4x4 fencing for Pygmy Goats?

[thecollector]

Hello, I am building a fence for my two pygmy goats, they are both 2 years old and love to run around and ram their horns into everything and everybody. Tractor Supply Co. provides a "goat fence" with 4x4in wire. Can the pygmy goats stick their heads through this? I know it can be dangerous if they do since they can strangle themselves accidentally and whatnot, so is this type of fencing good enough for adult pygmy goats? Any help is appreciated. Thank you!!

 

[Callender Girl]

I am not familiar with this particular fencing, but I am quite familiar with pygmy goats' ability to stick their heads and horns through EVERYTHING. I currently have mine fenced with cattle panels (which they can stick their heads through) that have chicken wire (which they will eventually lift up by sticking their noses under the fence) attached to the bottom 3 feet on the outside.

Prior to the rigid cattle panels, the goats regularly got their heads stuck in the regular wire livestock fencing that surrounded their pasture.

I think it might depend on the individual goat and how large the horns are. My two wethers have horns too big to slide their heads into the fence openings. One of my does has horns small enough that she can stick her head out but slide her head back into the pen.

Of the current herd, only one -- Tessa -- has horns that appear to be exactly the right size to go OUT the fence openings and then get caught so she has to wail until I come out and release her Yet Again. For a really smart girl (she's the resident escape artist), the whole horns-caught-in-the-fence thing seems to baffle her. Or, she just likes to see me come out and swear at the fence.

I looked at TSC's goat fencing online, and it's a good brand. A determined goat -- as I'm sure you know -- can pretty well eventually destroy anything (good thing this little buggers are so darned cute). It's probably worth a shot.