donkeys

[tnroadkill]

i posted a reply on cattle forum
decided to post here as a warning watch your donkey a vet told me they can go off like this and attack people too

i got a donkey to protect goats after one was kill, since i got donkey have had 4 goats killed, find them in pasture of morning little blood but bruising, found out yesterday what was killing goats caught her tryng to kill a nanny the killer =DONKEY only way to stop him, tried to run her away came back got nanny down biting stomp trying to kill her, a 12 gauge birdshot stopped it, she is leaving tomorrow

[jordan]

I know there are people who swear that they've never had a problem with their donkey's, but I've heard way too many stories just like yours and simply don't understand why anyone would take the chance
I'm sorry you lost your goats.
Lois

[Minelson]

I'm sorry this happened...I needed to hear it though since we have been pondering the idea of getting a mini donk. I was more afraid for the dogs though. If I have to be afraid for the goats to then it's really not worth it.

[jordan]

IMHO you are better off with a dog. Even if for some reason you can't leave the dog in with the goats, they are still a deterent to predators if they are patroling the property.
Lois

[deineria]

Very sorry this has happened. Very sad for you! I've be very upset!

Which, this happens with dogs, too. . .
Any animal must be suited to the job and trained, even a donkey.

Minelson, mini donkeys make poor protectors, but I had known an awful lot of people
that had good success with a reg. sized donkey. . . they key to the donks and the dogs is to raise them
with the goats.

I had a pony that was a goat, dog, and cat killer, but she was an ANGEL around children and people and low on the line with other equines.

[HillRunner]

Are Llamas good guardians?

[deineria]

Not all - usually must be a gelded male, never an intact male. . . females, I've found, aren't very good for it (ours can't protect her own self).
You want only one, so he will bond with the goats.
I've also found people feel they are better if they aren't super people friendly.

[steff bugielski]

Glad mine is good with them. He is not really here to protect anything just here. but last year one of the newborn kids got out of its stall, I keep them there for a few days. I heard the donkey yelling, he is usually quiet. I found him straddling the baby and keeping the cow away from it.
He is now "playing "dad to the baby mini donkey.

[suzyhomemaker09]

As I understand a gelded male is the best choice as well. We got ours as a youngster...the was getting a bit nasty when goats went into season but after gelding he's a big sweetie.

[shiandpete.1]

Oh Suzy that is an adorable picture!

[Minelson]

I love that picture Suzy!
We didn't want a mini donk for guarding...we want one because they are cute lol! My hubby wants one more than me...which is totally weird.