Having to sell my mini donkeys : (

[jenichick]

We wanted mini donks so bad for our little farm. I bought two miniature donkeys a few weeks ago, un ungelded Jack and Jenny in foal, but I've decided not to keep them. We were told they're friendly, make great pets, etc. They jack is not, and I don't think he would be even if he was gelded. The Jenny won't let me catch her, but I've found a home for her and get her baby to raise when she foals.

So far, the Jack has stomped the dogs and chased them and almost killed one, (I know they don't like dogs, but didn't know they'd kill them). Now we can't let them run until we build a new fence if we keep them. Then I was petting him, and suddenly he stood up and jumped at me aggressively, then chase at me. I ran out of the gate since it was close by, but I didn't see a need for the aggression. My DH was feeding him a treat and he bit his thumb and tore it open by the nail bed. He turns his back to us if we get any wher near the Jenny like he's going to kick. He grabs the horses by the halter and kicks them. The previous owner said he was a gentle pet who didn't like dogs but was a hand raised baby.

Either way I've ran an ad for him. I will tell whoever buys him that he need to be gelding and be alone or with horses.

I will try again with a baby next year when we have new paddocks built, and hand raise it. I just can't take a chance on him hurting the dogs or grandkids. We'd never let the children in the pasture anyway but if they went to pet him and he bit them, I'd have to put him down. This is one of my biggest stressors right now.!

 

[GAhen]

I hope your dog is ok....It is always sad to have to place an animal into another situation...especially one you really wanted.....I'm sorry.
I do pet rescue and have run into some dogs very simular.....

(

 

[jenichick]

Thank you for your kind words, the fact is the dog the donkey hurt is a Boxer rescue, her name is Ellie Mae. I rescued when she was 8 months old. She has scars on top of her head where she'd been hurt. She's timid to everyone accept me, my DH and my daughter. Ellie likes to go into the pasture to be with the horses, she's fawn colored and looks like a little horse, she wandered into the pasture, and donkey attacked her and stomped her so bad. She's ok but has cuts on her belly and sore hips from his stomping her. We're keeping her and the 3-legged lab in the back yard and inside for now until we re-home the donks.

 

[justusnak]

Oh Jeni, I am so sorry. I didnt realise they were so mean! Wow, I was wanting a few as well...maybe I should rethink it now. Im glad you pup is ok. Poor dear. Definately sounds like he needs to be gelded....maybe that will help some.

 

[BarbK]

Jacks like any stallion can be mean but donkeys usually are not that mean. Killing dogs....not unsual with them. That is why the large donkeys are used as herd guardians. They grab the predator, throw them then stomp them. Did you try locking them in individual stalls for a while and make them depend on you for everything(food, water, companionship). Not only that but the quarantine issue.
When a trainer that I used to work with got a wild mustange it was locked into a stall for about three weeks(this was also the quarantine time to prevent the spread of disease). If it charged at us during feeding time it didn't get food (we didnt starve them). When the animals started to get a little lonely they started making moves towards us. Usually by the end of the third week they could be touched, brushed and haltered.
I am glad to see that this experience isn't going to turn you against mini donks. I hope you find a home for him soon. Good luck.

 

[eenkriek]

Sorry to hear that. One problem with hand-raised/ orphan equines is that they are easily spoiled. In a normal herd situation, if foals challenge the boss mares even as babies, they get their clocks punched and they learn respect early in their lives. The orphans do not have this experience and it's a common mistake by the people raising young equines by hand to allow them priviledges that they misinterpret for weakness on the part of the "boss"- bumping, nipping, kicking, etc. Unfortunately, things that people regard as cute when they are small are no longer cute when they become adults and many of these need serious retraining by professionals as they get old enough to do damage. The fact that your boy was hand raised explains a lot of his behavior when added to the fact that he is ungelded. He may very well have been well-behaved as long as everything was going okay in his book. Heck, I behave too when everyone does everything I say! At this stage, you are probably right to rehome him, but I'd try to find someone with donk experience who also trains. His behavior with dogs is unlikely to change (that's not too uncommonl). His behavior with people can probably be corrected.

 

[playswithfowl]

I would reccomend only getting females. Jacks can be to aggressive even if they are gelded. My grandmother has 3 mini donkey's and they are the friendliest things in the world. They also have dogs, and when the dogs get to close the girls do a fake charge, until the dogs are at a more confortable range. Don't give up on mini donks!!

 

[jenichick]

I totally agree with everything each of you said. He was very spoiled and raised alone, and doesn't like to share. We do not have enough stall space at this time to isolate him. By the time the Jenny's foal arrives next summer we will, and that baby could be raised with the dogs and horses and if it's a Jack I would geld it very young.

This entire process of moving out of suburbia and back to the country where I belong, has been an eye opener for sure. I've learned so much. Especially on this forum.

Thanks for the replies and insight, I feel comfortable I'm doing the right thing!

 

[Frozen Feathers]

That is too bad.

I had a similar experience with my miniature horse stud colt I had purchased. The people who originally had him bought him because they planned on breeding mini horses, even though they didn't have any horse experience. They thought is was cute that he reared and would turn his bum to them. Their interpretation was that he wanted his rear scratched, but it clearly was not the case. He also bit and wasn't respectful of space. Everything was on his terms, rather then the owners. It took a lot of work just to get him to walk with me and gelding him, which didn't happen until he was two, because he wouldn't drop, to really get him to calm down.

I've met a few mini donkeys and the geldings were very sweet. Getting them young, helps as well, because you're usually not having to retrain inexperienced peoples mistakes.

 

[stallionhawk]

I wanted to say that I have had many mini studs, and they were all freindly. we have two right now and they are sweet hearts. They are like horses, their are good ones and not so good ones. I have yet to see a mean donkey, but there is always and exception. I believe donkeys make great pets.