The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Pets & Working Animals => Horses, ponies, donkeys & mules => Topic started by: Marches Farmer on September 28, 2015, 12:13:35 pm
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We're farmers and have never kept equines but my OH has recently become enthusiastic about keeping a couple of donkeys to have around for guests in the farm holiday cottage. Many guests expect the farm to be like a zoo, with livestock both handy and enthusiastic about selfies and petting (yeah, right!). I'm far less enthusiastic about keeping yet more livestock that aren't rare and that won't end up on a plate, but willing to consider. Pluses and minuses from folks in the know would be gratefully received.
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Much as donkeys have the cute factor, will your guest like the noise they can come out with.
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We had a jack donkey. Used to bray at first light. We weren't too bothered but you could hear him several miles away. Not sure that females or castrated males would do that. They do like company of some sort and become very attached to other donkeys. So much so they can pine badly in the event you find yourself losing one.
They can live a long time. Donkey Rescue are apparently very helpful.
They need regular hoof trimming and worming and they need a shelter in the bad weather.
My first horse was very attached to the donkey at the place I bought him from. When we bought our donkey some years later my horse got very excited the minute we unloaded the donkey, despite our donkey being a completely different colour and gender to the first donkey he had known. They were immediately friends and the donkey used to follow me on hacks across the fell.
He went to a new home when we were contacted by a very distraught lady who had two donkeys and one had died. The remaining donkey wouldn't eat and was becoming ill. We though their need was greater than ours and we dropped ours off and the effect on the pining donkey was immediate!
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wev never had a donkey but do have a mule. huge huge character.
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I have 2 foster donkeys from the donkey sanctuary at Sidmouth. Great to be able to give them a good home and the sanctuary offer great ongoing support to anyone thinking of getting them or who have re homed them (very useful if not experienced with equines). We have 2 boys and they are brilliant, happy, playful and make me laugh every day. Everyone loves them and no one seems to mind their occasional braying, it's part of their charm and what donkeys do. Actually one of them sounds like a foghorn and the other one just squeaks, so not a very impressive bray between them! Have horses all my life and donkeys are a doddle in comparison. Must live in pairs as already mentioned. Ours love visitors and are very friendly. Might foster 2 more..............
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Noise not likely to be that great an issue, as we keep peacocks, turkeys and many, many cockerels .....
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I have 2 foster donkeys from the donkey sanctuary at Sidmouth. Great to be able to give them a good home and the sanctuary offer great ongoing support to anyone thinking of getting them or who have re homed them (very useful if not experienced with equines). We have 2 boys and they are brilliant, happy, playful and make me laugh every day. Everyone loves them and no one seems to mind their occasional braying, it's part of their charm and what donkeys do. Actually one of them sounds like a foghorn and the other one just squeaks, so not a very impressive bray between them! Have horses all my life and donkeys are a doddle in comparison. Must live in pairs as already mentioned. Ours love visitors and are very friendly. Might foster 2 more..............
Considering doing the same ..... what sort of cost is involved in keeping (I've never kept equine) ? Also how do you deal with them not getting fat or laminitis on too much grass?
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Hi Linda, you might find this link useful http://www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/foster-a-donkey (http://www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/foster-a-donkey)
There is loads of info on their site and you can just ring and ask to speak to someone as a 'potential' fosterers. They don't put any pressure on you at all and they offer free training days whether you take on their donkeys or not.
Re costs, having had horses forever, the donkeys seem cheap to me :roflanim:
However, for the uninitiated, costs will include provision of grazing, stabling/field shelter, fencing etc. if not already in place. Then there's vet insurance (the donkey sanctuary have an arrangement with a company that offers it cheaper, so I have that as it was outrageous with the horse ins..company) they need a farrier regularly, every 8-10 weeks but it's much cheaper to do than for my horses. They need worming but the donkeys sanctuary will do FEC counts for free so that we don't have to worm unnecessarily. Their teeth need rasping every 6-12 months, depending on the donkeys. I have mine done annually now as they are fine and I combine this with their annual vaccs so as to only pay for one vet visit. They eat barley straw which is much cheaper than hay. They do need a bit of hay though in the winter but nowhere near as much as the horses. They tend not to need rugs unless they are poorly or elderly.
Grazing does need to be restricted because they can get fat quickly and easily and it can be hard to shift the excess weight. They educate about this though, so once you know, it's easy to manage, you just have to be vigilant and never give them access to too much grass. I was very worried about this at first but it has been easy enough to manage.
Hope this helps.
