6 Best Goat Scratching Posts For Small Backyard Farms Old Farmers Swear By
Give your goats the perfect place to scratch. Explore our list of 6 durable, farmer-endorsed posts that promote coat health and prevent property damage.
You walk out to the barn and see it again: a splintered corner post on the goat shelter and a fresh patch of white paint scraped off the gate. Goats have an itch, and they will find a way to scratch it, often on the most expensive or inconvenient surface available. A dedicated scratching post isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessary piece of equipment that channels a natural instinct into a safe, non-destructive habit.
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Why Your Goats Need a Dedicated Scratching Post
A goat’s need to scratch is primal. It’s how they get rid of shedding winter fluff, dislodge annoying pests, and relieve the simple, persistent itches that come with being a goat. Without a proper outlet, they become incredibly creative, and your farm infrastructure pays the price.
Fences get bent, siding gets worn down, and even vehicles parked too close become fair game. This isn’t just a nuisance; it’s a safety hazard. A goat can easily catch a tag or collar on a piece of splintered wood or loose wire, leading to panic and serious injury.
Providing a designated scratching station is a fundamental part of good animal husbandry. It’s a form of enrichment that reduces boredom and stress, contributing to a calmer, happier herd. For a small investment of time and money, you protect your property and give your animals a tool they will use and appreciate every single day.
The Scratch-n-All Pad: Most Versatile Scratcher
The Scratch-n-All pad is a modern farm favorite for good reason. It’s a simple, flexible mat covered in durable, cone-shaped nubs that provide a satisfying scratch without being too abrasive. Its key feature is its incredible versatility.
You can mount these pads almost anywhere. Screw them flat against a wall, wrap them around a thick post, or attach them to the inside of a doorway. This flexibility allows you to place them exactly where your goats already like to rub. You can install several at different heights to serve everyone from the smallest kid to your largest doe.
They are built to last, resisting weather and the constant abuse from a determined goat. The only real drawback is the cost if you plan to outfit a large area. But for a small backyard herd, placing one or two in high-traffic spots provides a durable, effective, and safe scratching solution that will last for years.
Behlen Country Brush: Best for Full-Body Relief
When you want to give your goats the ultimate scratching experience, the Behlen brush is the answer. Often marketed as a cattle brush, this L-shaped, spring-loaded giant is pure bliss for a goat, especially during shedding season. It allows them to get their head, neck, back, and sides all in one go.
The heavy-duty spring mount is the secret. It provides just enough resistance for a deep, satisfying scratch while flexing to prevent the unit from breaking under the weight of an enthusiastic animal. This thing is built for serious use and will stand up to the most aggressive scratchers in your herd.
The main considerations are cost and installation. This is a significant piece of hardware that requires a very sturdy mounting point, like a thick barn post or a concrete wall. It’s an investment, but if you have the space and a solid place to mount it, this brush will become the most popular spot in the entire pen.
Repurposed Brooms: The Classic DIY Farm Solution
There’s a reason old-timers swear by this method: it’s cheap, simple, and it works. All you need are a few old push broom heads with stiff bristles and some screws. Mount them horizontally to a sturdy post or a section of barn wall, and you’ve got an instant scratching station.
The beauty of this solution is its adaptability. You can stagger the broom heads at different heights to accommodate your whole herd. The stiff bristles are fantastic for working through thick winter coats and getting at those hard-to-reach itches. It’s a perfect way to recycle old tools into something genuinely useful.
Of course, the tradeoff for the low cost is durability. The plastic bases of the broom heads can become brittle and crack in extreme cold, and the bristles will eventually wear down or break off. But they are so easy and cheap to replace that many farmers consider it a non-issue. For a quick and effective solution on a budget, it’s tough to beat.
ScratchnAll Corner Mount: A Space-Saving Option
Goats love corners. They are the perfect shape for getting both sides of their face and neck at once. The ScratchnAll Corner Mount is designed specifically to capitalize on this behavior, turning a high-wear area into a designated comfort station.
This product takes the same durable, nubby material as the flat pad and pre-molds it into a 90-degree angle. It fits perfectly into the corner of a stall, shelter, or doorway, protecting your building while giving your goats exactly what they want. It’s an incredibly efficient use of space, making it ideal for smaller enclosures.
Installation is straightforward, and once it’s up, it’s not going anywhere. It provides a targeted scratching solution that addresses one of the most common problem areas in any barn. If you’re constantly repairing a specific corner your goats have claimed, this is the perfect, purpose-built fix.
High Country Fence Brush for Easy Fence Mounting
Taking enrichment out into the pasture is a great way to keep goats happy, and this brush makes it easy. The High Country Fence Brush is a simple, cylindrical brush designed to clamp directly onto a t-post or a round wooden fence post.
Its primary advantage is mobility and ease of installation. You can add a scratching station to any part of your fenceline in minutes, without needing to drill into a building. This is especially useful for rotational grazing systems, as you can move the brush to a new paddock right along with the herd. It helps redirect scratching behavior from the fence wire to the brush itself.
These brushes are a great addition, but they aren’t as indestructible as a heavy-duty, wall-mounted unit. A large, aggressive buck might be able to bend the mounting hardware over time. They are best suited for does, wethers, and younger stock as a convenient scratching option out in the field.
Weaver Leather Livestock Brush for Tough Scrapers
For the goat that treats scratching like a full-contact sport, you need a brush that won’t back down. The Weaver Livestock Brush is that tool. It is the definition of heavy-duty, designed for animals that have broken lesser scratchers.
The design is brutally simple: a solid hardwood block with rows of incredibly stiff, thick polypropylene bristles. There are no moving parts, no springs, and no plastic to crack. You bolt it directly to a thick post or wall, and it stays put, ready to take on the most determined itcher.
This is not a gentle, flexible brush. It’s made for providing deep relief through thick coats and for standing up to the force of a buck in full rut. If you’re tired of replacing other scratching posts, the Weaver brush is likely the last one you’ll ever need to buy.
Placement Tips for Your New Goat Scratching Post
Choosing the right scratcher is only half the battle; where you put it matters just as much. The best way to decide is to simply observe your herd. They will show you their preferred scratching locations—often near the entrance to the barn, by the hay feeder, or along a well-traveled path.
Provide variety in height and location. A horizontal brush mounted about shoulder-high is perfect for their sides and back. A vertical or smaller pad mounted lower is great for their head, cheeks, and neck. If you have a mixed-age herd, ensure there are options low enough for the kids to use comfortably.
Most importantly, mount it securely. A goat leaning its full body weight into a scratch exerts a tremendous amount of force. Use lag bolts or heavy-duty screws and anchor them into a solid wall stud or a deeply set post. A wobbly, insecure scratcher is more dangerous than no scratcher at all.
Ultimately, the best scratching post is the one your goats will actually use. By observing their behavior and choosing a durable option that fits your space and budget, you can provide a simple, effective tool for their well-being. It’s a small upgrade to your farm that protects your property and makes for a happier, more comfortable herd.
