CHAPTER XVII 



HOUSING AND EQUIPMENT FOR GOATS 



Fences. — The most important thing to be said on the 

 subject of fencing is, never under any circumstances use 

 barbed wire, anywhere, for any purpose, where goats are 

 to be kept. Unhke other animals, the dread of cuts and 

 scratches is no deterrent to the adventuresome spirit of 

 the goat, and the only effect of the pernicious barbs is — 

 ruined udders, mutilated bucks, and all sorts of cuts of 

 varying degrees of seriousness. 



For Bucks. — The most successful fence for a buck 

 when he is confined to a corral is one made of stout 

 pickets, upright, about seven feet high. Stock wire does 

 not long survive the constant friction of the buck's hoofs 

 climbing upon it, wearing the strands and pushing down 

 the stoutest fence with his weight. A well braced paling 

 fence is the most permanent and sightly equipment for 

 this purpose, and seven feet is none too high if the buck 

 is young and no accidents are to occur during the breed- 

 ing season. If a buck is in the freedom of a spacious 

 pasture, removed from the does, an ordinary stock- wire 

 fence about five feet high does very well, as he makes no 

 special effort to escape. 



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