Chickens and Donkeys?

[BrittanyTheYooper]

We are getting a new Donkey, my chickens are already established here. The stall for the donkey is built off the back of our giant chicken coop. Do you think they will be okay co existing in the fame fenced area? Will the donkey protect or stomp them??

 

[rosemarythyme]

Depends on the donkey. I've never had one but some can be brutal to other animals.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

We are getting a new Donkey, my chickens are already established here. The stall for the donkey is built off the back of our giant chicken coop. Do you think they will be okay co existing in the fame fenced area? Will the donkey protect or stomp them??

My donkeys don't bother my chickens. I have occasionally seen a chicken sitting on one of their backs, and I have seen chickens catching flies off their legs. As long as you chickens can get away it should be okay, but every donkey is different so you will want to watch and see how it goes. In the past my donkeys would try to stomp my ducks and actually killed a drake one year. Lately they haven't bothered them. Definitely keep your dogs if you have any far away from the donkey, they will get stomped unless you have a very mellow donkey. I personally never trust mine with my dogs.

 

[TropicalBabies]

Congratulations!!! Where I live we have LOTS of wild chickens. We also pasture our horses at a ranch with P L E N T Y (75-100 on the 10+ acre) wild ones hanging around. (They get so thick that we "pick them off" every now and then to thin things out!) I've seen some of the horses and mules stomp at chickens while eating and heard chickens when they are bored or grumpy. The chickens are quick to react and always a step ahead of the larger and slower animal. My bigger concern would be the donkey getting sick from the chickens pooping in his food or water. Rare but serious, expensive and contagious.

 

[336White Phoenix]

My female donkey actually won't let the hens out of her sight but my friend has one and it got into his flock of shhep and killed every last one 50 I think he said he had no choice to give the donkey away

 

[coach723]

My donkey could really care less about the chickens, though he watches everything with an eagle eye, and the birds will learn to get out of the way. As with anything else, I would start slow and supervised, make sure there are no problems. As said before, be VERY careful with dogs. They usually hate dogs, mine does, my dog isn't allowed in the pasture ever, my farrier has to lock his dog in the truck while here or he can't get near him. There is a donkey farm near me, they have tons of donkeys, a zebra, and chickens are all over. She says they lose chickens to predators, not donkeys. Donkeys don't forget..... so keep that in mind when handling them.

 

[jvls1942]

people around here claim that donkeys will keep coyotes away.. I never had the urge to own one..
my dogs, Maremma LGD, keep everything away.. Pictured in the avatar.
....jiminwisc.....