Has anyone ever heard of a donkey stealing calves?Last year I was looking for a welch type pony for working. A friend had two donkeys,and told me they would double as guard donkeys.Jake worked out fine but Jed kicked at me so I traded him. Everything was ok at the new place until Jed started stealing baby calves from their mothers. He would hold them close to his front legs and keep the mothers away. One big angus cow did break a fence and take her calf back. My husband said he always knew Jed wasn't playing with a full deck!

-- Bettie Ferguson (jobett@dixie-net.com), January 05, 2001

Answers

That's ONE HECK of a guard donkey and Jed has great MATERNAL instincts! What a humerous story about Jed stealing the calves. Can picture a large Angus going through a fence for her baby. You said you traded Jed after all his(?) shenanigans? Do you have another donkey to keep Jake company? I don't have a donkey but post on several boards, and they're all pretty much in agreement a lone donkey is not a happy donk.

I started out wanting a herd protector for my goats (in addition to LGD/LHD). But the donkeys have WON my heart! So while I may not donks yet, I've purchased books, magazines, and joined lots of donkey boards to "absorb" as much information as I can get. Actually, prefer hearing from donkey owners - there's no replacing first-hand experience. Sorry, didn't mean to get carried away but the longears are really endearing. LOVED your post!

-- Marsha (CaprisMaa@aol.com), January 05, 2001.

I traded Jed for a 6 month old donkey,he is 1 year old this month.Jack and Jake are best friend and never fight.When I had Jed he would fight the other donkey all the time,break out of the pasture and eat my cat food,roses and herbs.Then he got into my garden and ate my corn.Jed was a pet but I won't keep an animal that kicks at me while he is eating my feed!

-- Bettie Ferguson (jobett@dixie-net.com), January 05, 2001.

Stealing foals is common among equines. My old mare would dog any new mother trying to entice the baby away (she made a great weaning babysitter later on). Geldings will often try and steal foals too, despite an inability to feed them. Why? No one really knows. That is why mares so often go off on their own to foal, since the baby doesn't fully imprint until 5 days of age (when vision clears). If your jack is stealing calves, you might have to seperate them until the calves figure out who mom really is (don't know if their vision takes as long as horses does).

-- Julie Froelich (firefly1@nnex.net), January 06, 2001.

I can't keep my mini-jack in with any smaller critters like calves; he teases them relentlessly. Chases em all over the paddock, and has even been seen dragging em around by the scruff of the neck. As sweet as can be with humans, but a bully with any animal smaller than him.

-- Earthmama (earthmama48@yahoo.com), January 06, 2001.

I've never had any experience with donkeys but they sure sound fun!

-- Denise (jphammock@msn.com), January 06, 2001.

My experience with our donkey from the BLM program is exactly like Earthmama described. With people, he is as loving as a dog. With any smaller animals, he is a terror. He has killed raccoons, geese, and wild bunnies by stomping & rolling them, and he has made a couple serious attempts on our dogs. (The dogs caught on quick, thank God). I love this critter with all my heart, but he is a killer! He also did the biting-on-the-scruff-of-the-neck thing to our goats & calves, bullying them terribly!

-- Shannon at Grateful Acres Animal Sanctuary (gratacres@aol.com), January 06, 2001.

I've had all 3 sizes of donkeys ~ mini, standard and Mammoth. When I had the mini, he was the only donkey on the property. Had him for years. My Mammoth is the only donkey on the property. I've had him for 15 years.

Maybe if the donks are backyard ornaments you need more than one. My donks rode/drove. The mini also visited hospitals, nursing homes, participated in nativity scenes and such. He drove a cart (the normal way in front and also in the back), and he also drove hitched up with my Dexter steer. We drove for fun, parades.

The Mammoth sired many mules and is also my trail riding partner. My stock have never been penned/stalled and have acreage to roam on.

The standard donk is the size to use for guarding. Jacks, altho some have been used successfully, usually have something else on their minds and don't always work out well. Therefore geldings and jennys are most popular.

