Mini Donkeys - Who has them?

[SweetGumMinis]

I've been bitten by the mini-donkey bug and have decided that I'd like to get two in the future. Not sure how soon it'll be. Depends on a few things and the first one is how soon we get a pasture and barn secured for them. They won't be housed with my goats, but a separate place to themselves. That's one reason I'm looking at 2. For company for one another.

Anyway, I was curious who here has mini donkeys? What do you think of them? I'm anxious and excited. We have seen numerous ones at different farms and I have always been absolutely smitten with them. I have been doing a lot of research and have contacted a breeder. Getting things planned out for now.

Should be quite an adventure and lots of fun! We're major horse lovers here, but don't have a large enough place here or the right type of pasture for horses, and after doing lots of research on donkeys, I've discovered they'd be perfect for us! Our first equines! Hopefully, when we move in a couple years we'll have a much larger and flatter farm where we can spread out and add horses too. That's all a long way down the road. The donkeys will be wonderful pets for us!

[helmstead]

Where on Earth would you keep them?  I don't remember much flat land on your property...and it's not fair to ask a large hooved animal to live on a hillside.

Donkeys are a whole different game than goats, and are not a bit like a horse.  They are quite loud, too.  Their behavior is such that you'd better get some lessons from someone who is experienced with donkeys and mules before you even consider the jump.  Their nutritional needs are specific, also.  Donkeys do INSIST upon attention, as well, so if you cannot block out time each and every day to spend with them - you will wind up with sour attitudes.  Hoof care, dentistry, annual vet checks and Coggins tests...these add up quickly...

[SweetGumMinis]

You've only been here for a moment a couple times so I'm sure you didn't get a good look around. Yes the goat's pasture is hilly hence the reason there's goats on it. The bottom of the property and the buck barn and beyond is pretty flat. Flattest area is the doe barn and beyond.

You've only had the one donkey right? I'm not planning to have horses at all on our property unless we opt to buy more which is extremely flat. The next few acres are all level and flat and would be good grazing pasture. We haven't decided on whether we'd prefer to sell this place and move to a new farm or add on and change things around a little.

[helmstead]

Yes, I've only owned one miniature donkey, but over the past 21 years I've worked with donkeys, mules and horses extensively...so I'm not talking out of turn.  Good luck with your decision.

[SweetGumMinis]

Thank you for keeping this civil. Good luck with your decisions too.

[GoatTalker]

I have never owned them, but I have a friend who raises them, and man are they ever loud. Hers go off every time someone pulls into her driveway, or if they see her, it is plug your ears time.

[GoatTech]

  Nic!
I almost got a donkey, but decided against it. I wouldn't want the loud noises, that's for sure, but they are cute!!

[GoatTalker]

Donkeys don't like dogs, so if you have dogs, a good dog proof fence is important.

  Jennymae, I can just see your DH when you went out at 3am to kid a goat and the donkeys went off. Darned things won't just shut up like a dog, once they are revved up, they go at it until they are finished.

[GoatTech]

  He'd have my head Nic. I'm already getting slack from the rooster waking him up in the AM. Lucky for me; he wanted that darn rooster.

[helmstead]

Gosh, yes...they are so so loud!  An aquaintance of mine in the short stirrup division years ago had a mule she rode in the classes...and you could hear that guy over the entire show grounds when he went off (and the noise spooked horses that hadn't ever heard it before!).  Our mini donk, Don...he was so loud you just had to stop talking and wait for him to finish...and it was loud enough that it would hurt your ears if you were too close!

[SweetGumMinis]

Took me a few minutes to find this since I didn't know it was moved.

There is a small farm up the road from us, not even to the top of the hill and they have 4 or 5 donkeys there. I never hear there's at all. If I hadn't seen them I wouldn't know they had any at all. I can hear cows every once in a while. They have numerous cows.

I love hearing them bray and horses nicker so I think its neat. I've had loads of chickens here crowing all hours of the day and night and the goats are incredibly noisey too. So they'll fit right in.

[TheGoatMan]

I Read in a magizne about a big show in kuntucky but i'm not sure about specifics.

[Double C]

We have three spotted  mini donkeys and there great. They really are low maintenance other than there hoof trimming and I do that myself. As far as the noise  its really not that bad a bray here and there mostly when our Jack losses track of his girls . As for dogs and donkeys , I cant speak for the full size version but as for the mini’s if they know the dog is supposed to be there then they get along fine . If a strange doge comes around even the mini’s have no problem sending him packing .

Good luck and if you get your mini Donkeys Im sure you’ll love um

[GoatTalker]

Very cute.

[RedStickLA]

Awwww they are too CUTE!!!