Anyone with experience of keeping donkeys, please?

Before they got the pony friend for the donkey behind us, he had 2 goats for company. They were forever getting out of the field and into adjoining gardens. I do like donkeys.

Did you watch the video @Fleurpepper ? I hope you found it helpful.

Thank you Callistemon for your sensible and sensitive post, without all the patronising assumptions!

Agree.

FoghornLeghorn

Germanshepherdsmum

I’m not sure you would be allowed donkeys if you have no experience of keeping them. You don’t mention any form of stable or shelter.

I have a friend who was a complete donkey novice. She approached the Donkey Sanctuary and has had her two lovely girls for three years. The Donkey Sanctuary undertakes a rigorous inspection of your land to ensure it is suitable and the adopters are required to undertake training with them. The DS is also available to answer any queries/assist with problems at any time.

Thank you- of course with proper support, supervision, training, holiday care, and eventual move to other location fi and when too old, etc, it is very possible. And I would not be rushing into this in some sort of romantic gesture with no idea of implication. TBH it is very rude and insulting to imply this.

Talking about possible foster care for donkeys needing rehoming.

Germanshepherdsmum

I’m not sure you would be allowed donkeys if you have no experience of keeping them. You don’t mention any form of stable or shelter.

I have a friend who was a complete donkey novice. She approached the Donkey Sanctuary and has had her two lovely girls for three years. The Donkey Sanctuary undertakes a rigorous inspection of your land to ensure it is suitable and the adopters are required to undertake training with them. The DS is also available to answer any queries/assist with problems at any time.

My friend had a couple of rescue donkeys in her field. They did well. The children rode them. I remember they were very strong and not very biddable but perhaps not all donkeys are like those 2.
She also kept a few pigs, a dog, a cat, geese and hens and had experience of animals.
Good luck to you.

There is the sweetest baby (foal?) in the opening shots -plus a lot of really practical advice.AH has 4 or 5 on his farm.

PS you’re welcome

Another consideration would be vet bills. I have no idea if a donkey can be insured but I would not have thought so.

It is a huge commitment, good luck.

No advice or experience Fleur but just wanted to say how I wish I had some land and could do what you're doing.

I hope it all goes well

Adam Henson has made this helpful video about keeping donkeys

m.youtube.com/watch?v=bhDayHbqcIs&autoplay=1

Bloody hell they sound like hard work!
What about all the times you go on holiday or visit family?
I’m way younger than you OP and I wouldn’t want to take that on.Not just a matter of rescuing them and putting them in a meadow. Good luck cos you’re gonna need it.🍀

There was a donkey which lived in a smallish field near us for years, he was quite noisy but I think he might have been lonely. He had a stable and was cared for but all alone. They do like company.

Thank you Callistemon for your sensible and sensitive post, without all the patronising assumptions!

No ragwort at all. One corner that would be avoided with fencing has autumn colchicum.

Of course I would work with a sanctuary, and only take older donkeys that they have no space for, and with their expertise and support, and holiday and longterm care, if and when.

To even suggest I wouldn't do that and that I have clueless 'romantic' ideas, is just beyond belief.

Blossoming

I know very little about donkey keeping other than they can be very noisy! A friend had some and they woke the family up every morning. No chance of a lie in when the donks wanted their breakfast

Are you near a donkey sanctuary Fleurpepper?

If you are near a donkey sanctuary perhaps you could go along and volunteer for a while to find out what is the best way to care for donkeys and get some advice?
There are several around the UK.

They need hay and straw, not just grass and will eat other vegetation.

The other thing is thst they can live to well over 30 years and it would be quite a commitment to take them on.

That’s another thing my neighbour does. Along with so many other things. I really wouldn’t have the stamina to look after horses as she does. It’s a tough and demanding thing if you do it properly, as she does. As anyone should. Anyone who has a romantic idea of rescuing a couple of donkeys with some guidance from friends has absolutely no idea of what’s really involved - and any reputable sanctuary would show them the door. Support the charity with donations instead.

foxie48

If there have been horses on the grass for several years I think it would be fine for donkeys and they'll eat the stuff that horses leave as they are less picky. Rich dairy grass would probably be a no no but you don't have that.

Don’t forget to check the field for Ragwort. It is poisonous to horses so I assume donkeys would be similarly affected. It must be pulled out, including the roots because a dead plant is still toxic.

The only thing I know about donkeys is that the live for a long long time. Someone I know moved to France and rescued two donkeys. She now has major health problems but won’t leave them and return to the UK.

Kalu

foxie48

If there have been horses on the grass for several years I think it would be fine for donkeys and they'll eat the stuff that horses leave as they are less picky. Rich dairy grass would probably be a no no but you don't have that.

If there have been horses on the grass for years, one must firstly check out if the ground is now wormy which would be totally unsuitable.

Have you done this check OP?

You'd do a regular faecal worm count as you do with horses and worm accordingly. There's no way you can tell if grazing is "wormy" you just have to assume if it has had livestock on it, it will be.

Foxygloves

Foxygloves

That may depend on where this meadow is.

I’m assuming this is not in the East Midlands?

If it is it’s an expensive piece of land for 2 donkeys.

From another thread I get the impression you are not so young therefore would you have the stamina to really look after them in the long term given all that it would involve? You admit you have no experience, this is quite a commitment, even if friends offer to help now sometimes life get in the way and they may not be able or want to help for years to come. Perhaps Germanshepherdsmum suggestion would be a better solution.

Foxygloves

That may depend on where this meadow is.

I’m assuming this is not in the East Midlands?

I would suggest making your meadow (after building the shelter) available to a local donkey sanctuary or donkey owners would be a better proposition. Your lack of knowledge, and maybe 24/7/365 availability are worrying.

Blossoming

I know very little about donkey keeping other than they can be very noisy! A friend had some and they woke the family up every morning. No chance of a lie in when the donks wanted their breakfast

Are you near a donkey sanctuary Fleurpepper?

If there is a sanctuary within volunteering distance, you could take a shift there for a few months, gain experience, someone to check your meadow and possibly two suitable donkeys!

A donkey and pony live in the field behind my house. It's meadow grass with some rough, bramble and thistles at the bottom. They seem perfectly happy. They have a stable at the top of the hill.
I must add that the donkey is quite noisy. He brays frequently throughout the day.