6 Best Goat Fence Gate Kits For Easy Access That Outsmart Escape Artists
Secure your herd from cunning escape artists. Our guide reviews 6 top gate kits that balance easy access for you with goat-proof durability and design.
There’s no feeling quite like the one you get when you walk outside and see your prize-winning doe calmly munching on your neighbor’s prize-winning rose bushes. A determined goat can turn a flimsy gate into an open invitation for a neighborhood tour. The gate isn’t just an entry point; it’s the most tested, pushed, and manipulated part of your entire fence line.
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Secure Your Herd: What to Look for in a Goat Gate
The first thing to consider is height. A standard 4-foot (48-inch) gate is a good minimum for most breeds, but athletic jumpers like Nigerian Dwarfs or bored teenagers might require something taller. Think about the terrain, too; a gate at the bottom of a slope is much easier to clear than one at the top.
Next, focus on the latch. Goats are shockingly intelligent and have prehensile lips that can manipulate simple latches with frustrating ease. A simple chain wrapped around a post is a puzzle they will solve in an afternoon. Look for latches that require two distinct actions to open, like lifting and sliding, or those that need the dexterity of an opposable thumb.
Construction is the foundation of a good gate. Heavy-gauge galvanized steel tube gates are the standard for a reason—they resist bending and rust. However, don’t overlook woven or welded wire-filled gates. The smaller openings prevent kids from sticking their heads through and getting stuck, a common and dangerous problem with horizontal-bar gates.
Finally, consider the gate’s purpose. A heavy, permanent gate is perfect for a barnyard, but a lightweight, portable one is better for rotational grazing systems. There’s no single "best" gate, only the best gate for a specific location and a specific herd.
Tarter 6-Bar Tube Gate: The Classic, Sturdy Choice
When you picture a farm gate, you’re probably picturing a Tarter tube gate. It’s the ubiquitous, reliable workhorse found on countless homesteads. Made from high-tensile strength steel tubing with a corrosion-resistant finish, these gates are built to withstand rubbing, pushing, and the general abuse a herd can dish out.
Their strength comes from both the material and the design. The vertical "Z" braces add significant rigidity, preventing the gate from sagging over time. This structural integrity is crucial, as a sagging gate creates gaps and latching problems that clever goats are quick to exploit. They come in a huge range of lengths, from a 4-foot walkway to a 20-foot pasture entrance.
The primary tradeoff is its open design. The horizontal bars can act as a ladder for agile climbers, especially when propped against a fence corner. It’s also not ideal for farms with tiny kids or miniature breeds, as they can sometimes slip through or, worse, get their heads caught. For this gate, upgrading the standard chain latch to a two-way locking latch is not a suggestion; it’s a necessity.
Zareba Spring Gate Kit for Electric Fencing
For anyone using electric fencing for rotational grazing or temporary paddocks, the Zareba Spring Gate is an indispensable tool. This isn’t a physical barrier; it’s a highly visible, electrified psychological one. The kit is simple: a handle, an anchor, and a coiled spring that stretches up to 16 feet, carrying the fence’s charge.
Its beauty is in its simplicity and low cost. You can set up a functional, electrified gate in minutes, making it perfect for moving animals between pastures. It’s incredibly lightweight and easy for you to open with one hand, but the zap it delivers is enough to teach most goats to respect the boundary.
However, you must understand its limitations. A panicked or truly determined goat will run right through it without a second thought. It is absolutely not for perimeter fencing or for containing bucks in rut. Think of it as an excellent tool for interior management within an already secure area, not as a primary line of defense.
SpeeCo E-Z Gate Latch for a No-Sag Solution
This isn’t a gate, but it’s one of the most important gate kits you can buy. The SpeeCo E-Z Gate Latch solves the two biggest problems with traditional tube gates: sagging and simple latches. Over time, heavy gates pull on their hinges, causing them to drop and making them difficult to close. This latch fixes that.
The design is brilliant. A U-shaped "catcher" bolts to your gate post, and a corresponding pin attaches to the gate itself. To close it, you simply swing the gate shut, and the pin drops securely into the catcher. To open it, you have to lift the gate slightly and pull—an action that’s easy for a person but nearly impossible for a goat.
