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 Worst.Housekeeper.EVER.
   
Location: Missouri | We've been offered an abandoned donkey. Supposedly sweet, easy to catch & lead. I'm feeling a little apprehensive though. What should I know about these creatures??? It's not a mini. Also, still intact, but we'd have that fixed before he arrived.
TIA!
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| I have 3 one standard, and 2 minis.
Donkeys are sometimes finicky, you have to earn their trust. My standard, she was wild and 2 when I got her, she has settled down, but after I worm her I can't catch her for a few weeks.
My one mini is supposed to be halter broke, the guy lied, she is as wild as can be and hasn't tamed down. The other mini is a gem, he has such a personality.
I have learned that donkeys don't like needles, my little one is full grown and smaller then my lab, he had to be on antibiotics due to porcupine quills, long story short even hung from a tree he dislodged the needle 4 times. I gave up and started him on oral.
They are wonderful at keeping coyotes away, you do have to get used to the barraying, as ours used to barray as he was chasing the coyotes he would wake the neighbours up 1/2 mile away.
They don't swim, they sink, so some will not cross water
I think you would have fun with the donkey, mine are very entertaining, good with the horses, good with the dogs, I couldn't ever get rid of the donkeys |
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  More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
 
Location: Riding Crackhead. | I have a Jenny. We love her to death. She keeps an eye on the horses, helps wean babies, and calms new horses. Plus she does excellent work keeping coyote watch. |
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Sock Snob
Posts: 3021
| I have mini donkeys they are sweet. I have about 7 or 8 of them, all ages and sizes. I am in virginia. So if anyone is in need of one i will part with some.
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 Veteran
Posts: 179
Location: Georgia | Ours name is Joey and there are days when he hates my husband. They learn on their own schedule, but one he gets something he is golden. I was just loving on him last night and when I went to leave he followed me wanting more. I love kissing him on his hose it is so soft, he just keeps putting his nose in my face and love the attention. He keeps the stray dogs and coyotes out of the pasture. |
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Worst.Housekeeper.EVER.
Location: Missouri | Thanks for the replies! They sound like neat animals! Still trying to convince the hubby... |
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 Cute Little Imp
Posts: 2747
Location: N Texas | They are very low maintenance and need very little feed, if any. They can make it on grass and hay alone, but if you feel like you must feed him grain, just give him a handful, don't feed him like the horses.
Some donkeys stay stand offish their whole lives, while others can become so friendly, they're up in your business constantly. Overall, I think they're great pets and super easy to care for. |
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Location: Saskatchewan | I bought a mini 4 years ago for a companion when we lost one of our old guys, let me tell you that donkey was the best investment ever!! We since have lost the other old boy, but Shiloh keeps the coyotes away, helps with calming new horses, we throw him in with the young ones to keep them in line and much more lol. I will warn you he was a escape artist!!! We had to redo the bottom portion of all our fencing and still he can get out between the pens, he'll actually take a running start at the fence, squat down sliding on his knee's, then jump up on the other side after he slides underneath the fence lol. Never could figure out how he was missing hair on the top of his back until I saw this with my own eyes. Hes such a sweetheart, loves attention and follows us everywhere but good luck needling him, I have to have a vet out for that. If you ever get after them, look out because they remember FOREVER. He still wont come near the vet the needled him 3 years ago lol and wouldnt come near my dad for 6 months after he got after him lol. Only advice get him gelded and take him home!! Mine doesnt take well to new dogs that come out. I remember the farrier brought is dog the one time and I was leading Shiloh into the barn when he saw that darn dog and even though he's only 300 pounds I was being drug around the yard at Mach 10 lol. |
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 Living on the edge of common sense
Posts: 24138
Location: Carpenter, WY | I had little pine trees planted just on the other side of the fence line. Casper was very, very busy and ate the half of them he could reach. It probably took 5 years for the eaten side to grow back. Loved to hear him bray and even the neighbors missed that after we gave him away to a friend. Loved to be brushed and groomed also. We staked Casper out and taught the young horses how to rate a steer on him.
