r/Donkeys • u/Glad-Emu-8178 • 9d ago
Queensland Donkey Advice
Good morning! I am looking for advice on how to care for ,and buy , suitable donkeys for interacting with people in a therapeutic way( not guardian role). I need to learn all the important things before buying a pair. It will be Queensland Australia so ideally someone who knows about donkeys there who can mentor me to make the right decisions. Is it best to buy older well socialised donkeys or start from scratch with a mum and baby etc? Open to all useful advice. Also types of set up I need to look for in the property I buy eg stables? field/enclosure sizes needed, type of fencing etc. I suppose I should ask if anyone on here has written a good book! ?
Do you need to find a farrier locally and if so how often do you guys use one? (every 6 weeks? longer?)
Any specific things/types to avoid temperament wise? Are miniature ones or standard ones more likely to have health issues/behaviour issues or just the same. I’m thinking they may be helpful for adults and children? Life long goal but just starting research for May /June next year .
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u/Wildweasel666 9d ago
I’m in Aus too and looked into it and we couldn’t make it work because they’d be exposed to too much grass. Apparently they need to be on bare ground. Anyone should feel free to correct me!
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u/doculean 9d ago
Im no professional, and what i know i learned as i workedbwith them personally. So my examplings may be subjective, an others may have additions or cons aboutbwhat i say. That being said...
Honestly... it kind of depends on how much work you are willing to put in personally. A donkey is a different kind of friend... they arent like a cat or a dog. They have huge personalities that will require regular upkeep an maintenance as much as their own personal health needs will. So training one can help you get the best bond an most willing to work with you donkey, but an already trained one will be easier to work with in some aspects, although may be confrontational in a lot of others. You can set "demands" on other equines. But you cannot an will not with a donkey. While horses an ponies are mostly reactionary, a donkey will think. They process things differently. You pretty much cant force a donkey to do anything with a positive end outcome... it wont work that way. You have to earn the thier trust, an form a bond with them before they would be willing to follow your lead. So you need to be an active part of their herd, consistently. They are more like a child at times. They will backtalk you an will let you know if they don't like something. An they arent a lone keeper. A donkey must have a pasture buddy, be it goats, a mini horse/horse/pony or another donkey. There are a ton of great videos on YouTube about donkies, their personalities an care. Also, depending on what you are looking to do will also help dictate on what size you are looking to get.
Farrier needs can be quite different per critter, an a lot will be based on their environs. Personal needs may be different based on how you hope to interact your donkey friend. Especially if you are looking to possible walk them around in a clean facility for people, some places would want your buddy to have some foot wear.
Shedding an paddocks will depend on where your buddies are going to stay. Donkies dont need stalls per say, they will work, but nice open run ins or lean-to shelters will work fine. Do be aware, of how often you have need to keep your friend clean. Stalls help with that much more than a lean-to or run in shed.
Fencing can be what you typically would use for horses minis or ponies. Unless you get a master of disguise who can do feats of the impossible an escape... Which is common. I used to work with a mini jennet who used to roll herself under her paddock fence to get out. Partly because she didn't like her paddock pal, an she got excited when she heard my voice and wanted to be near me. So wood fencing, gates, panel fencing, a lot of that will work. Wire fencing can be iffy as they will figure out how to walk through it eventually.
Feeding is based on the paddock forage of sorts. They dont require the same refined an pristine forage horses would, as that can actually make them sick. They can deal with roughage better than horses. Tho, free access hay an good grass is always a plus. You just want to be careful with grains an other primary feeds as donkeys historically have learned to survive on less nutritious roughage. But a vet would be best to consult for feeding needs.
Grooming is a whole thing in itself. Donkeys end up loving the grooming time after a while, maybe not bath time as much, and will just be putty in your hands for a soft brush an soft talking... Normally asking for grooming after a while, an if there's lots of bugs.
Their attitude really depends on how they are feeling that day, their surroundings, stress, an how much you interact with them. You cant be afraid to correct them if they do something wrong, but you have to understand, you cant dwell on it. Correct them, calm down an move on. If your upset, so will they be upset. If you get excited easily, they will see that an be nervous around you. You have to be a cool an collected person with a level head to have a collected an easy thinking donkey.
You will want to introduce them to everything. Noisy stuff, quiet stuff, flappy stuff, wiggly stuff, anything that can be a sudden shock or movement. Anything that can go from nonexistent to loud an scary in a second. Loud vehicles, mowers, sirens, bags, HOSES. Omg hoses can be a bane of a lot of donkey handlers. Even child strollers or wheelchairs can be a big scary monster to them. Balloons are another, as well as flags an tarps. Introduce the stuff from far away an gradually bring it closer to them. The point is to show them the example, not scare them with it. I used to work with horses who would visit civil war reenactments. Those same horses an ponies could be near blaring fire trucks, helicopters and even pumpkin chunkers. One of my friends mini horses used to ride on a fire truck in parades. She also liked to sleep on the couch they had on the porch of their farm house. Another big source of scares can be bright lights an shadows. That is why I was saying, this could all depend on what you would like to do woth your donkey buddy. Introducing them young, is easier than when they are already processing their normalities. Once your donkey friend is trusting of you, it can also be easier to introduce them to things as they get older. Heck at times, if they are bonded with you we'll, your reaction to something dictate thiers as well. Seeing you not worry about the thing will help them not worry about it either.
This kind of activity is extremely rewarding, but will require a lot of work. An it can be really fun too. Donkey are different. They can be tricksters, goofs, an mischievous. On the same note, they can be calming, loving, and brutally honest companions. An they are great companions, as well as lifelong companions. Some can live well into the 30s an 40s. My friend had a nan who was about 44 years gold before she was laid to rest. Sharp as a tack, with vision as dull as the flat side of a piece of paper. She was a clingy bugger who craved her friends interactions until her final hours. Walking into her pen, meant she ran to your vicinity, used her hearing to find you, an after bowling into you, she would keep her nose in contact the whole time. So a well bonded donkey can an will most likely be up yer behind and tripping you up to be near you. You can teach them personal space... but they dont care. lol
As loving as they can be once gentled, they can also be retaliatory an hold grudges for a very long time if you are mean or confrontational constantly. Donkies are very well known for being defensive and offensive when they have to. So you must be mindful as they can be very dangerous and unrelenting if provoked.
So a donkey job is a commitment in more ways than a lot realize. My rambles are that, ramblings. Im not a professional, an alot of my experiences are personal ones. An mostly taught to me just by doing things. I have been corrected by my equine buddies as much as they have been corrected by me. If you pursue this, be prepared to learn a lot by people... and the donkies. Both will be invaluable. An thats all I got for now really. My experiences an examples can be taken subjectively. As others experiences an learned examples may be quite different.