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Linda, Cwmcwrth Farm at Capel Isaac have just rehomed 2 donkeys. I'm sure they would be happy to share their experience so far
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Donkeys are delightful animals to keep and fit in well on a farm and are always popular with visitors.They are particularly good with children who seem to gravitate to them.
We have several (and a mule) and rotate their grazing with our sheep and cattle, so they help keep the pasture free of worms. They are also excellent for getting rid of thistles.
As mentioned, they need access to shelter, athough in summer trees can provide this, and they should be kept at least in pairs. They are seldom ill, so I personally wouldn't bother with health insurance. We have about 12 donkeys and have only had to call the vet out twice in the last 5 years.
The only downside that I've found is that some donkeys do not like other animals. All ours are unbothered, but I have known some that will chase cats, dogs, or even sheep. So they need close supervision when introducing any other species.
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I wish I hadn't read this thread..... Wanted a donkey, or two since I was about 2!....... AND they eat thistles! ...... Please someone give me a really good reason not to have some!
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If anyone can't keep a donkey at home they can adopt one from Sidmouth Donkey Sanctuary (makes a lovely gift for a child!)
Also, admission to the sanctuary is free every day of the year except Christmas day and there is lots for children to do there.
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I wish I hadn't read this thread..... Wanted a donkey, or two since I was about 2!....... AND they eat thistles! ...... Please someone give me a really good reason not to have some!
I can't give you a good reason not to have them as I have always wanted them too. Used to love them when we lived near the New Forest.
Holiday guests love them too Linda ;D
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Thanks Sallythat really helped! :innocent:
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You can sometimes pick up a good donkey cheap, I did at the horse sales where I went to look at a pony and came home with a fifty guinea donkey. He does not have a donkey friend but lives with two mules and a pony.
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Back in Wellies,
you cant have one because....,
you cant eat one,
you cant ride one,
your not saving a rare breed by keeping one
and....er....um......oh yeah I've got it! You can't provide an effective business case for one :idea:
Has that helped.......?
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Back in Wellies,
you cant have one because....,
you cant eat one,
you cant ride one,
your not saving a rare breed by keeping one
and....er....um......oh yeah I've got it! You can't provide an effective business case for one :idea:
Has that helped.......?
:roflanim: :roflanim: hmmmm .... unfortunately I did say give me a good reason for not having SOME.... anyone else ?????
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Back in Wellies,
you cant have one because....,
you cant eat one,
you cant ride one,
your not saving a rare breed by keeping one
and....er....um......oh yeah I've got it! You can't provide an effective business case for one :idea:
Has that helped.......?
:roflanim: :roflanim: hmmmm .... unfortunately I did say give me a good reason for not having SOME.... anyone else ??? ??
For someone that really wants a donkey (or 2) and has the resources to keep them, then there are few valid reasons why you shouldn't!
After all, you're only here once, so - enjoy. :excited:
There's donkeys to fit all sizes.
Here's a medium sized one that I prepared earlier.
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Ok.....,
you can ride them,
and you could eat one ( if you were so inclined)
...........Oh just get some BiW ;)
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I have ponies, well, a lot of other animals too ....and always wanted donkeys. A couple of years back I acquired two donkey geldings......nice little chaps, and I was thrilled......until I found that every Autumn and Spring they eat the post and rail fencing. They have chomped their way through a lot of rails, and made a hole big enough in the gate to allow them, and two mini shetlands to go into the other field. It has cost a lot of money to replace and the land is only rented. I am terrified of them doing it again. The vet said there is nothing wrong with them, its just something donkeys or some of them do. None of my horses have ever done this. I have tried suppliments, lick, they have plenty of food, and even branches to gnaw on. But, no the fence is better. Even creosoted it does not stop them.
I have got them in my own field, which is dry stone walls, and they have not eaten the stones yet.
Apart from this problem, they are lovely. They do bray loudly for their feed, and need stabling when the weather is bad in winter. Oh, and mine eat an alarming amount of hay and straw.
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Metal gates. Electric wire along the inside of the fence is a deterrent.
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Landlady will not allow us to change the gates unfortunately, and we have tried the leccy fence, only for the donkeys to push it over - seem immune, and get tangled in the tape. We have now put chicken wire over the rails, but as the whole place is post and rail its not easy covering it all.
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Tape is quite inefficient at conducting as the thin filaments easily get broken. On the fences I use a thin galvanised wire as the fence is the boundary and the wire is purely for zapping. My donkeys have all had a healthy respect for the electric but can tell to the second when it loses power. The mule is even quicker I am sure she hears the switch being turned off before my finger does the deed. Mind she weighs up the benefit of the reward over the zap and will shut her eyes and go for it if she feels it worth doing.