Is this normal donkey behavior?

[texasreb]

Why keep an animal to give the barest minimum of care to? That is not fair to the donkey. Donate him to someone better willing and able to care for the poor thing.

 

[Judymae]

We have a small gelding donkey. He is nothing but loving to us and the kids and only ocasionally agressive to a pot belly pig. But to his defense the pig will nip at him and then he bites her on her back!! When I hear the pig squealing I go running out there and seperate them. Then the kids will tell me that the pig started it!! All they do is tattle tell even with the animals!!

 

[DuckyBoys]

We have 2 jennys and they are sweet as can be. Everyone in the neighborhood comes to see them.

They do kick the dogs every now and then, but the dogs really ask for it. One did try to kick a duck when I first got the ducks, but she never tried again and they are in the same pasture together, all the geese and ducks and the donkeys.

I definately wouldn't put up with that behavior though. He is telling you his needs aren't met. He needs a bigger territitory and a friend. Donkeys like to be in bonded pairs, doesn't have to be abreeding pair, but they must have a best friend.

Some of that behavior that you describe is playing, only to the extreme it seems. My jennys will bite each other when they play and then they get all riled up and gallop around like they are joined at the hip.

 

[Nupine]

Geez! Texasreb don't attack me! He is getting plenty of care. He is in a 1 acre pasture, with grain, water, etc. Yesterday we got him out and trimmed his front hooves, as they were kinda long. It isn't fun, as he rears, and is VERY strong, I brushed him, and took him on a short walk. He walks very good. Like a horse, just stubborn if you try to get him into a spot he doesn't want to go into, like a new pasture. I think we will keep him, and I will take him up as my little pet. Thanks for al your imput and help.

 

[Ellie_NY_chick]

If you decide you can't keep him, I'd be really careful about who you sell him to unless you disclose everything about him. People will sue you these days for looking at them funny, if ya know what I mean. Can you imagine if the donkey injured the new owners animals, or worse yet, a kid (the human kind)? Maybe I'm paranoid, but if he's that mean...

I'll bet he's adorable to look at though, isn't he?

 

[Nupine]

I think I over egzagerated. [bad speller] I seriosly dought he would hurt a person, he loves people. But very very occasionally if you are behind him and are doing something to him he will try to kick. Noe remember, he is a mini donkey, not a large donkey. He is actually very sweet and will walk the fence towards you if you walk along the fence, and loves attention and brushing.
Ashlyn

 

[goldensunriseranch]

When you neuter an animal that's already an adult generally it doesn't change their behavior besides the urge to breed, and sometimes not even that, though they are not capable of course of impregnating. My gelding tenessee walker would even still mount and pretty much get the mares "ready" for the stallion. My miniature gelding was gelded at about a year old or so and he will chase the heck out of my goats and even try to kill the kids. His idea of play, and he was even raised with them from a baby.
I figure it would be very similar with a gelded donkey.
Sorry he is being such a pain in the behind for you!

 

[texasreb]

I apologize if you thought I was attacking you, but some of the statements you've made in this thread, did not make it seem like you had the donkey's best interests in mind....

I don't know you so statements likes the ones you made below raise red flags and warning bells for me.

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Please don't "blow his brains out" or let the horses kill him. He has just as much right to your care and concern as any other animal on your property.

 

[vicki2x2]

Your donkey is being just that, a donkey. He was not being mean to the other donkeys, that is how they play. My three geldings drag each other around all the time. Grabbing by the neck is a donkey play and also used for fighting. Some donkeys are good guard animals, others are not. Stomping is what they would do to predators or intruders, which is obviously what he thinks of the goats. They are herd animals and prefer their own kind.

From the sounds of it, your boy is lonely and bored. He has no donkey friends, little space or attention. Why keep him if you are going to leave him in a pasture by himself? I understand you are upset about the goats, but he is only doing what comes natural to a donkey. That is not his fault.

 

[piecemaker]

First I have had 4 donkeys over time and love them very much so I am not donkey bashing. I agree if he is causing that much trouble and you haven't been able to sell him give him away. Sounds to me he is doing what he is suppose to do guard HIS territory. Is it worth $600 to keep an animal that is not happy and a danger to your goats or any other small animal or possibly human that may come around? Livestock accidents happen FAST he may not mean to kick that small person in the head or to shatter your knee cap when he doesn't like what you are doing around him. Just something to think about
Theresa