The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Pets & Working Animals => Horses, ponies, donkeys & mules => Topic started by: Tullywood Farm on July 10, 2009, 12:32:56 am
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Hi to all,
I am getting a couple of Miniature Donkeys and was wondering if there is anything special I have to do to take care of them.
I know that a Donkey's coat is not water proof thats why the two of them will have a 12x12 feet house to go in any time they want.
I also am very lucky to live within 2 miles of a very good and very experience farrier.
I would love to hear from anyone who keeps these beautiful animals and can offer me any advice on their care.
Kind regards
Joe :)
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the bible of all things donkey is "the professional handbook of the donkey " you should be able to get it in your local library, ive seen it in ballyhaunis, my mum has her own copy as she has a few standard donkeys of her own!
it tells you everything you need to know about donkeys and a whole pile of stuff you wouldnt think to ask but is really useful!
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Hi Gem
Julie has just told me she has this book!.
I don't have time to look at every book she buy's as we seem to have a delivery van from Amazon books just for us.
But I will definately be looking at this one.
Thank you for your reply.
I am glad to see it is not only me that is up at crazy Hours.
I think I will go to bed now though as it is 2.20 am.
Kind regards
Joe :)
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Never heard of mini donkeys - can we have some photos when you get them please. ;D
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Never heard of mini donkeys - can we have some photos when you get them please. ;D
I do not think we will be able to stop ourselves posting a pic of them - they are gorgeous, imagine a donkey the size of a rottweiler - but all furry with big sad eyes.
Julie
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Just googled miniature donkeys and they are so cute, we must have pictures pls, thanks! :)
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Here you are - http://www.miniaturedonkeys.org.uk/ Aren't they just so cute?
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OMG I so want one, how cute are they?
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OMG I so want one, how cute are they?
I second that !
WOW - I thought mini shetland ponies were cute, but these guys win hands down !!!
I'm off to see how much they cost & where I can get to see some up close ! ;)
...................................just been on the website.................................
£1500 for a gelding and £2500 - £3000 for a jenny !!!!!!!!!!!!!! :o
Cute they may well be but I'll have to resign myself to looking, just think of the pigs & chickens I could get for that kind of money ;D
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Hi :)
I will post some pictures as soon as I get my two girls.
The cost of them is exactly why I am asking for any advice on these beautiful baby's.
I am very lucky to be able to get these little darling's and don't want to make any mistakes.
I have got two friends staying over the weekend who are both Zoo keeper's and am lucky enough to be good friends with the Team leader (Manager, but more politically correct)of Dublin Zoo who has had experience with Miniature Donkey's.
But I like to gather as much info as possible when I am embarking on looking after the welfare of any animal as I find you can never know enough.
It's Only What You Learn After You Know Every Thing That Counts!!!!. :o :o
The other thing is I have enough Chicken's and pig's and I have fallen in love with these. :love: :love: :love: :love: :love:
Kindest regards to all
Joe
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I'm sooooo jealous Joe, I would love one (or 14 ! ;D) I hope you'll keep us up to date with their progress.
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Cynically, I was reading this and thinking "What's the point?" than I saw the photos. How cute are they? I like donkeys anyway, but these are beautiful. I hope they don't become a fad, though, (not with Joe and Julie).
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Thanks Rosemary.
We do a lot of work with Schools, teaching them the benefits to the planet and their location of locally produced food, and healthy food.
Not many people keep pigs here, and most haven't seen a pig close up.
We take piglets around the schools to show the kids.
Its great fun the questions we get asked are hilarious.
Age 4 to 12 are the target audience, and they tell their parents all about our visit and the local farmers market.
We hope to offer Children's Birthday Parties in our farm shop next year - an alternative to McDonald's or Burger King - they will get a barbecue with rare breed 80% pork sausages and burgers. - Lots of rules red tape and regulation before we will be there- but it is doable.
My justification of having these beautiful little creatures, is to let children see them close up, and at their level - when they visit the farm or if we visit the schools. :) Kids are frightened of big animals, but love miniature goats and smaller animals.
plus I LOVE donkeys - used to have one called Moses, but he attacked a few of our sheep even after being gelded so I had to sell him, unfortunately. Miss him lots :-[
Julie
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Wow these are sooo cute!! I want!
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Oh don't tease us please we would just love to see the pics. :)
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Hi, go into "reply's" and on the bottom left you will see "additional options".
Click on that and the rest ss straight forward, select "browse" and away you go.
Good luck, looking forward to seeing your pics, hope the calfing goes well.
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Hi Pentre1230,
Thank you for getting back to me on this thread.'
The Farrier that I am going to use has 9 Donkeys of his own, Big ones though!.
So I am not worried about him doing their hooves.
