squeeze through the horse panels (the squares are like 4"), but cattle panels - yep.

[oz in SC V2.0]

Tractor Supply calls them feedlot panels.
16 feet long,52 inches high.

http://www.tractorsupply.com/feedlot...16-ft--3502077