[crosser]

is it right for a goat to be tied up with a fair length to get around?  i remember my nan years ago always having a couple tied up in the field as they kept escaping.. 

[Roxy]

My own personal view - I do not tether, nor think it suitable.  There is always the danger of the goat getting the chain tangled and hanging itself. 

Not sure if its still legal to tether a goat?  I know the RSPCA do not agree with it.  If it has to be done (to restrain a goat who escapes) then the chain needs a swivel in the middle to stop it getting tangled, and I would say it needs moving twice a day as the goat will soon get eaten up.

To be honest, I would expect a visit from the RSPCA if a goat was tethered, to check its welfare.  There again, I see ponies tethered on the roadside when I am travelling about.

[Anke]

Tethering with a swivel in the ground allowing free movement is (still) legal, but now universally frowned upon.

I think goats can be kept in their paddock quite well with electric wire, and if necessary wires (don't need to be tensioned) higher up, if she is a particularly good jumper...  The danger with tethering is that if you have your goats together the chances are high that they get their respective chains all tangled up... (I have always several goats grazing quite close to their "friends", and others having their own little group.

If there is no way of fencing them in securely than the only other option would be for them to have a small yard for exercise (with really high fence) and all food brought into there.

[jinglejoys]

...then there is the little problem of always being on hand to move around,bring in to shelter from the wind,rain and sunand fill the waterbuckets they knock over

[Lesley Silvester]

Not to mention being unable to run if dogs get in the field and try to attack.  My girls are in a yard and perfectly healthy and happy. 

[plumseverywhere]

I think as prey animals, goats would feel very vulnerable if tethered wouldn't they? it must have quite an impact on their personality.  We had an air ambulance attempt to land in our paddock a few weeks ago (daft move really as we are on a steep hill!!) but the goats panicked, not surprisingly and took to their shed for shelter. Taking away their ability to find a safe place, in my opinion, is cruel.
Having said that, every time Savannah finds an escape route by limbo'ing under her electric fencing and I spend ages catching her, I do eye up the rope and threaten her 

[Mel Rice]

Tethering goats and sheep around us (Germany) is very common. they dont do field fences...no ancient enclosures act! Field fences are electric wire or nets. They do move them often.

[salopman]

Im no expert and years ago I saw many "Cottagers goats" tied up on the road verges to eat the grass but times were different then, not as many cars, dogs or unruly kids to hassle them, in fact I remember the chap who kept some by the railway line in a small field used to have them on ropes attached to metal lids to slow them down !! terribly a no no by todays standards  - it must be awful if they cant get away from danger so would think that tethering wouldnt do for the modern goat keeper, its lovely to see them free and enjoying the exercise.

[ambriel]

I don't think it would be a problem for short periods of time, so long as you were around to keep an eye on them if they got tangled up or if the weather turned rainy. Maybe half an hour or so - maybe if you just want them to clear a particular patch of foliage. Certainly not for long periods or unsupervised.

[Penninehillbilly]

When I got my goats, one esp was an escape artist, apparently the lady before couldn't keep her fenced in, which is why I was offered her, as I said they would have to be tethered, but we are away from roads, kids, dogs etc, and they would only be out when I was here to take them in if needed and make sure they had water all the time. we have poisonous shrubs about, which was the main reason. I saw her jump sheep netting, almost sat back on her rear end and launched herself over.
They were on LONG light tethers, started halfway along and extended regularly during the day. RSPCA friend knew and was satisfied they were OK.
Since then I've had fields refenced and an elecric fence about 2ft round the inside. she eyes it up but hasn't tried it yet.
I think minimum of 2, preferably 3 swivels are recommended, put water more or less at the reach of the tether.
The one 'good' thing about it is they are on fresh grass every day, something like rotating round fields to keep internal parasites under control. Also maybe a good thing with new goats till they've settled in.
NEVER go out and leave them vulnerable.

[Lesley Silvester]

I did read about a system where you have one long rope tightly stretched between two pegs, then have a free running lead from that to the goat - not too long but loosely joined so it can run freely along the length.  This way stops the risk of winding the rope round the peg and shortening it.  The goat just has access to about two yards of grass down either side of the long rope.

[jinglejoys]

Yes and you put a stop at both ends to prevent it catching.The one stake way you drill a large hole in a car hub cap and put it over a metal stake then you get a short piece of scaffolding tube and weld a "handle" on it to attatch the chain to and slip that over the stake  so it sits on top of the hub cap.Use a chain to tether not a rope.
         Don't like tethering myself,too time consuming