Hello All, My friend Sam just bought a donkey (a jack- I named him Scout) at an auction for a guardian animal. (He has cows.) We were under the impression that he was older, but Sam now thinks(judging by his teeth) that he's young, maybe only 2 or 3 years. He is very rambunctious with Sam (although he's a sweetheart with me) and last night, he kicked one of Sam's cows and gave her a bloody nose. Now Sam is talking about finding a buyer for Scout, because he doesn't think Scout will calm down enough to keep him with the cows. but he's only been on the property for less than a week, and he's not around people regularly, as Sam keeps the animals on his lease, and only sees them once a day, sometimes not for very long.

HELP! If there's anything I can do to make Scout comfortable and calm him down a bit, please let me know. I really think that Scout is just a baby and he's feeling his oats- no pun intended- and I'd like to keep him around. Sam is willing if I can find a way to work with him. Donkey experts, please respond. : )

Thanks in advance for any advice.

-- Kristin, in LA. (positivekharma@aol.com), April 29, 2001

Answers

Gelding him would go a long way in improving his attitude. We have gals (jenny's) and they are working out well with the goats. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), April 29, 2001.

Ditto to the above! Jacks do no make good guard animals. Geld him; although there's no guarantee it will make him a good guard, you won't know til ya try.

-- Earthmama (earthmama48@yahoo.com), April 30, 2001.

I've had miniature donkeys, standard donkeys, and my trail riding partner is a Mammoth donkey ~ 14.3 hands (59 inches at the wither). He produced many great mules.

Rarely will taking any ol' donk and tossing him in with stock work. Chances are good that the stock will be maimed/killed. And jacks are never a good choice 'cause they have a one track mind ~ breeding! Standard jennys and geldings are used.

For guarding, it's always best to get a donk who's been trained for the job. Breeders who raise guard donkeys take the donks when they're weaned and put them with stock ~ poultry, sheep, cattle, goats, etc. The weanling can not see nor smell other donkeys. The weanling grows up with the stock. You want a safe guard critter when the mamas start dropping their babies. The guard is there to protect the babies from coyotes and other predators. The jack he now has will probably kill all the little ones.

Your friend is wise to sell the jack before more damage is done to his stock. If you don't know how to handle a jack, don't take him.

-- ~Rogo (rogo2020@yahoo.com), April 30, 2001.