By forcing you to lift the gate into its resting position, the latch takes all the weight off the hinges when it’s closed. This single piece of hardware can double the functional life of a heavy gate and provides a one-handed, goat-proof locking mechanism. It’s the best upgrade you can make to an existing tube gate that’s starting to show its age.
Red Brand Woven Wire Gate: Best for Kids and Minis
If you raise miniature breeds like Nigerian Dwarfs or Pygmies, or have a lot of kids running around, a standard tube gate is a constant source of worry. The Red Brand Woven Wire Gate is the perfect solution. It combines the strength of a heavy steel tube frame with the security of 2"x4" no-climb woven wire mesh.
This design eliminates two major risks. First, the small openings are too tight for even the smallest kids to squeeze their heads through, preventing dangerous situations where an animal can get stuck. Second, the wire mesh offers no footholds, foiling the plans of would-be climbers who see horizontal bars as a personal challenge.
These gates are heavy and represent a significant investment, but the peace of mind is worth it. They provide a solid physical barrier that contains your smallest and most vulnerable animals without compromise. For a permanent kidding pen, a buck pasture, or the main perimeter gate for a herd of minis, this is the top-tier choice for maximum security.
Behlen Country Utility Gate for Rotational Grazing
Not every gate needs to be a fortress. For managing interior pastures and setting up temporary grazing cells, the Behlen Country Utility Gate is a fantastic, lightweight option. These gates are designed for portability and ease of use, often made from lighter-gauge steel to make them easy for one person to carry and hang.
Their value lies in their mobility. You can quickly set one up using T-posts and a couple of hinge pins, creating a new paddock in under an hour. This is essential for intensive rotational grazing, where you’re moving your herd frequently to manage forage and parasite loads. They provide a clear visual and physical barrier that’s sufficient for trained, calm animals.
Don’t mistake this for a perimeter gate. A large, agitated buck could likely bend or damage one. Its purpose is to subdivide an already secure area, not to provide the primary containment for your whole property. It’s the right tool for the right job: quick, easy, and effective for pasture management.
Gallagher Drive-Through Electric Gate for Easy Access
For high-traffic areas on a farm using electric fencing, the Gallagher Drive-Through Electric Gate is a game-changer. Imagine driving your ATV or carrying two buckets of feed through a gate without ever having to stop, unlatch it, swing it open, pass through, and close it again. That’s what this gate offers.
The system consists of several flexible fiberglass rods with conductive material, hung from two posts. As you walk or drive through, the rods part easily and then swing back into place, maintaining the electrical circuit the entire time. It provides a constant psychological barrier for livestock but allows seamless passage for you and your equipment.
This is a convenience and efficiency tool, not a high-security barrier. Just like a spring gate, it relies on the animals’ respect for the electric fence. It’s also a more expensive option. Its ideal use is on interior fence lines between pastures where you travel frequently, saving you dozens of small actions that add up to a lot of time over a season.
Proper Gate Installation and Goat-Proofing Tips
The world’s best gate will fail if it’s hung on a flimsy post. Your hinge post is the most critical part of the installation. It must be larger, stronger, and set deeper than your line posts. For a heavy 12-foot gate, using a 6-inch wood post set in concrete is not overkill; it’s a necessity for long-term stability.
Goats are experts at exploiting the small gap between the gate and the post. A goat can turn its head sideways and squeeze through an impossibly small space. You can solve this by either hanging the gate so it closes flush against the post or by bolting a vertical 2×6 board to the gate or post to cover the gap.
Finally, double-check your latches. Even goat-proof latches can be defeated if there’s too much play in the gate. Use a double-ended snap clip or a carabiner to secure a chain latch for extra security. Walk your fence line regularly, but inspect your gates daily. That’s where the escape attempts will happen.
Choosing the right gate is about matching the tool to the task. A portable utility gate is perfect for rotational grazing, while a woven wire gate is essential for protecting kids. By understanding the tradeoffs between security, cost, and convenience, you can build a containment system that keeps your herd safe, your neighbors happy, and your prize-winning roses intact.