Using just any ol' donk could be dangerous to your stock. It's best to get a donk that's been raised for guarding. These critters, when weaned, are put with stock ~ sheep, goats, poultry, cattle, etc. ~ where they can not see nor smell other donkeys. They grow up with the stock.

I haven't heard of a trained guard donk stealing babies, but I'll attempt to find the answer!

-- ~Rogo (rogo2020@yahoo.com), January 07, 2001.

I spoke to 'those who know,' and here's what I learned:

Donkeys can get over-protective. [Obvious in your case!] If it's a jack, he could get overprotective to the point of aggression, which is why geldings and jennys are suggested.

Nothing really new here, but it came from an expert source.

-- ~Rogo (rogo2020@yahoo.com), January 08, 2001.

We have just gotten our Mojave rescue donkeys recently. I am taking the introduction to the goats very slowly. Right now the two Jenny's Maria and Rosa have some yearling age does living in the pasture right next to them. They are very curious about them, and when the goats do come up to the fence line, they will stick their heads over, and sniff them through the fence. When the goats come running in from the woods, at feeding time, the donkeys run their pasture also, kicking an snorting! They sure are a pleasure! Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), January 08, 2001.

>When the goats come running in from the woods, at feeding time, the donkeys run their pasture also, kicking an snorting! They sure are a pleasure!

Glad you posted Vicki--I've been wanting an update on Maria & Rosa. Sounds like they're doing great. Please let us know when you pasture them w/the goats. Donkeys kicking up their heels, I love it!

-- Marsha (CaprisMaa@aol.com), January 09, 2001.

We have not used donkeys as guard animals on our farm however I did do some research about it.It seems that donkeys of either sex start out as good guardians but eventually become bored and totaly ineffective.(about2-3 years max as a guard)They are likly to develope vices such as chewing off ears and tails on lambs and kids and will watch preditors do their thing without intervening.Gelded llamas suposedly are less susectable to the boredom/vice problem but that may just be marketing propaganda.

-- Greg (gsmith@tricountyi.net), January 16, 2001.

Similar problems have occured with me on my farm,when I tried to feed my dogs some meat. My herd of 4 donkeys attempted to trample me to death, I have since ceased to own them and now I have only my dogs and lamas. What caused such a violent reaction from my donkeys?

-- Asawa van Kerkhoven (www.abcdefg_hog@yahoo.co.uk), April 27, 2001.

Another update on Maria and Rosa. I started them as you remember in their own about 1 acre pasture with their own barn. The yearlings are also in their own pasture connected to the dairy barn. Several weeks ago I opened the common gates to the 6 acre pasture/woods between these two areas. The goats were totally freaked out by the donkeys. When I walked with them in the woods pen they would follow but the second I left they ran back home (their gate has about a 3 foot crawl/run under section, so the donkeys can't get into their pasture. Now everyone is out in the woods pen together, the goats and the donkeys to mingle much together but neither are afraid of each other, with the goats eating the vines and briars in the donkey pasture. Maria and Rosa will only tollerate my dogs out in the pasture if they are with me. I am so pleased with how this is working out. Whatever you decide to do take it slow introducing the donks to the goats. Vicki

-- Vicki McGaugh TX (vickilonesomedoe@hotmail.com), April 27, 2001.

no one told me of the threat that a donkey on the rampage carries. It leaps and kicks and strides and flips and flaps and yips and yaps and wallops the living daylights out of the tree of getruseien

-- Asawa van Kerkhoven (www.abcdefg_hog@yahoo.co.uk), April 30, 2001.

So no one cares that his is it, and no one knows why? What is a doherdabberkippox anythay? Why if only we knew what the renal colic master had in store for hash man

-- deano mcdonald (wwwsadist@hotmail.com), April 30, 2001.

So no one cares that his is it, and no one knows why? What is a doherdabberkippox anythay? Why if only we knew what the renal colic master had in store for hash man of gertup of green

-- deano mcdonald (www.sadist@hotmail.com), April 30, 2001.