Foal weaning, thinking 'outside the box' help needed.

nagblagger

nagblagger

Mildred's Maid
Joined
21 October 2021
Messages
12,562
Location
dorset
Visit site
My Jenny donkey has laminitis, cause unknown, under veterinary supervision and quote "99% of causes have been excluded". However her glucose is a lot lower than normal so advised to wean foal asap, he's 7mnths so old enough.
What is the least stressful way of doing this for the Jenny, I have tried electric fencing which lasted for a day before foal went through it, foal was with his donkey friends. I can put him with a friend in a completely different field, but I am worried about increasing the Jenny 's laminitis through stress, so a vicious circle.

It may be a silly question but are there any safe creams I could put around the udders to stop him suckling?
Or a belly rug for donkeys?
Any ideas welcome and thank you for reading.
 
Mare and foal go into stable.
Mare comes out and goes as far away as possible.
If you can get ,some Sedazine paste beforehand into the foal
Even better
Foal starts handling
Any thing else is really prolonging the misery,for both.
 
Thank you for your response but the foal is already handled and wanders away from the Jenny, only 'uses' her for a drink top up.
Like I said I want to reduce stress in the Jenny due to the laminitis flare up, so was hoping for another solution I hadn't thought of, or done previously on weaning foals.
 
  • Like
Reactions: JBM
You could try to adapt an anti suckle nose thing for cattle but really the best thing is to seperate them completely, out of sight and sound if possible.

If the mare is unable to travel due to her feet then could you arrange for the foal and another of your donkeys to live somewhere else for 5/6 weeks?
 
You can do natural weaning and keep them together, but its not going to work as it needs to be done now. You'll need to send one or the other away.
 
You could try using a grazing muzzle on the foal, wouldn’t be my personal choice as I think there’s a lot could potentially go wrong. I’d prefer to just wean short and sweet- stressful in the short term but much less stress in the medium-long term- by taking the baby totally away, but I understand your concern.
 
rabatsa said:
You could try to adapt an anti suckle nose thing for cattle but really the best thing is to seperate them completely, out of sight and sound if possible.

If the mare is unable to travel due to her feet then could you arrange for the foal and another of your donkeys to live somewhere else for 5/6 weeks?
Click to expand...
I'd be sending foal away too, yes Jenny will possibly get a little stressed but she'll be at home under your eye.
I used to do this,sending foals off with a nanny from the herd to a friend that was at least 4 miles away as crow flies.
Good luck NB xx
 
Ruggles donkey fly rugs have a belly panel. No idea if you could get crafty and extend it so foal couldn't reach her to suckle.

Or could the vet help with something to de-stress mum while baby was removed? Do you have a friend who could take the foal for a couple of weeks?
 
I wouldn't attempt using a rug to stop the foal suckling. There has been a few horror stories of foals getting tangled in their mother's rugs, so I just wouldn't risk it.

I think your best option is probably to leave the jenny with a familiar friend and remove the foal further away, also with a familiar friend.
 
Separate a stable so can touch over a solid partition? On either side of gates or dividers with foal having the option to wander out to friends and mum not?

But honestly I would send away because I think any separation will cause stress so you have the choice of either long term or short term.
 
Is she stressed when he wanders off?

If not I’d separate completely and get him as far away as possible so he can’t get back. She might thank you. Colts can be a pita to their mums.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top