When is a Donkey a Guardian

[cakadu]

What sort of salt and mineral is best for them? We have both for the sheep, but I don't know if that would be adequate for the donkey's needs.

She will have free access to the hay that the sheep get, which is a pretty good first cut. We generally will bring in 2nd cut for the last 6 to 8 weeks of gestation for the ewes, but with the way the hay situation went this fall, we may just stick with the first cut and get a little more barley.

The llama gets a small soup can of alfalfa pellets once a day (unless it is really cold) mixed with a bit of barley, but I don't know if the donkey will need that or even if she should get it. Actually, that is the only time the llama is friendly, when he knows it's time to get his pellets.

[cakadu]

Sorry, it should be when it's really cold he gets it twice a day.

[cakadu]

Linda, donkeys do not need alfalfa hay, they need a non dusty grass hay, and very very little grain. Keep an eye on the crest of the neck of your donkey, if a ridge starts to appear it is a sign that she is getting too fat, and could possibly founder. My two get grass hay and nothing else with the exception of a good mineral. The mineral you feed the sheep should be adequate.
The farrier comes every three months to trim the donkey's hooves and worms them twice a year, spring and fall.
The Donkey and Mule Association website has information on nutrition.
Donkeys like a shelter from rain and snow, but they do not need to be put into a barn, a three sided shelter will do fine. Their coat is thick and if they get wet, their coat doesn't dry out rapidly.

[kato]

That's true. Ours stay with the cows, and basically get the stray hay from the feeders. They don't require hot feed at all. I don't give them any grain, except for the odd treat. They do quite well in with the cows. As for minerals, whatever would work for a horse will work for a donkey.

We set up a corner in the shed that the cows can't get into, and the donkeys use it. (It's the same type of corner we use when the cows are calving so the calves can get a safe place to lay down.) They are good with cold, but wet and wind are hard on them. If I have a jenny with a foal, or yearling, they do get their own shed. Competition with the cows for hay is a little too tough for them.

Another important thing, donkeys absolutely cannot rely on snow. They need water in the winter.

Enjoy your donkey. Now the hard part is to stop at one. They tend to be 'collectables'. LOL

[cakadu]

She seems to be bonding with the sheep and there hasn't been any problems with her being housed with them at night as far as I can tell. Last night she went right to the 3-sided shed and laid down, so I presume all went well throughout the night. I've only heard her bray once in the night so far.

The grass hay they are getting right now seems to be pretty good, so she'll have plenty of that. The salt and mineral are always there free choice and the waterer isn't too far away from the feeding area.

We tend not to leave anything without water in the winter because I feel it just takes too much heat away from them to deal with the snow. It does get a little perplexing from time to time when the water is there and they eat the snow right beside the water, but at least it is always there.

I'm actually feeling a little left out because now the donkey doesn't come over as much for some scratching and stuff. I've tried to stay in the background while she bonds to the sheep because that is the most important thing. Maybe she's a bit miffed that the carrot and apple aren't coming out right now as she bonds.

Overall, I think she's settled in quite nicely. Now all we have to do is think of a name.

[kato]

I posed that very question on another discussion board a couple of years ago. I got lots of suggestions. Those nice people still help me name our new arrivals.

The winner was the person who went on and said "If I had a donkey, I'd call it Oatie." (Think about that for a bit ... it makes sense).

I bet the good Agri-ville folks can put those brilliant minds to work and come up with the perfect name.

And the winner is .......

[kato]

Donkeys like dogs tend to name themselves. Kato is right, donkeys grow on you and it isn't easy to settle for owning just one. I would love to have a spotted mini jenny but have to draw the line at too many of them around here.

[cakadu]

I'm hoping that she names herself and soon because the only other suggestion that has been bandied about around here is Eeyore and that is a male name.

With your donkeys, were they any particular age when the hatred of canines and the donkey dance came about? So far she is very watchful of the dogs, but I haven't seen any real aggression towards them. Having said that though, she has put her ears back and backed up many times, so I suppose it is just a matter of time until one or more of the dogs gets the shock of their lives.

[cakadu]

My first donkey was two when I got him and the first thing he did when we unloaded him was kick my old border collie who hasn't forgiven him !!!
The second donkey has never attempted to attack the dog, but he hates cats. The first winter the oldest donkey was here, the barn cats took a beating, several times I notices one or the other of them limping, so obviously they had gotten their paws tramped on.
Both donkeys will go after a stray dog, they get very uneasy if one is around and if the opportunity presents itself they will stomp the intruder.
My farrier usually brings his little poodle type dog when he trims the donkeys feet, and they hate the dog a lot more than the hoof trimming !

[kato]

Mine usually start on cats when they are a month old or so. Nothing serious, just give them a chase.

I have a really funny picture of a two month old foal running our German Shepherd out of the pen. They are almost the same size, and the dog is running for her life. Or at least she thought she was!

I doubt that much damage would have been done, but the little donkey had her psyched right out. It was good training for the young dog, too. It taught her respect without any 'real' danger. To this day, she behaves herself around the donkeys.