While there are other things you can do to stop the goat getting stuck, like taping things to their horns, the simpler method is just to not have a fence they are capable of getting stuck in.
We will look into everything you can do, but it starts here.
Let’s take a further look.
Why does my goat keep getting its head stuck in the fence?
There can be a few reasons this happens.
For one thing, goats are just naturally quite curious.
Not every individual, but many of them.
They might just stick their head through the fence because instinct tells them to.
More commonly, though, it’s because they’re trying to get something on the other side of the fence.
Whether it be weeds, shrubbery, or even just healthier-looking grass—they will go for it.
Consider tidying up the immediate bounds of their fence.
This should keep them from putting their head through it quite so often.
The more important, thing, though, is how to stop it from happening.
How to stop the goat getting its head stuck in a fence
So, as I said, the first thing to do is tidy up the area immediately surrounding their fence.
Move anything that might interest them out of the way.
This will make sticking their head through the fence far less enticing.
However, as I said, they will often stick their heads through just for grass.
So, this won’t always be enough.
The first place to start is with the fence itself.
Though it may be a big job depending on the size of your fence, the simplest thing is to replace the fence with one that your goat cannot stick its head through.
Whether it’s wooden or wire mesh, just make sure there are no holes large enough for your goat to get its head through.
In the meantime, there are things you can do to prevent the goat from getting stuck.
What many would recommend is attaching a piece of PVC pipe, or similar material, to its horns.
This will mean that when it tries to stick its horns through the hole, they will get blocked, preventing it from getting stuck.
This is only best as a temporary solution, though. Get the fence changed in the meantime.
You might also want to consider an electrified fence.
Allow the goat to touch it when you first get it installed, so it can learn that it doesn’t want to go near it.
Finally, you might want to consider having a pen for them that is far away from the fence.
This essentially acts as another line of defense, and you can build the pen fresh with fences that your goat cannot get its head stuck in.
What is the best kind of fencing for goats?
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Most people tend to use woven wire or wire mesh.
This is a cheap and easy solution, and as long as it’s supported by wooden posts, it will be strong enough to keep even the biggest goats in.
Again, just make sure the holes are small enough that your goat won’t get stuck.
Wooden fences are of course also a great option, though they tend to be more expensive and less durable.
Make sure the gaps are not too big.
Electrified fencing is your other choice, though this really shouldn’t be necessary if the gaps are not big enough for your goat to fit through.
Can getting its head stuck in a fence hurt a goat?
Yes, is the short answer.
It may panic, and begin trying to frantically pull its head out.
This can cause injuries of many kinds. It could scratch itself which could become infected, or it could even strain its neck trying to pull it out.
If it’s tight enough, the fence itself might even choke the goat as it pulls trying to get it out.
Depending on when it gets stuck, being stuck there for hours would be very bad for its health before you were able to come and save it.
So, yes, it can hurt very seriously. So, take this threat and problem equally seriously.
As much as we love goats, we must admit that they are not always the brightest animals.
They have plenty of great qualities, but one of them that often gets in their way is their relentless curiosity.
If there is something just beyond their reach outside the fence, then they are highly likely to poke their head through and end up getting it stuck.
Using some or all of the methods we’ve looked at today, you can easily stop this from happening.