Donkeys

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Does anyone have any experience with donkeys? I have been wanting one but not sure what to get. I want one for a pet and have heard they are great to protect cattle. Would a standard size be best? Also, would a jenny be best (I think that is the correct term for a female). Are they hard to take care of and what do they eat? Keep in mind, I've never had a horse so I have nothing to go by! For some reason I'm just attracted to donkeys!

-- barbara (barbaraj@mis.net), July 13, 2000

Answers

Let me clarify that, I'm attracted to donkeys as a PET!!!!

-- barbara (barbaraj@mis.net), July 13, 2000.

Barbara:

My experience with a donkey is singular - as in one each. Bought him for the same reason you cited - keeping dogs, etc. away from the cattle herd. He became the donkey from hell! Would grab calves by the back of their neck and lead them around. The calves learned to keep away from him by running through the electric fence. Not much damage with them. When he ran out of calves he could catch, he started running older calves, which did do damage to the fence. When he ran out of them, he started running the cows with similar results. Penned him up in a temporary fence by the garage and he pulled out my phone extension. He went back to the livestock market. Guy who bought him has taken him back as well. My neighbor had a very similar experience, but he gave his to someone who already had a couple of donkeys and he settled right down. Don't know if the experience would have been different with a female.

-- Ken Scharabok (scharabo@aol.com), July 13, 2000.


Barbara, We have one Jenny, she is a large standard, and a real baby to keep. The only thing that I was afraid of when we got her was her hooves. I can take care of llamas toe nails and goats but the donkey is different. The people who sold "Sparkle" to us assurred us that it would be no problem. The farrier took my husband out in the pen to show him how to trim them himself. My husband has had 3 back surgeries and that was no position for him. The best thing I have found out is to pay the people who know what they are doing! Her nails get trimmed 3-4 times a year and I pay the guy to come out to our farm and do them, $20.00 a whack!! We never had a horse either and have made out O.K. I guess they can founder quite easily. From what I gather to founder has to do with eating too much, in quantity, of grass. I prevent it by grazing my 9 llamas and a goat on the pasture BEFORE the donkey and her llama friend get moved onto the pasture. We do feed her sweet feed to keep her social with us, they like it a lot but don't require a lot of it at a time, actually you shouldn't give her a lot at a time. I guess my best advice is to buy the book first! The price of a book is nothing compared to the mess you could get yourself into if you are not prepared. WE really enjoy Sparkle a lot and wouldn't part with her for any price. If I can be of any further assistance e-mail me directly. Take Care.

-- EMILY (bellyacresfarm@kyk.net), July 13, 2000.

Guess I can qualify ~ I've had all 3 sizes! The Miniature donk is up to 36 inches at the wither (shoulder). The Standard is up to 54 inches. My trail riding partner is a Mammoth, the largest member of the donkey family. He's at the shorter end of the Mammoths, 14.3 hands (59 inches.)

Standards are used for guarding, and only a jenny (female) or a gelded jack (castrated male). An entire jack is not safe with stock (he has a one track mind! )

Any ol' donk may not work out as a guard and could be detrimental if he goes after your stock. It's best to get a donk who has been raised specifically for the purpose. These critters are put with stock (cattle, sheep, goats, poultry, etc.) when they're weaned, where they can't smell/hear another donk. These donks live with your stock 24/7 and are not used for any other purpose. One donk is generally used, as two might buddy up and ignore the stock.

My stock are on Coastal grass pasture 24/7, a trace mineral salt block and several automatic waterers. (Doesn't matter how you water, just so they always have fresh water.) The donk does not require grain, in fact it could cause founder, colic and other problems. A grass hay could also be fed, but stay away from rich legumes like alfalfa and high proteins. They eat about half as much as a horse the same size, will not eat poisonous plants if good feed is around, altho you should strive not to have these in your pasture :-) and drink little water.

If you have rocky terrain, the hooves will be naturally trimmed. If not, a farrier is needed every 6-8 weeks. The hooves will be trimmed according to the angle of the pastern.

Any more questions, feel free to ask.

~Rogo rogo2020@yahoo.com

-- ~Rogo (rogo2020@yahoo.com), July 14, 2000.


I have 2 donkeys, and I adore them both. One of them is blind, so she doesn't cause too much trouble, but the other (gelding) we adopted from the wild horse program, and he is basically a bully to any animal smaller than himself. He's great with anything bigger than him, but if we had left him in with the goats & sheep I believe he would have chased them til they dropped. He also bit their necks and ears quite badly. He was just awful to the little animals. Also, he hates any other animals coming into the pasture; he has stomped a goose, a wild bunny, and a raccoon to death, and has made a couple of serious attempts at killing dogs. (OUR dogs, not strays). That's the bad news. The good news is, he is fine with people, and is very affectionate, and he may just be my favorite animal on this farm.

-- Shannon (Grateful Acres Animal Sanctuary) (gratacres@aol.com), July 14, 2000.


We run jenny donkeys with our sheep as guard animals. In our experience, only female donkeys have worked out. Our jennys have never been a minutes trouble or extra work and each one gives us a little donkey to sell every year for $400 - (we take them to a fellow who has a male donkey to be bred)

Our donkeys are all small - but not miniatures. We have seen them put dogs to flight and we are well populated with coyotes and have had no losses. We have had donkeys for about six years and have not had to trim feet yet - and we watch them closely. Thanks to that great rocky southeasten Ohio ground.

We give them a little grain in the winter. Our jennys mean a lot to us and wouldn't even put a price on them.

Get a young one that is just being weaned. During its stress period, put it with what ever animals you want it to stay with, and it will bond to them. Where they go, it will go. Break it to tie and lead when you first get it. You'll be glad you did.

-- homestead2 (homestead@monroecty.net), July 14, 2000.


I have a donkey for sale he is one year old this month.You can email me for picture and price.

-- Bettie Ferguson (jobett@dixie-net.com), February 01, 2001.

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