I have not heard this about straw though and the people I am getting them of definitely use hay as I remarked on the New Hay they had just bought in for the winter as it smelt lovely.
I will defiantly look in to this as it is no problem getting straw as I use it for Bedding and the person I get it of uses it to feed cows as it is really good quality.
I am sure that I will have question for you as time goes on.
Look forward to your Pictures.
Kindest regards
Joe :)
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Hi Joe,
I always look forward to reading your posts, your attitude to life and smallholding is a credit to you and when I die I want to come back as an animal being cared for by you! The minature donkeys look fantastic, PLEASE keep us posted on your progress; I wish you and Julie nothing but good luck with your venture.
Regards, Farmer
:farmer:
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;D ;D ;D
Thanks - will keep you posted
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Hi Tullywood,
Have tried posting photo's but I keep getting file to big, I've reduced it down in Kodak software as best for web site but its still telling me its to large!! Give me animals anyday over pc's!! Sounds as though your farriers got it sorted,a donkeys hoove should be trimmed at 60 degrees compared to a horse's at 45 degrees.. What I meant about the straw is that they should have good clean barley straw available at all times, its ok to feed hay, we do, but the straw helps there complex digestive system, you'll find they will probably go for the straw first rather than the hay. They are browsers rather than grazers and you should limit the grass available to them as they will get to fat. Also if you want to feed them "hard grub" there is a specific bagged feed available for donkeys now its called Saracen Donkey Diet, its the only feed made specifically for donkeys with all the right nutrients, normal horse feed is too much for them. Also a feed shelter is a must unless you want to bring them in every time it rains, a donkeys coat is not waterproof like a horse's and they will soon get wet and cold and all the associated problems that brings, Iv'e seen some awful donkeys over the years suffering from rain scald.
Any questions please ask away....
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I had donkeys and fed them straw ad lib summer and winter. I didn't give them any hard feed, but in cold weather gave them carrots twice a day. I fed them straw in the summer as they will choose that over grass, which reduces the amount they pig out on the grass. I also fed them on long grass that had less sugar rather than very short grass that always had new juicy bits growing through. On this regime mine were never overweight. They would also come belting down the field into the shelter at the first drop of rain so as long as there is shelter the Donkeys should make the sensible choice!
They pooh in the same few places so pooh picking is easy, but also tend to wee in the same places and create smelly quagmires! They were fantastically gentle and a pleasure to have around, but sadly i just didn't have the time to do them justice so they are now with a wonderful family doing school fairs and carnivals!
Good luck with yours!!
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Yes we loved feeding our donkey carrots too. We will have a stable for them when it is raining, and shelter in the fields is available for all animals, either natural as in trees or man made.
Thank you all for your info - we have another few weeks to wait before ours arrive - should be in September.
Julie ;)
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To Pentre1230
We would like to put our two girls into foal in October.
They are from the UK and awaiting bloodline details. Could you ask your parents what our options are?
Buying a male
AI ?
Loaning a Male for a stud fee ?
We are in Eire which complicates things - maybe they know a keeper or breeder here?
Any help or information would be gratefully received
kind regards
Julie and Joe
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I just love my mini donkey, his name is "Peanut", and that's one of my little dogs, "Baby" that's sitting on his back. (http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff30/CranberriesMom/doganddonkeyshow.jpg)
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Donkey as well ::) you are really spoilt aren't you ;D ;D ;D
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Cameldairy, your donkey looks just like ours - do they all have big bellies, cause when we first saw ours I thought they were pregnant, but apparently there not, and the big belly is normal?? ::)
I am still awaiting the papers for mine, and then I am going to buy a jack to breed with them in the Spring. ;D
Have you ever bred from your miniature donkey?? ???
Julie
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Snoopy, The big belly is not normal, try and find out from the breeder or previous owner when they where last wormed and/or arrange for a worm test and go from there. Not sure what paperwork you could be waiting for, you should have been given passport (lawfull requirement) transfer forms unless previous owner is standing the transfer fee and the pedigree certificate. Are the MMDA registered? If so you cannot breed with them until they are 3 years old.
If you have no experience with owning and handling a jack donkey, I would think long and hard about buying one so early on, if you only have just two jenny's you would be better off sending them away to be mated in hand, with only 2 jenny's your jack would only be "working" twice a year and not very happy!!
We have a quite a few miniature donkeys and have bred donkeys for many years, would be more than happy to give you any help...
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Hello Pentre
P.M.d you the information that I have on the two girls.
Thanks for the information above, and its great to know that there is someone on
the forum we can ask questions ;)
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We live close to the Minature Pony Centre on Dartmoor and my grandchildren love to visit and see the ponies and donkeys. They would love to own some but I find it cheaper to buy a season ticket so that they can visit when they like!