Please tell me why I shouldn't foster donkeys

ycbm

ycbm

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Can you please tell me any reasons why I shouldn't foster a pair of donkeys.
 
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The lungworm thing is a complete myth peddled by people who know nothing about donkeys. Healthy donkeys don't carry lungworm, especially if they are wormed routinely, and healthy horses are an inhospitable host for them.

I can think of absolutely no reason not to adopt a couple as long as you have the facilities for them. You need to be aware that donkeys are prone to laminitis so grazing mustn't be too good, and their coats aren't as waterproof as horses' so need shelter in wet weather.
 
Come on! Donkey sanctuary is already biting my hand off and I only emailed them an hour ago. I know diddly squat about donkeys except I have room and think I'd love a pair and I will learn what I need to learn to keep them. Now, do your flippin' job and put me off the idea! :D
 
Go for it! I rescued one 2 yrs ago and the horses love him to bits, as do I. They are lovely friendly and I just love listening to him "hee haw"! Have though about getting him a friend, but he seems happy enough with the horses for company.
 
My old YO had about twelve donkeys, some rescued, some homebred, some bought for showing; and she did everything with them. Lots of competing - driving and showing classes - and there were always local kids roped in to come and ride them and compete them. She had horses too but donkeys were her passion, she always said they are much smarter than horses! I remember her telling me that getting wet isn't good for them and they need their grazing restricting in the summer, so they do take some looking after, you can't just put them in the field and admire them! They could be quite a handful sometimes, they used to graze in the fields behind my house and I once looked out of the window to see them all on their way out of the field gate, heading down the drive for the road! Cue frantic phone calls to the YO as well as friends that live at the end of the road, before it joins the main road, asking them to try and turn the donkeys round! It felt like half the village turned up to help round them up haha!
 
They escape, cross major roads and end up in local local supermarket devouring the carrots in the fruit and veg aisle and they sneak up behind you and bite you on the bum ... ahh Eddy :P :D
 
Oh I would love a donkey but I have a "special" horse who is terrified of them! My arab used to have them in field next door and whilst all the other horses would happily say hello over the fence he used to go wild eyed and snort and shake run away, one used to bray a lot and my boy got so stressed out about the noise we had to change fields. He still craps himself if we pass donkeys on a hack more than ten years later!
Oh and I have been told they are as addictive as crack!
 
I read once they make your horses brave because their natural instinct isn't to run away from scary stuff but to turn and look at it. Over time your horses start to copy them
ABSOLUTELY no idea if it's true but I am trying it as an excuse for the OH to get a pair - I've collected enough waffes and strays so now we're only allowed new animals if the have a 'job' - surely making my horses braver is a fab job!
 
Chap in my village as 4 from the donkey sanctuary, one sadly died so they dropped off another one for them :) Apparently they are very helpful and come and visit once a year or so to check they are all ok. The donkeys are very cute :biggrin3:
 
I thoroughly recommend fostering donkeys, and yes, lungworm problems are a myth, or more, thing of the past, wormers now are really available and a normal part of worming.

Try this forum board for all the information and questions, and encouragement !!

www.donkeyforum.co.uk
 
I've worked for a donkey sanctuary (not THE donkey sanctuary, another one).

So reasons not to...
They are SOOOO loud. You can't even imagine the noise when 100 start shouting for their breakfast at once.
They are stubborn and opinionated. It's a bit like the difference between mares and geldings, donkeys are far more like mares!
As much as they may look like ponies with cute long ears, they're not. They are a different beast entirely and you have to learn the differences.

BUT.... Reasons you should...
They are adorable, wonderful, fun, sweet, mad, fabulous animals. And they love ginger biscuits. GET THEM!! :D
 
No reasons - they're really like having a big dog although they know exactly how and when to make you look completely incompetent! :-)
 
We used to foster the seaside donkeys in winter for many years the only things I can think of are they are not happy being outside in bad weather and rugs dont fit well But that may well have changed
 
Oh this is no good. You were supposed to put me off because it's a silly idea, they will cost money to keep and they are too small to ride, but you haven't done a very good job at all :(

Seriously though, if those are the only drawbacks, then I can't see why I wouldn't have a pair.
 
They eat fences, they make unscheduled visits to your neighbours so you can't afford to fall out with them, they act perfectly when its just you and embarrass you in company, they are exceptionally good at training you, when you know it should be the other way round.

Oh, just go for it!
 
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