There are many steps you can take to assure the safety of your herd, but adequate fencing is the most important action to take in properly containing your animals. Cattle panels are often chosen for livestock fencing because of their strength, affordable cost and ease of construction. Just drive some t-posts, stand up the cattle panels and secure them to the posts and you’re good to go. Nigerian Dwarf goats are small as adults, but the kids are even smaller, and they can easily fit through a 4×4 opening that comprises most cattle panels. For most adults, that 4×4 is fine, but not for kids.
Any paddock you have kids in, even some yearlings, will need that cattle panel lined with 2×4 woven wire fencing. Be sure to drop that 2×4 woven wire to the ground and wire it securely at the ground level as well as throughout the height of the woven wire. I use the 48 inch height. It’s really not ideal to use alone, so wire it to cattle panels for proper strength. Goats love to rub themselves on objects, and the fence is a favorite for my goats.
I have a teasing buck pen that is built out of Premier ranch panels (like for a round pen), then that is lined with cattle panels and additionally 2×4 woven wire. The bucks can head butt all they want and not be able to bend or move the fence, and kids or small yearlings are unable to gain entrance to their pen. It takes extra money and a bit extra time, but you’ll avoid ever having to chase down a kid who managed to get out.
