Tell me about donkeys..

Silvercreek Farmer · #1 07/16/12, 11:25 AM

We're considering buying a donkey, primarily something for the kids (ages 5&9 50&60 lbs) to ride around the pasture for a couple of years. We keep sheep and goats, and have raised a steer and several hogs, but never a donkey or a horse. We don't have too many dog/coyote problems (yet) as our 6 strand high tensile fence seems to do the trick there, so predator defence is not a primary concern. We do not have a barn, the animals just bed down in the woods and seem to do just fine in our mild winters. Our sheep and goats do not get any grain, just hay, and I would like the donkey on the same program. Any thoughts?

mary,tx · #2 07/16/12, 11:40 AM

Here's my limited experience with donkeys. A couple of years ago, I had a fox regularly visiting my barn, and had read that a donkey would keep it out of the field, so I wanted to try it. That donkey would graze right next to the fox. Was not helpful at all.

She was too skittish to do a thing with, but had a baby not long after I got her. I eventually gave her away and kept the baby.

Baby is a yearling now. After much effort, I taught her to halter lead. That is, when she's in the mood. Donkeys are very stubborn. This last week or so, she managed to get the halter off. I'll have to get her back into a small pen to get it back on, because she will not stand for me to do it in the field.

I wont' say that I don't like her, because I do, but she's a lot of trouble. She will not allow the other animals to eat feed in the same field, so she has to be separated before I put feed down.

I can't even imagine teaching her to be ridden. I most certainly wouldn't try putting one of my kids on her.

I know other people, with a lot more equine experience than me, have done it.

But in my opinion, if you do not have a lot of equine experience, and you want one, you should start with a very well broke, older horse. One labeled "kid safe."

We also brought home a five year old horse once, supposedly kid safe, that did not work for us, simply because he was smart enough to know we didn't know what we were doing, and young enough to rebel and just have his own way.

Also, you can't depend on a donkey to necessarily get along with small stock. Mine has chased mine wanting to play, and kicked them, wanting them not to go through a gate ahead of her. My dog loves my donkey. The other animals only tolerate her.

whodunit · #3 07/16/12, 11:44 AM

I definitely recommend them...we have two. One rides (although he is a bit stubborn about it) and the other pulls a cart.

They are generally cheap to obtain

They are generally good with children

They are generally unflappable (nothing bothers them much). I was riding one when was bitten by a rattlesnake and it didn't even phase him.

They are generally smart and respect fences (we have hot wire that is almost never on and they don't challenge it).

We feed ours grass hay with some alfalfa as well as the occasional treat of old doughnuts, bread and vegetables

mary,tx · #4 07/16/12, 11:49 AM

Whodunit, were yours broke to ride when you got them, or did you train them? How old would they need to be before you start to train them, beyond leading? Mine will take out running wildly at any moment. I wouldn't want to be on her back when she did.

manfred · #5 07/16/12, 11:59 AM

We just got one about 10 days ago. About 3 years old( I think). I climbed on and rode a bit and it didn't seem to mind. He is good with the granddaughter .
It is still a little early to say he worked out, will be problems if he tries to escape.

whodunit · #6 07/16/12, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mary,tx

Whodunit, were yours broke to ride when you got them, or did you train them? How old would they need to be before you start to train them, beyond leading? Mine will take out running wildly at any moment. I wouldn't want to be on her back when she did.

Not sure about the male's history but we think he is about 30-ish.

The female is much younger, I think, and was broke and trained to pull a cart when we got her.

I would recommend getting a proven older one for children.

We had a younger female before who was flighty and possibly had been abused my men since she didn't like men much. She never did anything regarding the children, but she did not tolerate small animals like chickens, cats, goats, etc. DW tells me that donkeys should be raised with the animals they are to pasture with (or similar animals) in order for them to co-exist.

