We are very excited to be getting our first few dairy goats in the next couple of weeks. However, after having visited them, I am concerned that the fences we have planned aren't suitable.
Our main paddock is L shaped and about 2 acres of mixed woods and pasture. Around the majority of the sides is 4.5-6 ft high dry stone wall with wire around the top. The inner part of the L around our secured garden is newish high tensile non-electrified fence.
I assume this won't be suitable for the nanny and 2.5month old kid we are getting. The top part of the L opens onto the storage yard of a local festival, so will need blocking off.
I am at a bit of a loss when it comes to what I should do with the fencing. The original plan was for a fencing contractor to come out and fence off a section of it, using the posts from the HT wire to put in stock fencing and a couple of gates, but he is now running a month late. This means I will theoretically have a gap between goats arriving and the new fence. I do have a couple other small yards for the goats, but for a variety of reasons they aren't ideal.
So, I think what I am wondering is what would you do as a temporary solution? From what I have seen, we can:
- fit some sort of fence ourselves, replacing the HT wire with woven fencing and putting in a section of new posts. We have terribly rocky ground and I have concerns about our ability to do anything other than a bad job on the new posts.
- buy an electric fence. Looking at all the bits I think we need I have costed it at £400 - which was basically the price of the new permanent fence. I really don't want to spend that kind of money to have to re-spend it a month or so later.
- put the goats in the other enclosures and hope for the best. I work from home, so its not like they will be unsupervised but there will be hell to pay i they bother the estate's holiday makers
If you have read this far, thank you so much!!!!