Donkey advice

[HCFGIRLS]

Hi everyone . . .We have recently bought a 10 month old Jack donkey . . he is lovely (At times ) and he comes for fuss and to be brushed and if we are sat in his field he wants his bum scratched . .We can clean his hooves and he stays by us then all of a sudden he tries to bite us and last week tried to jump on us. he needs to be gelded but he has not dropped . . so we have to wait.
He has sheep in the other field he sits by them other side of fence and he will go in with them when they have all lambed. Do you think he is playing or being nasty with us. He really wants to spend time with us . . . he was fine with farrier and vet.

 

[Amymay Again]

He needs company. Donkeys should always be kept in pairs.

Has he been examined by a vet with a view to castrate?

 

[MurphysMinder]

He definitely needs company, ideally another donkey. The Donkey Sanctuary used to produce (and I'm sure they still do) The Donkey Handbook which is excellent.

 

[HCFGIRLS]

He needs company. Donkeys should always be kept in pairs.

Has he been examined by a vet with a view to castrate?

Yes. . . Nothing there yet

 

[Amymay Again]

Yes. . . Nothing there yet

Has the vet given any indication that they're likely to drop, or whether surgical intervention is needed?

 

[HCFGIRLS]

Has the vet given any indication that they're likely to drop, or whether surgical intervention is needed?

 

[TheMule]

Donkeys do not do well kept alone (sheep do not count). It is cruel to expect a donkey to live alone. They ideally need another donkey but can tolerate a pony if that really isn’t an option.
If you can’t/ won’t provide him with that then he needs to go back to where you got him from, or to be sold on.

 

[HCFGIRLS]

Vet says as he is 10 months old it could be anytime . . .but they only operate Spring and Autumn because of the wound being left open.
It is going to be done at vet hospital . .not at home.
He is quite a large donkey for his age . . i'm sure he is happy and he wants to be around us as soon as we go in his paddock . . We can pick up his hooves up and brush him he is fine . . then he nips us . .

 

[HCFGIRLS]

We will get him a mate it isnt a problem we have lots room
. . .but what would be best another gelding or a Jenny and how old would they need to be.

 

[ycbm]

Welcome to the forum.

He is biting you because he has nobody of his own age and breed to play biting games with. As people say above, he needs company.

Do you have experience with horses or donkeys? I'm not sure how you are so sure he is happy. Following you around mean means he's desperate for interaction, not that he's happy that the only interaction is humans.

What are your plans for him, and the other when you get it?
.

 

[HCFGIRLS]

What do you mean what are our plans ?. . . .We just want them as pets and to be happy and healthy and spoilt.

 

[Gloi]

We will get him a mate it isnt a problem we have lots room
. . .but what would be best another gelding or a Jenny and how old would they need to be.

Another gelding would be best as he's not yet gelded. A fairly young one, yearling or 2yo so they can play together, though an older one would be better than no friend.

 

[ycbm]

What do you mean what are our plans ?. . . .We just want them as pets and to be happy and healthy and spoilt.

That's what I meant. You plan for him to be a pet. You don't plan to ride or drive him. OK. You know now that he needs donkey company.

Do you have any experience with training horses or donkeys? "Spoilt" even in its nicest sense is not often a good way to manage equines, sadly. Are you getting input from someone experienced in to how donkeys need to be managed? They aren't, for example nearly as hardy as a native pony and unlike horses they don't have waterproof coats.
.

 

[rabatsa]

He definitely needs company, ideally another donkey. The Donkey Sanctuary used to produce (and I'm sure they still do) The Donkey Handbook which is excellent.

The last copy of this handbook I got was only available from the vet, who ordered me a copy. In years gone by any donkey owner could get a copy from the sanctuary.

We will get him a mate it isnt a problem we have lots room
. . .but what would be best another gelding or a Jenny and how old would they need to be.

Ideally he needs a gelding companion, they play harder than females. One reasonably near his own age is best, he will be too playful for an older donkey.

 

[MurphysMinder]

The last copy of this handbook I got was only available from the vet, who ordered me a copy. In years gone by any donkey owner could get a copy from the sanctuary.

That's a shame . It was invaluable when I got my donkey back in the 80s.

 

[Orangehorse]

The nipping and jumping up is typical young colt behaviour. It is play fighting, don't allow it with humans. A bite from a horse or donkey can be very nasty. Have you seen some of those videos when a donkey will attack another animal threatening them? They really mean business.

What is sweet with a little baby soon becomes nasty, even dangerous behaviour when grown up.

If they haven't got a pony or donkey companion, they think their human is also their playmate - do not allow.

Don't hit, push him away and say "no" and then reward good behaviour with praise.
Get help from someone experienced with young donkeys or colts.