GrannyG · #7 07/16/12, 01:00 PM

I rescued a donkey that was in need of a good home, and we love him dearly...he gets along well with the llama and the goat, tolerated the dogs, but he would try to stomp any stray dog that got in the fence....he hates the pig and i Have had to isolate him to the barn, he would bite him and try to stomp at him, so the pig is now in a separate area... He was mistreated at one time, but is slowly trusting me ....loves to nuzzle his nose against my face....Yep, even kiss mine....LOL...have been offered money for him, but he is not for sale....he has a forever home here with me as long as I am around...
Tell me about donkeys.. - Homesteading Questions

Tell me about donkeys.. - Homesteading Questions

gwithrow · #8 07/16/12, 01:11 PM

we have four donkeys, two jennys and their gelded babies....I am not sure why we felt we should breed them, but we did and the boys were born 2 days apart....now they are both gelded( because I do not want 'jacks')....sweet because they have been handled since they were born, so now we have 4 donkeys and we still only need 2......they are very curious and interested in any farm project...do not like the stray dogs...and I think would be not happy with coyotes...grandchildren can sit on them and brush them...they lead sort of...with a little work and a few carrots I think we would see more progress there....I can put halters on any of them...and the girls don't have any issue with the farrier...you do need to make sure their feet are trimmed now and then...

I think I am biased but I like donkeys and they are surely the grandkids favorites....

they are smart and do not forget if they are mistreated....mine are friendly and I love watching them out here....

one donkey is never going to be as happy as a small group, even two...they are herd animals and are very pitiful alone...they do not need grain AT ALL....some hay in the winter and not even super high quality...just decent....my husband has had to have some retraining on not overfeeding because they are always interested in eating...they love blueberries...and the damaged tomatoes...yumm

ninny · #9 07/16/12, 01:58 PM

I have a friend who lives in Midland that just got a donkey. Really didn't want it but he traded one of his horses for another horse and a donkey was part of the deal. He's never had a donkey before but he is crazy about the darn thing, said it's an endless amount of amusement. He doesn't ride it but his granddaughter does. He would definitely recommend having one now.

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DixyDoodle · #10 07/16/12, 03:26 PM

I have a donkey, so here's my experiences and other peoples' comments to me.

1/ Don't get a jack (ungelded). It may turn mean, and they typically are not used for pets....but they make the best guardians. So getting a "two for one" (ie, pet and guardian) is difficult. Although having said that, my gelded donkey hates dogs and will chase and stomp on them.

2/Do not put it with small livstock, he may kill them. I've heard of donkeys being raised with sheep, only to kill the babies (he sees them as intruders), athough if you need a pet, not guardian, this will not matter. But keep it in mind if you think you may put him with goats, sheep, poultry. MOST donkeys HATE dogs! The best guardians are those that are initially raised with the type of livestock they will protect.

3/It will require the same training and care as a horse. So you will have to get it saddle broke. And it needs regular hoof trims, every 6-8 weeks. And they need to be on limited grass if they get fat, or they may founder.

4/It may need a buddy, so another donkey or a horse is a good, safe bet. Donkeys are social "herd" creatures. I personally would not recommend it be given a goat for a buddy. I have a lot of goat buddies and they say NO to that.

5/Donkeys are not really "stubborn" per se. It's their habit of stopping dead in their tracks and refusing to move when they are unsure, that people mistake for being stubborn. A horse gets scared or startled, and it takes off, a donkey is more likely to just go off a few steps and check out what's up. Unless of course a horse spooks him, and then he make take off with them.

Good luck, donkeys are great!

mary,tx · #11 07/16/12, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DixyDoodle

.

5/Donkeys are not really "stubborn" per se. It's their habit of stopping dead in their tracks and refusing to move when they are unsure, that people mistake for being stubborn.

Mine is stubborn. It is when she simply does not want to go where I want her to go that she puts her brakes on.

oregon woodsmok · #12 07/16/12, 06:02 PM

Donkey: exceptionally loud, often, and the noise is unpleasant. Your neighbors will not be thanking you.

65284 · #13 07/16/12, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mary,tx

Mine is stubborn. It is when she simply does not want to go where I want her to go that she puts her brakes on.

