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02/16/10, 11:22 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Florida and South Carolina
Posts: 2,167
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Best pasture ornament?
Once we get to our rural land, I plan on having a few critters- chickens and pigs for food, of course, but I'd like a 'pet' or two for the pasture. I'm thinking either goats or donkeys. The main criteria would be easy/cheap to keep, and reasonable friendly. I know I need at least two, to keep each other company. I have no desire to get in to breeding and milking; they'll just be pets. What way would you go?
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"What one generation tolerates, the next generation embraces." -John Wesley
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02/16/10, 11:27 AM
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Happy Scrounger
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Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: South Central Wisconsin
Posts: 13,635
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I LOVE donkeys, but either donkey or goat would be friendly, and make great pets. Goats are masters at getting out of fencing tho....BUT you can always pick up male dairy goats for VERY little, and they are SO SWEET! Just get them wethered and you're golden. Goats will eat anything inside the pasture, too, so if you have brush that needs clearing...there ya go.
Donkeys don't usually try to get OUT if there is food and water inside. Donkey probably requires a little more care.
Either donkeys or goats can be trained to pull a small cart, which would be cool later on.
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"A good photograph is knowing where to stand. ” - Ansel Adams
 (and a lot of luck - Wisconsin Ann)
Rabbits anyone? RabbitTalk.com
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02/16/10, 11:32 AM
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Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Missouri
Posts: 2,349
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I would go for a mini-donkey, cute and friendly. Of course I may be a little biased since I detest goats.
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02/16/10, 11:38 AM
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Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 7,154
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If you don't breed goats and raise some baby kids, you will miss the cutest most loving pet that walks a pasture. Selling the excess goats when nessesary will help cover the feed bill.
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02/16/10, 11:42 AM
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I don't know anything about donkeys but most goats would make a great pet . They have more personality than any farm animal I know of , not counting dogs .
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02/16/10, 12:12 PM
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sheep & antenna farming
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: far SW Wisconsin USA
Posts: 2,847
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Hair sheep wethers would work great, too. Ewes would also fit the situation except they're more expensive due to demand. No shearing, not as bad at getting out of fences as goats, very friendly if they're hand-raised, variety of neat colors available.... I'd suggest Katahdins, of course.
Peg
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02/16/10, 12:26 PM
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Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Kansas
Posts: 1,761
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I would say donkeys, but that is only cause I am having cayote problems right now. Peace of mind if the pasture ornament can handle preditors.
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02/16/10, 01:10 PM
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Join Date: May 2002
Location: Eastern WA
Posts: 2,736
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My vote is for mini-donkeys, too. They are easy keepers. I have 2. And as was mentioned, they can take care of themselves. They don't mix well with dogs. They tolerate my cats.
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God bless,
Bonnie
Opportunity Farm
Northeast Washington
"While we have the opportunity, let us do good to all." Galatians 6:10
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02/16/10, 01:52 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Bartow County, GA
Posts: 6,778
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I love donkeys! Yes, they do guard against coyotes and stray dogs. BUT
I gotta say that mine play tag with one of my dogs. There they go - donkey chasing dog. Back they come - dog chasing donkey.  It's all fun.
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Only she who attempts the absurd can achieve the impossible
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02/16/10, 01:59 PM
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Very Dairy
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Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Dysfunction Junction
Posts: 14,603
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A retired dairy cow can be a wonderful companion, although I'm not sure I'd characterize them as "cheap to feed"!
My Bitey, the sweetest cow in the whole world:
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"I love all of this mud," said no one, ever.
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02/16/10, 02:10 PM
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In Remembrance
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Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: South Central Kansas
Posts: 11,076
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Get Belted Galloway cattle so that with a little hair dye they can be a walking billboard.
I'd probably go for the donkey.
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02/16/10, 02:22 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Northern California
Posts: 6,352
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A tame goat is as affectionate as a dog. Perhaps more so, lol.
Trouble is, they are small and easy pickings for predators. A secure shed at night and hot wire reinforced fence during the day may work, as long as you don't have horrible loose dog/coyote issues.
