How to Properly Set Up Paddocks for a Small Hobby Farm

A lot of hobby farms around Onalaska, Livingston, and Coldspring start the same way: a few acres, a couple of animals, and a general sense of where the fence should go rather than an actual plan. It works out better to think through paddock layout, fencing type, and gate placement together before any posts go in the ground, since all three depend on each other.

Start with what you're keeping, not the acreage

Goats, chickens, and ducks each need a genuinely different setup, and matching the fence to the animal matters more than matching it to the size of the property. Goats are notorious escape artists and need fencing that's both tall enough and tight enough at the bottom that they can't push through or climb over it — a loose or low fence that would easily hold a horse won't hold a determined goat. Chickens and ducks need less height but more attention to keeping predators out at ground level, which is as much about how the fence meets the ground as it is about height.

Matching fence type to the animal

Our field fence and rolled wire fencing both work well as general-purpose perimeter fencing for goats and larger livestock, with mesh sizing chosen based on what's being contained. Hog panels hold up well against rooting and pushing pressure, which makes them a good option for pigs or any high-pressure area. Cattle panels are the sturdier, more rigid option for cattle or a working corral. For a smaller poultry run, a shorter section of field fence or garden fence, tightened at ground level, is usually enough as long as it's paired with a secure coop for overnight predator protection.

Sizing paddocks

Paddock size depends on the number and type of animals, plus how the pasture is meant to recover between uses — there's no single right number, but a good rule of thumb is to plan smaller than feels necessary at first, since it's much easier to open a gate and combine two paddocks than to retrofit a divider into one that's already too large.

Why rotational grazing changes the layout

If the plan includes rotational grazing — moving animals between paddocks to let grass recover — the property needs to be divided into multiple smaller sections rather than one large enclosure from the start. This usually means a perimeter fence around the whole property plus interior cross-fencing dividing it into paddocks, with gates connecting each section so animals and equipment can move between them without doubling back through a single narrow point.

Planning gates before you fence

Gate placement is easy to get wrong if it's an afterthought. Each paddock needs at least one gate wide enough for whatever equipment will need to pass through — a tractor or feed truck needs considerably more clearance than a person on foot. Our driveway gates, walk gates, and farm gates come in a range of widths for exactly this reason; it's worth deciding equipment access before finalizing where interior fence lines go, not after.

Water and shelter access

Every paddock in a rotation needs access to water and some form of shelter, which usually means either running water to each paddock or laying out the rotation so animals can access a central water source across paddock boundaries. This is worth mapping out alongside the fence plan rather than fencing first and figuring out water access afterward.

A simple starting layout

A common, workable setup on a small property: perimeter field fence or rolled wire around the full boundary, two or three interior paddocks divided by cross-fencing of the same material, a walk gate between each paddock for daily access, and one wider gate sized for equipment where the paddocks meet the driveway or a central path. From there, paddocks can be subdivided further as the operation grows.

Frequently asked questions

What's the best fence for goats specifically?

Field fence or rolled wire fencing with a tight mesh pattern at the bottom works well for goats, since they're prone to pushing through or climbing loose fencing. Height and how snug the fence sits at ground level matter more than for most other livestock.

How many paddocks do I need for rotational grazing on a small property?

Two or three is a reasonable starting point for most hobby farms, giving pasture time to recover while animals use the others. You can always subdivide further later as the operation grows.

Do you build both the perimeter fence and interior cross-fencing for paddocks?

Yes, we handle full paddock layouts, including perimeter fencing, interior cross-fencing, and gates sized for both foot and equipment access.