Yours sounds like mine, I can lead them any place.......................... they want to go!

jwal10 · #14 07/16/12, 07:36 PM

Ponys get stubborn around kids, Donkeys do as they please, more onery then stubborn maybe. Will be fine if kids just do as they want but if you want them to do something they don't want to do ot they don't want to do, they won't. Is that stubborn ? or set in there ways....James

mary,tx · #15 07/16/12, 07:59 PM

Mine's not old enough to be "set in her ways."

susanneb · #16 07/16/12, 08:17 PM

Donkeys and ponies get bad reps for being stubborn and ornery. In truth, they are extremely intelligent and have to be handled as such. The fact that donkeys are often used in combined driving events proves that they can indeed be trained and that not all refuse to obey. Nobody is going to spend the money and time that sport entails if they aren't sure the donkey will do what is asked, including negotiating obstacles and going through water.

Whenever children are involved, you definitely want a donkey (or any other equine) to have been trained by a pro or at least someone who knows what they are doing.

Oldcountryboy · #17 07/16/12, 08:33 PM

I saw a couple on Craigs list, $20 for the pair! I figured people arent buying cause of the drought and no one has any grass or hay to feed.

Do donkeys browse on underbrush and tree's like goats do?

Wolf mom · #18 07/17/12, 12:37 AM

I love donkeys!

Intelligent, curious, funny, pushy & everything everyone said above, although I think some of those negative behaviors were people trained. Some will try to kill coyotes, and dogs too as they are known to be guard animals. Although my wolf-dog & donkey would play tag zipping up & down the pasture together.

You just have to be smarter than your donk. Never get into a battle of wills. He's learning every minute of that battle. Ya gotta out-smart it. And have lots of patience - a sense of humor also helps.. He doesn't want to go straight- OK, go in a curve or circle around with your goal in mind. Intermittent positive reinforcement treats help.

I bought my donkey for $150.00 at a Bureau of Land Management sale. Yup - 11 months old & wild as sin! When he became the only equine, & I gave him away he was rideable and I could take his ears & twist them in a knot - gently. I really miss him. Mr. Personality Plus!

When to start training them? The day they are born. Wait, and they learn to use their weight against you. To me, that goes for all equine. Now why did I buy a 11 month old wild critter? 'Cause he was the last one in the pen & I'm a softie. I also owned a boarding stable so had some experience.

Feed? Not very rich - here, grass hay is good. Remember where they grow wild and what sparse food they eat.

Recently I had a chance to buy a pair of minerature donkeys so I could cart train them, but ended up not buying them as one was 4 and the other was 6 years old. Even though they appeared to be OK trained, I really didn't want someone else's bad habits. I'd buy very young ones & raise 'em up.

Actually, I don't think donkeys are a good equine to start the learning process on.

Wasn't there a donkey-guy here a while ago (a few years) that had a lot to do with training them?

barnyardgal · #19 07/17/12, 04:40 AM

My experience with a miniature donkey has been terrible-the donkey was raised up with goats,so i brought him home & my goats hated him as first thing the donkey done was to start chasing the goats,so goats run in the barn to get away from him..
anyways, came home one day & donkey had one of my goats by the nap of the nap trying to shake/kill him i guess,the goats neck was all bloody & raw where the donkey has chewed & was trying to throw the goat around,i went out & saved the goat from the donkey,then had to keep the donkey chained up during the day so the goats could go out & browse & then locked the goats in the barn at night so the donkey could browse,done this till i could sell the donkey...did not work out & i want a donkey so bad...but its a no-no now..am scared to try another donkey...

**fordson major** · #20 07/17/12, 07:01 AM

T R O U B L E !! notice the capitals? we have had donks for about twenty years now, only one now (and he is the worst!) open gates and let the sheep out, watch coyotes eat lambs and get out to steal grain. he is much smarter than the average horse (he has two to guard) and very entertaining! with electric fence and chained gates he stays where he is put. usually... neighbor had one that rolled under the electric fence and would visit our neighbors, i would be the one to get the call at 2AM!