Goat fencing and housing.

I'm renovating our large chicken house and coop to become our new goat house. We just want to start by getting a goat that's getting ready to kid. The outdoor fence adjacent to the coop is 6 feet high. and there will be no top wire covering it. Can these goats jump out? Should I worry about predators jumping the fence to get them when they're asleep in the coop/barn? Mostly worried about the baby.

what is the fencing material?
jumping? Goats will climb, push, dig, deconstruct, unravel fence, they are brilliant for getting to be where they want to be
the height sounds fine, just depends on what the fence is made out of

I believe it's hog wire, so pretty thick.

that will do it, just make sure if they have horns they don't get their heads stuck in it

Goats are herd animals. I know folks who keep single goats, but I wouldn't. The fence sounds fine.

We have a six foot fence around our goats and haven't had a problem yet.

The fence sounds like it is tall enough for sure. A four foot fence is adequate for most goat operations. Make sure it is tight enough as well. Goats love to lean into fencing with all their weight and scratch/groom themselves as they walk along the fencing. Even fairly tight fencing will bow out under their weight.

What kind of goats are you getting or considering getting?

Rocco Hagar wrote:The fence sounds like it is tall enough for sure. A four foot fence is adequate for most goat operations. Make sure it is tight enough as well. Goats love to lean into fencing with all their weight and scratch/groom themselves as they walk along the fencing. Even fairly tight fencing will bow out under their weight.

What kind of goats are you getting or considering getting?

Either Nubians or Apines, or a cross. I know close to nothing about goats myself. I've have had cows before that I milked so that's where my experience is. I'd like to find a goat that has good milk and can be used for meat.

What about predators? Around here we have mountain lions, bears and dogs. I don't know what you have in your area, but a goat kidding is a prime attractor for predators.

Nubians are a good multi purpose goat. I have one in the freezer now. 10 months old and weighed 100 lbs at slaughter. Here's the Purdue Dairy Goat web site:
http://www.ansc.purdue.edu/goat/factsheet/breeds.htm

Doug Mac wrote:What about predators? Around here we have mountain lions, bears and dogs. I don't know what you have in your area, but a goat kidding is a prime attractor for predators.

I'm in Western Oregon. Haven't had any problems with predators here. Haven't lost any chickens or anything. At night, the baby goat will be safe in the shed.