DONKEYS. Are they a good defense?

[tiffanyh]

I was thinking of getting a donkey for my goats. I only have a paddock size area so I was considering a mini. Do they require a lot of room? I want to keep it happy.

Sorry--not an attempt to steal your thread!

 

[chickfillhay]

Thats ok.
Out here where I live I've noticed people with as little as one acre with two donkeys. The seem happy and very social. One of the reasons I've been considering donkeys.
Thanks

 

[cbakerazle]

Our donkey has been killing the chickens! He stomped one to death, broken the wing on one hen, almost killed another but by the time it got away it almost had a broken leg and other injuries. Our donkey is a male and doesn't like anything in his part of the property.

 

[chickfillhay]

That's Horrible!

Maybe when I finally do get some. It should be on a trial basis to see how they react to the donkeys. Or in the very lease make sure they are used to chickens BEFORE I buy them!

Thanks for the info!

 

[cbakerazle]

We are thinking it is because he is a young male, (teenage) donkey. My husband thinks if we get him fixed that it would help. (too much testosterone?)

No matter though, I'm going to cover the top of the chicken pen again so they won't be able to get out.
Carol

 

[BarbK]

Donkeys are good at defending other animals and themselves. There are people who specialize in raising guard donkeys. I would highly suggest talking to one of them. Not all donkeys are cut out for the work. Also I think I remember reading something about you only want one donkey for this job. Or I could just lend you my filly. She just took out the neighbors dog yesterday. She stomped it and when it was down she picked it up and shook it, then threw it and proceeded to stomp it into the ground.

I know llamas have been suggested but in all honesty they are not the best idea. They are less capable of defending themselves than a donkey. There are tons of stories that say they are good but you also need to find out what happens in the bad situations and if you are prepared for it.

Iwill try and post some links later when I find them.

 

[CibolaChooks]

The best way is to let the donkey area surround the entire boarder of the property with the chicken pens or goat pens on the inside of the horse shoe shaped donkey yard. the coyotes would have to go threw the donkey area and would never make it to the chicken pens. The chickens never have to be in the same feilds as them as long as the donkeys area surrounds the chickens.