05/14/2026
Our oldest donkey Diane is just amazing with all the baby farm animals ❤️
Can you believe this kill pen rescue turned out to be just the best thing ever?! She was our first step into donkeys, completely unprepared besides what we saw on Facebook posts, and we got lucky!
Since getting her we've learned a great deal of things!
-Not all donkeys do well with other livestock. Some will harm and ☠️ their smaller pasture or dry lot mates.
-Donkeys aren't guard animals. Some are extremely protective of their hers or flock and will defend them but most will run off. They're much better sentry animals than guard animals.
-Their diet is completely different than horses and ponies! Donkeys process much more of their food compared to horses and ponies which is why they can founder so much easier. It makes sense since they are a desert animal and every calorie counts.
-They're pretty darn smart! The reason they seem stubborn is because they are processing and deciding if they want to do what you're asking them. Calm, consistent ground work makes them extremely reliable and they rarely forget what they learn.
-Anyone who gets a donkey should make sure they are halter broke AND will let a farrier handle their feet. That goes back to our previous point about how smart they are. As an owner, however, these two basic handling needs should be taught so they can be handled in case of any scenario.
-Two donkeys are better than one and none is better than one! Donkeys are very social animals but they still do best with another donkey. They take time to groom each other, keep watch so the other can sleep, and everyone needs that one best friend who's with you. In our case, we have an amazing mother daughter duo!
We love our donkeys and can't imagine the farmstead without them!
If you have donkeys, what's something YOU wish someone told you when you first got them?
Let us know in the comments!
