I have a donkey question

About two years ago we accepted three rescued donkeys. They were in good health and we had a "free range" dog pack problem. The jack immediately went to work and now we rarely see a stange dog on our property and the coyotes have been staying clear too. Well, our little herd grew to six and we gave the two jacks to an acquaintance who has the same problem at his place. His future wife is terrified of coyotes and is very happy to have the two guys. We now have two jennies with babies.

My question is: How old does the baby jack need to be before I call out the vet to geld him? We have a vet in the area, and his receptionist says he does geld donkeys but she doesn't know how old the little has to be. I'm sure several of you have donkeys and Dave's is the first place I thought of when I hung up the phone from that call. Does anywone know?

Here's a photo of my youngest baby. Her momma didn't want her at first, but I convinced her and now both are out on the pasture and doing well.

I would think it's the same as a horse. A stud foal is born with testicles down and stays that way for about 2 weeks. They can be gelded then. After the testicles go back up, it can be a year before they drop again. The foal can actually be gelded any time but it's common to wait until dropping because it's a much easier process than going into the body to retrieve the testicles.

Thanks, cajun! The vet still hasn't called back, but I wouldn't really expect him to on something non-emergency like this. I'll give him a week or so....I'm going to have him in to check out all four donkeys. They were pretty wild when we first got them, but now they sort of friendly and fairly docile. They look good and healthy. They herd into the cattle pens now with problems so I guess now that we can get close to them I want them all checked over and vetted up if need be. I'd just like to have it done all at once.

Your vet will appreciate having them haltered and tied. Cows are routinely vetted in chutes, horses and donkeys are normally able to be handled more than that.

porkpal, we have the chutes and these donkeys are used to them. They were kept out on an un-monitored piece of land and the owner died. Sons did not attend to the donkeys for years and they were pretty wild. I've been working with them so that they will walk quietly into the cattle pens, down the chute, and into the squeeze chute. The vet's receptionist said he was "cool with that".

Sounds good.

Be aware that pound for pound, donkeys are much stronger than horses.

And more opinionated!

With much longer memories and they hold grudges.

The BLM is holding an adoption here this week and the donkeys are almost irresistible! I was surprised at how relatively tame they and many of the horses seemed. I expected them to be very shy. Can I pick up an equine for anyone?

They may have been caught some time ago and have been handled a lot being shifted around from adoption to adoption. Hope they find their forever homes this round. If I had a farm with any livestock I'd have a donkey for predator control.

Porkpal, you can pick up a couple for me LOL. I've been trying to figure out a way to get a donkey since we moved here. I dream of ways to fence in the property. Living on a hilltop is problematic.

AnnieBBB, a donkey will help keep coyotes away from those lovely chickens of yours.

LOL, you guys are so funny! I've noticed that mine are oppinionated, but they also seem to be grateful that someone is treating them kindly, making sure they have enough to eat and drink and just leaving them alone to get on with it. They seem to be OK with me running them through the squeeze shutes and stopping them one by one at the end to handle them a bit. Skiddish at first, but now they just seem to think I'm the nutty old lady who makes them do this so they can get treats at the end when I turn them loose again.

The best way to a critters heart is to give them Equine cookies. Carrots, apples, taterchips, Best way to tame them but later on they want you to feed the everytime they see you. Believe me I got 3 donkeys and 1 mule. They are perpetual mooches but I do love them all. think my Baby boy was about 3 mo. old and vet came out and worked on him. Sure glad I did too. Pretty little feller too.
He's the one on the far left.

Great "family" pic.

Now this is a Family pic. Lined up like little soldiers mooching for something to eat.
Thanks.

Here is a picture of a mule and horse that we are taking care of,I had never had a mule before and he is very friendly and so easy to work with.Him and the horse are great buddies

Yes, he loves the horse. You know his mama was a horse. My mule talks to the horses down the road. Mules are just as good as you treat them, but most animals are. I love them all.

My friend has a mule that looks just like that one. He calls it Earl.

Those are some cool looking mules =~)!

I don't know anything about donkeys or mules, but I love all of these pic's and they way you ladies talk about them. They just look so pretty and peaceloving...Hay

There's nothing better than a Good mule. Nothing worse than a bad mule.
Believe me, I've had both. Mules are a hybrid animal with 63 chromazones. They are sterile.
(I believe it's 63) any how, it is cross between a female horse and a male donkey (jack) It takes that mare a year to have that longear baby and it is the cutest thing you ever saw, all ears and legs. It is a beautiful sight. Maybe this will help you know a little more. I love them. thanks.
Charleen

My donkey, Sir Lawrence, is quite a guy.

They are smart smart animals, everyone should have one, just so they can experience firsthand what it's like to be working on something, lay your tools down, and have them miraculously disappear, or be trying to work and not be able to because "curious george" there won't get out of your way.

The farrier here said he knew two mules that took 50 bags of feed off an unattended truck once, tear each bag open and dump the contents. It was quite a mess he said. Those mules went to the auction.

Right on the chromosomes: 32 from the mare 31 from the jack.

they are too smart for their own good, sometime. People think they are stubborn, they just aren't going to do anything that will cause injury to theirselves. They are their own creature. I love my mule. He has 3 donkeys in there with him. So, you got to watch the ears to see how everything is going. If there down, stay away from them, You're watching the ears but looking out for those feet. they are small and quick. I have Standard donkeys.

My little Sweetiepie spent the evening yesterday playing with a piece of cardboard. She would wave it around, showing it to the calves. They she would start to run and turn back to see if any of the calves would chase her. She would dance with it and flip it up in the air. It was 100 degrees out there but she was having a blast! It was fun sitting on the porch and watching her. Almost like having the kids back home again and I think she is doing fine despite the rocky start....=D

Terri, get us a pic. Would love to see your new baby.
Thanks.

Well, she's at the top of the thread. But I do need to get new photos as she's growing up so fast! Her half brother is not nearly as active or curious as she is. I told DH that's because she is smarter! He is dubious.

Have you had the little guy gelded yet?

No, the vet said to have it done this fall as it have been so very hot lately and it would be healthier to have it done in the fall.

Better to wait til after fly season too.

Once it is done, it won't take too long to heal. I was afraid to let mine get too old. They can get mean. But he is sweet as can be.

I really don't want to let mine get too old either. He was born May 1st, so September or October shouldn't be too far out. We've had temps in the 100's for the past couple of weeks and, no matter how minor the surgery, I think those temps with a booboo would really be uncomfortable for anyone. So I'll wait....

My donkey had a rough time for several months after he was gelded. I felt really sorry for him.

This message was edited Aug 4, 2010 1:09 PM

That is a serious surgery, I watched my vet. I'd think very Traumatic. ....

We have always gelded our colts young and the surgery has been quite routine. They normally are fine within a couple of days but it is definitely better to avoid hot fly season.

Yes, he will definitely get extra love once the vet does visit. I grew up with horse, the new geldings kind of laze around for a couple of days and then they perk back up again. We always kept them separated out and confined during that time so the little boy donkey will get that extra as well. =D

Here's my boys and girls.

Those are some really cool looking donkeys and I love that mule! I think that color looks sooooo good on a mule. =)

Thank you. Yes, Charley is a very beautiful mule. The donkeys are all great too. They get their feet trimmed Monday. I always dread it. You never know what they will do but they are lots better than the first time. Charley really does good, most of the time.