The Hidden Stay: A Quiet Fix for Smarter Goat Fencing on the Homestead

Homestead Lesson: The Hidden Stay—Staying One Step Ahead of the Goats

Some lessons on the homestead aren’t learned from books—they reveal themselves the moment you watch an animal assess your hard work and immediately begin plotting a way around it. Our Nigerian Dwarf goats may be small, but they are endlessly curious, and we’re learning quickly that fencing at Sage Hearth requires as much strategy as it does strength.

While many animals test a fence by pushing or leaning, goats have an entirely different approach. Give them an above-ground stay or brace, and they’ll turn it into a perfect climbing platform, transforming secure fencing into an opportunity for adventure. So when we began building a new corner post, we were incredibly grateful for my dad’s help. He showed us how to create a “hidden stay”—a buried timber that reinforces the corner without providing any tempting footholds.

It’s a simple, effective technique, the kind that prevents escapes, reduces costs, and saves a great deal of time in the long run. These are the practical skills we’re gathering as we slowly and thoughtfully rebuild what Sage Hearth needs: learning from family, taking our time, and choosing methods that will last.

Fencing may not be glamorous, but every hidden stay, every tightened wire, and every small improvement brings us closer to the self-sufficient homestead we’re building. And with any luck, it will keep us one step ahead of the goats—at least for now.

Hidden stay 1
Hidden stay 2

About the Author

I’m Casey, half of the Sage Hearth team, and I share our stories as we build a thoughtful, slow-paced homestead from the ground up here in New Zealand. Every fence post, garden bed, and muddy pair of boots is part of the journey we’re learning through—and we’re glad to have you following along.

#SageHearth #FencingTips #HomesteadDIY #GoatFencing #HiddenStay #DIYRevitalization #SelfSufficiency #HardWork #HomesteadNZ #Kiwihomestead

Location: Taupō, New Zealand

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