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02/16/10, 03:18 PM
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Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Carolina
Posts: 324
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MushCreek, we do have coyotes on our side of the mountain, don't know about where your farm is, my guess would be yes, so a donkey would be a good "guard" if you have enough grass to graze him. As others said goats are very good as well. Nothing like a new born goat kid. But, if you get the goat then you'll need the donkey to "guard" him. Ain't that just how we all get started on the "homestead", one thing leads to another until the place looks like a zoo.LOL
Hank
http://www.doublemfarmandchuckwagon.webs.com
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02/16/10, 03:26 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: SW Michigan
Posts: 16,408
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I vote llama. LOL Cheaper than a sheep - eats less, poos in the same place. Not terribly friendly. Won't tear down your fences. Come in a variety of colors. Dances around a pasture. Get a female - no fighting teeth to deal with. Might need to trim their nail once a year or so. Get a suri- less fleece for your heat! They are mighty cheap right now!!
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02/16/10, 04:21 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Florida and South Carolina
Posts: 2,167
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I love llamas, but I'd want something friendlier. We had a jenny years ago, and she was very affectionate, but a bit of an escape artist. I think she was lonely- I've since read that you have to have a companion for a donkey, and most other herd animals.
I'm sure we have coyotes in the area; friends of mine have seen them. Even here in the city in FL, I've heard them at night! They have signs around here warning to keep pets in at night.
Dumb question- do donkeys and goats get along? To the point of keeping each other company?
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"What one generation tolerates, the next generation embraces." -John Wesley
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02/16/10, 04:31 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Virginia
Posts: 2,512
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MushCreek
I love llamas, but I'd want something friendlier. We had a jenny years ago, and she was very affectionate, but a bit of an escape artist. I think she was lonely- I've since read that you have to have a companion for a donkey, and most other herd animals.
I'm sure we have coyotes in the area; friends of mine have seen them. Even here in the city in FL, I've heard them at night! They have signs around here warning to keep pets in at night.
Dumb question- do donkeys and goats get along? To the point of keeping each other company?
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I don't know about all Donkeys, but the once in South America were always sort of hanging like buds with the goats. Since they are so commonly held together by families down there it makes sense they would.
__________________
 Christy
Growing Human
http://growinghuman.blogspot.com
When wearing narrow lenses of hate and ignorance, is it any wonder one finds it difficult to see clearly? - Me
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02/16/10, 04:32 PM
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Join Date: May 2002
Location: Eastern WA
Posts: 2,736
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Donkeys are pretty territorial, so I don't know how well they would do with another, smaller animal. It would, of course, depend on the personality of the donkey in question.
And you wouldn't want neighbors too close. Not everyone appreciates the donkey love call! 
__________________
God bless,
Bonnie
Opportunity Farm
Northeast Washington
"While we have the opportunity, let us do good to all." Galatians 6:10
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02/16/10, 04:40 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: NW Oregon
Posts: 1,754
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You got me to LOL. I called on a few miniture Donkeys, a few years ago and got one husband of the lady selling the Donkeys. He said, I can tell you everything about these animals, they are only good for one thing, pasture ornaments. Well we have 2 goats and 2 sheep, that came to me free. Because I promised not to eat them. I would still like a couple of Donkeys. But I still love the sheep and goats.
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02/16/10, 06:37 PM
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Join Date: May 2003
Location: Lafayette, TN
Posts: 545
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I was going to suggest 2 goats and a donkey friend. Our donkeys get along with goats, but after thinking about it I don't know if they all would. Maybe if you got one that was already with goats. You would probably still need at least 2 goats, but around here a lot of folks have a donkey in with their goats. Its reallly funny to see the donkey laying down and the goats playing king of the hill on the donkey.
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02/16/10, 06:50 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Central IL
Posts: 1,700
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I have mules and horses so lean towards a donkey. As someone said, they often make great watch animals for smaller livestock. Some will kill your smaller animals, esp. dogs (good protection against coyotes, so dogs fall into the same class). That being said, I raised Nubians for years and love goats. I would not have just one though. If you look at petfinder.com you will find a HUGE number of donkeys available for adoption.
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