donkeys

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haycroft

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Do many of you have them..what do you do with them
the reason for my Q is that earlier today got talking to an owner of a 3 year old donkey who is just kept in a poor paddock(i was walking past with dogs and saying hello to him)..the donkey looks fine and get fed etc with pony for company
she was saying that she ought to find him a home but wasnt sure where to advertised,she did say she wanted to keep him for her grandchildren..cant see that happening somehow though

we do have a donkey sanctuary down the road so she may try that
 
I love donkeys! We use to have one - he came as a 'plus one' with a blue cross horse we took on. He was fab, more like a big dog than an equine. We used to take him for walks sometimes with the others (take the whole clan out) but we didnt need to lead him, he would follow us and then on tracks he'd just toddle along, find the odd but of dusty ground to roll in etc, he was brilliant. He was a bit of a drama queen though, he had mild colic once and blimey anyone would have thought he was at deaths door! Bless him. He was also extremely vocal and would bray when greeting you, bray if he felt he's been put out - basically he was just great!!! Would love to have another.
 
Hi, I have one. He's a 15:3 Baudet du Poitou Mega donk. I do a bit of driving with him. It's said they are better with other donks, mine lives with the horses though and they all get on. They are sooo different from a horse in temperament. They have to be shown the benefit of doing something first or they don't bother :D mine is very human orientated and loves the attention and wastes loads of my time. Wouldn't be without him :)
 
We've got one, it's about 9hh and a pain in the arse!

He just lives in the field with the three horses, they have him as a little toy, and he humours them. He's still a baby, but he arrived with mites and they've been a nightmare to get rid of, hair loss, sunburn on naked patches, applying 'nit spray' and trying to bath him, aargh!

That said, his nose is soft as velvet and he takes everything in his (short, choppy) stride and just gets on with life, whatever it throws at him! He particularly likes bothering the builders that are currently working on the yard - planting himself firmly in front of their digger/forklift and refusing to move is a hilarious trick... :D
 
We have two of the cheeky b*ggers! Any thing that they can possibly get into they will, they are a very close companion for my 16.1 WB all seems fine but he has to be shut in when fed as he's too 'chicken' to shoo them off hiss food even though they are teeny compared to him.

They run around together carrying one big stick between their mouths and when we leave or return from a hack one of them brays loud enough to be heard down the lane, and for some reason is so happy he has to 'mount' his friend in a brotherly way!

I love them though, so cheeky and apart from feet trimming and crows that steal hair from their backs, they seem relatively easy to keep.
 
I've had a donkey for 25 years. :eek: I got him as a companion to my companion pony when my old horse was pts. He has basically been a pet and companion to various other ponies throughout that time, although my daughter did have little rides on him when she was a toddler.
Although donkeys are generally easier to keep than horses they do have some specific needs, they have to have a shelter as their coats are not waterproof and their hooves grow differently to a horses so need a farrier that is used to them.
Ladyt25, your drama queen donkey must have been in a minority, they are usually known for being very stoic, which can be a problem as by the time they show signs of illness etc they are often in a very bad way.:(

ETS What is it with the crows, our lad has 2 huge bald patches on his bum, it is the same every spring.
 
Aw, one of my horses can't cope with donkeys, I think it's the loud screamy braying noise, can't say it does my nerves much good either, apart from that, they're lovely, very trainable and affectionate.
 
As a teenager good memories of the yard donkey, who was always kept in the first stable. Nothing could get past him....He heard a pin drop then the whole world was awakened.The best security ever! LOUD!

We use to put a potato sack on his back and I just remember how ouch bony its back was.

Funny things but right characters. I would have one or two if I had plenty of space and needed some security! They do live to a grand old age, very cute.
 
MurphysMinder said:
ETS What is it with the crows, our lad has 2 huge bald patches on his bum, it is the same every spring.
Click to expand...

I am so glad some else is having this problem...well not glad for the donkey's!
I thought they had some sort of sweet itch type thing until i went out one morning and saw the crow plucking hairs off his back, i presume for a nest, damn birds!
 
Strangely it has only happened to our fella for the last 3 or 4 years. At first I thought he might have had "little visitors" and the crows were after them, but his skin is clean as a whistle. For the last couple of years he has been clipped in May as he never really loses his coat nowadays, once clipped it seems to stop them, however not done him yet this year cos its too bloomin cold.
 
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