I retired on 16 acres in Virginia in 2010. I quickly became bored. I decided that perhaps I should acquire some livestock to liven the place up and keep me busy. I checked into goats, alpacas, chickens and so on. No animal captured my attention like the donkeys. They were so personable and friendly that I started researching and planning for miniature donkeys. It has been an adventure like no other and I feel like I'm earning a PhD in donkey. I've never been around horses, but I know that every time the vet comes, he learns something about the donkeys.
Let me just mention that most vets know nothing about donkeys, however, they logically assume that equine are equine............yes and no. You have to become knowledgeable enough to become the difference. I went online and printed out a stat sheet on donkey vital signs which I keep posted in the barn. For example, a donkey is different genetically from a horse. Also, a donkey's normal temperature is close to a human's. A horse's temperature runs a little higher. So you could have a donkey in trouble and the vet might think you could let it ride for a few more hours. Don't.
Also, mini donkeys metabolize medicines faster than a horse, so for example they may require a slightly higher dose of medicine for it to be effective. I have a mini that requires periodic dosing of Butamine (aspirin like). The vet prescribed a 1/4 gram of Bute, once daily for pain. I observed that the donkey was not responding so I called another donkey owner. They instructed me to bump up the dose to 1/2 gram because they metabolize it so quickly. That's all it took. (As a side note, when I picked up the Bute paste I opened the box and saw this huge syringe marked like a ruler into gram segments. A gram appeared to be comparable to a half inch marking on a ruler. I read the instructions on back of the box and they stated one gram per 1200 pound horse, so that's about 1/2 inch for a 1200 pound horse. The instruction for my mini donkey (who weighs 160 pounds) was 1/4 gram...........so that's about 1/4 of a 1/2 inch. Yeah, right. So, I gave her a "smidge" and prayed I didn't overdose her. Then I asked myself how can that possibly help this donkey. You will go through this sort of thing all the time.
Once you accept responsibility for owning donkeys you also have to accept responsibility for becoming knowledgeable because your well intended Vet most likely will not have all the experience you will need. - having said that, your donkeys cannot live without the Vets.
In my experience, acquire the donkeys first and then build their shelter. You can always provide for them until you're ready to build. Observing the donkeys will let you know what they need.
Before I acquired my donkeys, I built a run-in shed (32x12) for them. It included a 10x12 hay/tack room and 2 stalls. The floors were dirt. The first winter, they stood in the run-in looking out. They rarely layed down because the dirt floors absorbed water. Also the winds blew directly at them. Truth is they would have been happier under trees. Contrary to popular belief they do get cold. I had two shivering donkeys, so I blanketed all three of them in heavy duty winter blankets for the winter. They had never worn halters or blankets, they never objected and they wore both with pride. I did not remove the blankets until April, since I read that they can catch cold if you remove them "too soon." I do not blanket my Poitou donkeys, however, I do permanently halter my male Poitou in a "breakaway" halter. This halter will break if he gets caught in something.
In 2012, I added a 32x12 overhang onto the initial run-in for the minis and I elevated the floors with six inches of limestone screenings and then put down mats. They spent most of the winter under the overhang and in the stalls. They did lay down for extended periods. I didn't blanket them that winter. They were comfortable and content.
Last fall, I enclosed three walls of the overhang. They love it. They can see out and still be protected and lay down when the weather is bad. The overhang is big enough so the ground does not absorb the water. When it is really cold they will go into their open stall which is located behind the enclosed part of the overhang.
Since that first winter, I have learned so much about donkeys. Earning their trust is not easy. The minis have a herd leader called "Annie" and she calls the shots for the herd. The herd leader is the dominant donkey so of course, earning the trust of the herd leader is essential. My girls remained friendly but leery for the first six months or so. Bertie and Winston are still learning to trust me. My minis are totally devoted to me. They endured my inexperience and have been patient. They trusted that I would figure it out. Likewise, they know I will care for them. Like the three times Shawna got her hind foot stuck in the wire fence and waited patiently all night for me to arrive in the morning and cut the wire. Like the time Jeanie somehow gashed her face on the gate. She let me pour peroxide on it and trusted the vet to stitched it up. Or perhaps most recently when Annie, upon giving birth, got scared to death and abandoned her little foal. All the donkeys watched me spend an entire cold, wet, April night in the barn coaxing the 5 day old baby to drink milk, as I slept with her and kept her warm.
Likewise, my Poitou Bertie is still learning to trust me. She contracted a bronchial infection last November which resulted in her having a fever of 103.5. This big girl could hardly walk and she stopped eating. (By the way, if they stop eating call the vet immediately. Do not wait and don't second guess, just do it, because by the time you notice, they are already sick enough to warrant a vet.) Anyway, Bertie was one sick girl and she needed me. I stayed with her and nursed her back as best as I knew how. In truth, the vet gave her a powerful shot of antibiotic and she was on her way to recovery. What I was not prepared for was, just as in humans, her fever broke. The difference is that I then had a huge animal soaking wet from the inside out, who was standing outdoors and freezing. I quickly brought her inside and dried her off as best I could using towels. Once I dried her, I covered her with an old King size quilt and stood there petting her and talking to her. To my surprise, my normally standoffish donkey, let me warm her. I confess, I had not bought a blanket for her, but you can bet I have one now!
Donkeys love routine. I try to follow the same routine every day when feeding them. Any change in routine brings about concern on their part.
They are unbelievably clean. They create two or three waste piles and they will only use those piles, so cleaning up after them is very easy. Waste removal will become a dedicated process if you want to keep bugs, worms and infections down.
I've tried spreading it, hauling it, and most recently, for this winter, I've settled on having the trash company place a dumpster, which they will collect when I call them. I will get rid of the dumpster in early April and return to spreading it until next fall.
The donkeys roll in the dirt constantly to clean their fur, (however, they are not dirty), the dirt keeps them clean and relatively bug free. If you pet them, they are clean, if you "pat" them they become a puff of dust.
The first few years, flys were not a problem, but since I acquired the big donkeys, its a huge problem (more manure). Last year was the first year the minis wore fly masks. They wear their Scottish plaid masks with pride. I put them on each morning and remove them at night. They wait patiently in line for me to place or remove their masks. Each donkey knows their name and they know that each one will receive the same treatment, so they are patient and they respond to their name. When I'm handing out treats, they wait patiently for me to call their name.
In terms of eating, I feed each mini donkey two flakes per day in the winter. A flake is approximately 3 inches deep. They do not eat very much. My girls will put on weight in a minute. Once spring grass comes up, I cut their portions way down and introduce them to the new grass very gradually to avoid colic. I won't even begin to discuss what my Poitou's eat. All I know is when its cold, I feed them as much as they will tolerate to keep them warm. Unlike the minis who will eat everything you put down, they know what they need.
Like everything else, the farrier is a learning experience. I've had two farriers and both are good. The first one was very informal and was helpful when I was a novice just learning about everything. He taught me the things a beginner needs to know. The farrier I use now is more formal and not so inclined to teach me, but is masterful in hoof health and correctness. He is a technician. This has proven to be what my animals need now. One thing I have learned is that if you want to avoid hoof thrush, you must keep their hooves trimmed and you must eliminate mud in their living areas. I put down #10 screenings and it has made a big difference. It absorbs the water, compacts and drys very quickly. It hardens up so quickly it's easy to clean. The hoof issue will be a learning experience for you, regardless.
I will continue to share my knowledge and experiences as I continue my journey with my donkeys. I can tell you this, I would not change it for anything. It has been absolutely wonderful.
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