In all my years of owning goats…
Never has anything proved quite as frustrating as building a strong goat pen.
You’d think that goats (being relatively small & docile) wouldn’t be so tough to contain.
But oh no.
It’s like Jurassic Park over here.
Except, instead of being killed and/or eaten, you just have a goat staring at you silently through your kitchen window. Nobody dies, but it’s still hella creepy.
Building a Goat Pen
Because goats are amazing escape artists, you need to really do your research before you settle on what kind of goat pen you want.
Let me show you a few standout features of our pen, then you can enjoy our step-by-step video tutorials below.
The Goat Pen Design
The main purpose for our goat pen was for containing our goats during the winter so we could re-seed the pasture and allow it to rest. During the rest of the year, our goats only need to be contained when we flood irrigate our pasture.
I wanted the entire goat pen to be divided into two separate areas.
- The larger part of the goat pen would be larger to keep all the goats together for the majority of the time
- The smaller part of the goat pen would be for when we need to separate a doe who needs to be alone with her babies. With our 4 Nigerians & 1 Nubian, the larger area is perfect for housing them.
The fence was a little tricky to figure out with the slopes on our property (we need them to manage our flood irrigation levels), but I think it turned out just great!
The total size of our pen is 44x32ft (1400 sqft) The larger area is 40×32 (1280 sqft) The smaller section of the goat pen is 4x32ft (128 sqft)
We ended up deciding on a 4 ft high fence, which is a little short for goats. We chose a shorter fence because we keep the smaller Nigerian Dwarf goats and we don’t own (or plan on ever owning) a buck. Aside from an occasional baby goat using an object to jump out, this should work for us.
Shade & Shelter for your Goat Pen
The day we broke ground on building our goat pen was also the day we found out our large Cottonwood tree was full of aggressive bees. Sadly, we were advised to remove the tree altogether, since most of it had been hollowed out and replaced by those lovely, but aggressive, bees.
We were really bummed about this. Not only because we hated the idea of killing bees (even if they were Africanized), but because that tree was going to provide shade for our future goat pen.
To solve the shade problem, we build a goat house and then also added two shade trees to the outside of the pen. I HIGHLY recommend adding a good shade source for your goats. It’s so horrible to see goats locked up suffering in the blazing sun.
You can see in our pictures below we had to build a barrier around our shade trees, too. Otherwise, the goats would devour them.
That Tilly. Always causing problems for us 😉
Building a Goat Pen: Step by Step Video Tutorials
Watch our videos below on how to build your own goat pen! And be sure to click here to subscribe to our channel. We show daily videos of life here on our little farm that you won’t wanna miss!
It looks like you made a new hay feeding area since the hay bags were used. I am searching for the post that talks about it or shows it as I would like to incorporate it into my feeding area as my goats masts so much hay. Can you direct me to either the plans or the post
Hi Heather-
I’m sorry, there aren’t any posts or design plans. There’s only the images from the YouTube videos.
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
I have a Nubian castrated male and a Nigerian dwarf. My Nubian keeps walking on its knees and we always clip his hooves I don’t know what to do.
Hi Elle-
It sounds like your goat may have laminitis/founder. This article will give your more information about it: https://www.tennesseemeatgoats.com/articles2/founderingoats.html#:~:text=Ice%2Dwater%20immersion%20of%20hooves,longer%20hot%20to%20the%20touch.&text=If%20the%20goat%20has%20been,the%20legs%20will%20have%20shortened.
Best wishes for your goat.
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
We are getting our 3 month old Nigerian Dwarf goats in 2 weeks. It is over 100 degrees in So. California right now and it’s probably hotter in Arizona. Since goats don’t like water, how do you keep them cool? I take it they don’t like misters.
Hi Patti-
Congrats on getting your goat!
And yes it’s important to keep them cool.
When it is hot make sure they have access to plenty of fresh cool water, lots of shade, and open breezes (fans can help with this). Also, you can run a sprinkler and make frozen treats for them.
Best of luck with the heat!
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
We watch all your YouTube videos and I had been admiring your fencing. I was hoping to find the information here. Thanks! If/ when we do end up with goats just know I am blaming you guys. In all seriousness thanks for the countless hours of entertainment.
Hi Travis-
So glad you like the videos! And no worries, we will take the blame for that! 😉
Thank you for the kind words and commenting!
-Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Hello!
I was just wondering where you found the materials for your fencing? I’m having a hard time figuring out what to do in my own backyard here in Mesa, as termites will obviously get to wood in no time flat, and I love the look of your pipe/panel combo!
Hi Amanda-
The Lowe’s in South Gilbert on Higley & Williamsfield usually has a lot of panels, but do be sure to call first and make sure they have some in stock. You can also try going to Tractor Supply Co. out in Chandler.
I hope that helps! Good luck with your fencing!
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Thanks! 🙂
We don’t have a barn, but have two large dog houses set up for our goats. They also are on 20 foot tie outs. Unfortunately we could not keep them contained with fencing. Our male would climb it like a cat (6ft fence). So that was ALOT of money wasted and time putting it up. Then we tried shock collars since we have an underground electric fence for our dogs and that didn’t work (they just walked right through it as if it wasn’t even there) so again a lot of money wasted (shock collars are $60 a piece). We have too many kids that run around our yard to do an above ground electric, I would be afraid one would get hurt. So far they are doing great on the tie outs, we have stakes pounded in the ground and the hooks that spin so they don’t get tangled. Our hillside is kept clear as they don’t wonder off to my front yard and eat my rose bushes now or my mums Ha Ha! What are your thoughts on them being tied up? They have water and shelter available at all times and we let them off the leads occasionally to have free run of the yard when we are outside to keep them out of my “plants”. I was really bummed when we couldn’t get the fencing to work because they had a huge fenced area to browse, but Rambo (the male) kept getting out and went straight to my neighbors house and ate ALL of her plants. Luckily she thought it was funny and didn’t mind since fall is just around the corner and they would be dying soon anyway. Shew!
Hi Chasity-
I have never tied my goats, but do know folks who have. If you can create a proper set up so the goats can roam and not harm themselves, and this is your best option, then it is probably best for you and your goats. I have had goats that climbed fences before, but it was usually because they were in a fairly small area and they wanted more forage. For those cases I built a wire top for my goats and solved the problem of them getting out. I also gave them more tree limbs, etc. for foraging on. Good luck with your escape artist goaties! Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Chasity,
What type of goats are climbing six-foot fences? Just curious! (We’re looking into getting a couple of pygmy goats.) I’m wondering if a “no-climb” wire fence mounted on posts would work? While tying a goat for a period of time seems OK, I’d be worried about them getting wrapped up in the tie (around the neck) if left that way all the time when nobody is around to see or hear them. Just my thoughts. I have horses and ponies and half the battle to caring for them is ruling out every possible way they can get themselves hurt or tangled up in something. Good luck! 🙂
Thank you for this installation sequence. I came across your rotational pasture plan a couple weeks ago. I want to implement a similar plan into my 2 acre field and get Nigerian Dwarf Goats. Did you ever put that plan into play? I would love to know how it is going for you. Bless yall. Much love from Fl. 🙂
Hi Lauren-
No, DaNelle hasn’t yet. She is changing the fencing this spring and will start the rotation then. Thanks for reading and posting! Good luck on your plan and keep checking the site and YouTube channel for updates! https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCf4zEY4qO8OSK5P3sP9MMEQ
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)