anyone keep a donkey with their flock?

[Redeagletrapping]

Just wondering if anyone has a donkey with their flocks and or herds?

If so pros and cons would be appreciated we have 45 acres and fenced areas for everyone. However the living spaces and fenced pens are right outside the house.
Pastures and wooded areas just beyond.

We are just starting off but have the space time and money for one, and with the goats coming along with the flock a donkey has crossed our minds more than once. As well as we have seen lots of info on rescue organizations for donkeys.

Both myself and the wife are licensed NWCO's, (commercial trappers) pest control and predator control is already happening but we live in an area with lots of coyote packs and fox.

Having a donkey along with predator management was our thought.

What is your experience?

Thanks

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Donkey can be hit and miss as far as predators. Sometimes they do their jobs and sometimes they don't. They do alert, especially when coyote howl. Mine will go after my goats so they are separated from them. My donkeys are fine with my chickens and ducks, although when younger they stomped a muscovy drake to death, so again they are hit and miss. They also go after cats and dogs if the mood hits them.

Donkeys are different type of critter. They are different than horses. They are more like a horse dog cross in my opinion.

 

[tribalacres]

We have fifty acres similar set up as you, took an acre for pens and coops and about to extend with some fencing for two rescue donkeys this week. I'll keep you updated on how this works. Lol. It's been fun getting our ducks and emus acclamated as they are both young, and that's been one tent away from a circus experience can't wait to let the emus and donkeys see each other.

 

[Redeagletrapping]

Donkey can be hit and miss as far as predators. Sometimes they do their jobs and sometimes they don't. They do alert, especially when coyote howl. Mine will go after my goats so they are separated from them. My donkeys are fine with my chickens and ducks, although when younger they stomped a muscovy drake to death, so again they are hit and miss. They also go after cats and dogs if the mood hits them.

Donkeys are different type of critter. They are different than horses. They are more like a horse dog cross in my opinion.

Thanks for sharing I've read the other posts on here about donkeys and because of the high predator count in my area we are running them as an idea especially since the consensus from most reacue places is they can be like you said dog like and a friendly pet as well.

I appreciate it.

 

[Redeagletrapping]

We have fifty acres similar set up as you, took an acre for pens and coops and about to extend with some fencing for two rescue donkeys this week. I'll keep you updated on how this works. Lol. It's been fun getting our ducks and emus acclamated as they are both young, and that's been one tent away from a circus experience can't wait to let the emus and donkeys see each other.

Awesome. It's sounds like a similar setup please definitely let me know how it works out.

We are going to enclose a few acres around out home and barns with goat fence and thought a dknkey may be a good fit, well see lol

Thanks please keep me updated

 

[tribalacres]

Awesome. It's sounds like a similar setup please definitely let me know how it works out.

We are going to enclose a few acres around out home and barns with goat fence and thought a dknkey may be a good fit, well see lol

Thanks please keep me updated

Will do. They are mini donkeys, and I'll come back and post pictures this week.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Thanks for sharing I've read the other posts on here about donkeys and because of the high predator count in my area we are running them as an idea especially since the consensus from most reacue places is they can be like you said dog like and a friendly pet as well.

I appreciate it.

We've kept them here for about 20 plus years. I do know we would lose many more birds without them. They do keep predators from going into the shed. We are down to the two boys, both in their 20's now. Their mom was the sensible one in my opinion. We put her down last year, she was in her 30's and had no teeth left.

 

[Redeagletrapping]

We've kept them here for about 20 plus years. I do know we would lose many more birds without them. They do keep predators from going into the shed. We are down to the two boys, both in their 20's now. Their mom was the sensible one in my opinion. We put her down last year, she was in her 30's and had no teeth left.

That's great though we have friends with mules and it is actually kind of hard to find donkeys available in our area. I did find a donkey rescue in far northern NY, we are in central NY upstate

They seem like a good fit for us but you never know.

Thanks again

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I got mine originally through the adopt a donkey program put on by the BLM back in the 90's. Mine are standard sized. I've had a mini but he didn't seem as interested in guarding behaviors like the standards.

 

[RiverOtter]

Keep a donkey because you want a donkey. They will give exactly zero cares about your birds, except they may stomp one if the mood strikes. Likewise your dog, cat, or anything else smaller than themselves.

I live in coyote country (three resident packs around my property) and a donkey, especially a mini donkey, is No Match. Unless the 'yotes spook when they bray, they are no protection. In fact, they need the same protection as any other livestock of like size. Even my 16hh molly mule won't take on coyotes. The only equines I have that will are my stallion and a couple of older mares, and the mares only if they don't have a foal of their own, but another mare does.

Now, don't think I don't like them, because I do. But the only real protection from coyote packs are two or three big dogs, backed up by you. Better is a secure barn everyone gets tucked into at night.