How to Install an Electric Fence for Goats
Although goat owners may love their caprine companions, ask one about fencing and you're likely to get a big eye roll in response. Goats are notoriously difficult to fence, but a properly constructed electric fence provides an inexpensive, easy-to-install containment method that works effectively for goats of all sizes. Extension.org suggests that you install a 30-inch-tall electric fence using four wire strands to provide the most secure goat fence. Pay special attention when installing your ground system to ensure that your fence is adequately grounded.
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Things You'll Need
- Mower/weed trimmer
- Steel T-posts
- Hand-held post driver
- Plastic clip-on insulators
- 12.5-gauge electric fence wire
- Insulated cable
- Fence energizer
- 3 6-foot galvanized steel grounding rods
- 3 brass grounding clamps
Instructions
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Remove rocks and excess vegetation from the fence line. Trim the grass to a height of 2 inches or less with a mower or weed trimmer.
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Install the corner posts. Sink a steel T-post at each corner location with a hand-held post driver. Drive the corner posts at least 8 inches into the ground. Position a single plastic clip-on insulator on each corner post approximately 6 inches from the ground.
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3
Run a single strand of 12.5-gauge electric wire through the set of insulators on your corner posts. Pull the wire tight at each corner post before moving to the next one. Secure the wire in place by wrapping it back on itself when you return to the original corner post.
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Sink steel T-posts along the outside edge of the electric wire to provide line posts. Locate them approximately 18 to 24 feet apart and sink them to a depth of 8 inches or more. Install a single plastic clip-on insulator 6 inches from the ground on each line post and slip the electric wire into the clips on the front of the insulators.
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Place three additional plastic clip-on insulators on each post for the additional electric wires in your goat fence. Locate the insulators 8 inches apart on each post. Thread wire through the insulators to create three additional strands of electric fence; your electric goat fence should now have four strands.
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Connect the individual strands of electric wire together using pieces of insulated cable. Measure out a strip of cable 10 inches long. After you peel back the last 2 inches of insulation from both ends of the cable, secure the exposed cable to the bottom two wires in your electric fence. Connect the second wire to the third wire in the same way, using a 12-inch-long strip of insulated cable. Repeat the same process to attach the third and fourth wires together.
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Secure the exposed cable ends on another strip of insulated cable to the bottom strand of wire in your fence and to the positively charged fence terminal on your fence energizer. Use a high-voltage, low-amperage energizer rated for use with livestock to ensure that the goats receive an adequate electrical shock.
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Hammer three 6-foot-long galvanized steel grounding rods into the ground approximately 10 feet apart from each other, leaving the top 2 inches of rod above the ground. Make sure that the nearest grounding rod is approximately 10 feet from the fence energizer, as well. Connect the three grounding rods together with two strips of insulated cable and three brass grounding clamps. Attach the two ends of another strip of insulated cable to the nearest grounding rod and to the negatively charged ground terminal on the fence energizer.
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Tips & Warnings
Accidental electric shock could occur. Unplug your fence energizer whenever you're working near it to reduce instances of accidental shock. Post warning signs on your fence, as well.
References
- Photo Credit goat image by Agnieszka Dluska from Fotolia.com
