Housing

Goats need enough shade and enough space to roam. A pen of about six meters by six meters is a more than enough to keep three or four goats. They should have good cover from the rain and sun and any structure you put up must be at least 1.5 meters high. This will (not always) limit the possibility of them getting on top of the structure to see what further mischief they can get up to. Goats do not like water on their coats and they run like mad to find cover when the first drop of rain falls.

Fences should also be at least 1.5 meters high and should be sturdy and taught if you are going to use some form of mesh. Steel fencing is not always necessary and is an expensive alternative. The latch on the gate must be done in such a way that it snaps shut. Some basic design with a barrel-an-bolt also works wonders. Goats are quite capable of lifting a latch of the top of a gate to destroy your garden and washing.

Make sure that the pen is cleaned at least once a week. All stale foodstuff and droppings should be removed from the pen. If you have a spot in the yard where this mixture can be stockpiled for a few months, it will come in very handy as compost during the gardening season. Flies and unpleasant odors can become a problem if the pen is not cleaned regularly.

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