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Worst.Housekeeper.EVER.
Location: Missouri | I have young kids... any concerns??? (besides the usual safety precautions, of course!) Are they generally good with them? Any personal experience? |
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Cute Little Imp
Posts: 2747
Location: N Texas | just4fun - 2013-11-22 9:13 AM
I have young kids... any concerns??? (besides the usual safety precautions, of course!) Are they generally good with them? Any personal experience?
Obviously, don't let them walk behind the donkey. I've found they like to kick more than horses. We use mini donkeys in the petting zoo, and they're great with the kids. |
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| I have a big mini. He has been great. Got him as a babysitter for the horses. He thinks if the horses get it, he should too--bathing, brushing, trimming feet, worming, loads in the trailer, vaccinations, etc. I've not worked with him a lot, but he will lead, will pony and will tie. My daughter loves him. Can haul to shows if I want to. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1218
Location: Great NW | Just watch them on Good Grass fields and feed grain sparingly. I have a friend with one. he shares a pasture with two horses. When she feeds she feeds enough for the two horses and he gets nibbles from each when they are done. he looks fantastic. another friend keeps his with the roping cattle and uses him almost every day to work colts on tracking - he also gets no special attention and he looks good. Get him gelded and take him home. they can be hard on dogs. |
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More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | just4fun - 2013-11-22 9:13 AM I have young kids... any concerns??? (besides the usual safety precautions, of course!) Are they generally good with them? Any personal experience?
No problems with kids. My 2 kids were in grade school when we got ours. That donkey loves those kids to death to this day. (18 & 20) She's never kicked. They've climbed all over her. It was a game for the kids to get on her out in the pasture. She'd trot around until they'd fall off. They'd lay on the ground giggling and Jacki would walk over and nudge them until they got back on and the game would start all over again. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| Gunner11 - 2013-11-22 9:15 AM
just4fun - 2013-11-22 9:13 AM
I have young kids... any concerns??? (besides the usual safety precautions, of course!) Are they generally good with them? Any personal experience?
Obviously, don't let them walk behind the donkey. I've found they like to kick more than horses. We use mini donkeys in the petting zoo, and they're great with the kids.
Really yours kick more then horses? Mine have never even offered to kick, even my wildly.
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 The Purple Princess
Posts: 2226
Location: Charlestown, IN | We have 1 standard jenny and love her to pieces. My husband would have 856029580285 donkey's if we could. We have 3 kids. She actually prefers the kids to us adults. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1430
Location: Montana | We had a mini jack we adored. Most personality! I still miss him. He just went were he wanted like the dog did. One day he attached a foal that was lying down asleep. My husband saw and stopped it before the foal was hurt but he said that sweet little fun guy had murder on his mind. You don't go trying to hurt my babies and get away with i! Sold him immediately.
He wasn't gelded and we didn't take a chance on finding out if that would help. I've heard some mules will attach colts too? Never had one to know.
I'd love to try a mini jenny sometime. He really was the coolest little guy to have around!
We still have an ancient regular sized jenny. She's cool. Mostly lives in the pasture as a guard animal - and she's good at it. She's always the first to notice something. In her approximately 20 years she had ONE day she was halter broke a little. Otherwise, she only goes where she wants. She's old, bad-footed, and very slow. Yet when we bring mares down from the summer pasture . . . she gets to the house at nearly the same time as the racehorse broodmares do. She's slow but VERY smart - no wasted steps! Makes me laugh but she does it every time!
We don't have kids of our own, but have not had issues with either and visiting kids. Unless he is unusual, that shouldn't be a worry? I don't think?
As long as you don't have or can keep him separate from foals, I'd go for it in a heartbeat! They are too fun!
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 Add Poop. It Works!
Posts: 1360
Location: Arkansas | I just love mine, little Concho and Gringo. They are still in cart breaking school! They have been great babysitters for a lone weanling, great with the little kids that come out, and are such little sweeties. BUT they get under or out of every cable pen I have so they have to go into a pipe corral or I am chasing them around the ranch!!
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OT: Donkeys