Getting a Donkey for guard duty

Pete Judd · Feb 6, 2013

I have been thinking about getting a donkey or two to do guard duty against the racoons, possums, and coyotes that are around as we are putting chickens on the property this year. I will have to put in additional electric fencing, but the two places next door have put in new fence for cattle and horses, so I would only have to fence two sides.

Any one done this?

creekbend · Feb 6, 2013

Hopefully this will give you some insight. www.familyhomesecurity.com/alternative-guard-animals

joshuabardwell · Feb 6, 2013

I have heard of folks putting donkeys in with sheep or cattle, to help with protecting against coyotes and dogs and such. A caveat: donkeys are notorious escape artists. It may be more trouble than it's worth.

phiferpharm · Feb 6, 2013

joshuabardwell said:
I have heard of folks putting donkeys in with sheep or cattle, to help with protecting against coyotes and dogs and such. A caveat: donkeys are notorious escape artists. It may be more trouble than it's worth.

I have two neighbors in the area with Donkeys, and can vouch for being escape artists. We will stop and give one neighbor's Donkeys some Carrots occasionally and have had their small herd ( 5 Donkey's) come and "visit" several times. The other neighbor's Donkey- Murray - is in love with one of my mini-horses and comes calling whenever he can break out. At least they are easy to take home by dangling a carrot in front of them :thumbsup:

weldingisfun · Feb 6, 2013

We have used guard donkeys with our goats for 12 years or more. They are good guard animals and eat the same things the goats eat.
Do not put two donkeys in the same pasture because they will bond with each other rather than the animals they are supposed to guard. We have two, but one is in a pasture with the males and the other with the females in a different pasture. Apparently, since they cannot get close enough to make physical contact they just ignore one another and stay with their charges.
By the way, fencing for horses and cattle will not hold goats.
We have never had a donkey even try to escape. It is like any other animal, if they feel safe where they are, have adequate food and water, they will not stray or try to escape.
One more thing, a jack is not a good guard animal, even a gelding. Find a jenny, preferably one that has been bred and foaled. They tend to be the best for guard duty.
Good luck and let us know how things turn out.

2LaneCruzer · Feb 6, 2013

If they are anything like the mules my Granddad's neighbor had, they also make good alarm clocks!

aczlan · Feb 6, 2013

I might also look into getting a Llama or two. We have several to guard our goats/chickens and they are nice to be around (as long as you are "part of the herd").

Aaron Z

jinman · Feb 6, 2013

weldingisfun said:
One more thing, a jack is not a good guard animal, even a gelding. Find a jenny, preferably one that has been bred and foaled. They tend to be the best for guard duty.
Good luck and let us know how things turn out.

I cannot tell you how important it is follow those instructions. We had a Jack named Jonathon that I nicknamed John-Nothin' because he was worthless as a guard donkey. He would bite and attack our goats. He also took a hunk out of one of our dog's back. He was just a neurotic poop producer and noise maker. We couldn't give him away, so he stayed with the place when we sold it.

Llamas are also supposed to be good guard animals, but they are probably more rare and much more expensive.

aczlan · Feb 6, 2013

jinman said:
Llamas are also supposed to be good guard animals, but they are probably more rare and much more expensive.

Around here, unregistered Llamas run $50-300 and registered Llamas run $300 and up.

Aaron Z

Brad_Blazer · Feb 6, 2013

I run Great Pyreneese dogs with my goats. I have heard that they do well guarding chickens. My female likes to dig out of her pasture so I had to install a low hot wire. They will not go over a 4' fence even though they are big and athletic. They do like to bark at night. I'm sure it helps to keep critters away. If I yell they'll quiet down for a while.

Bird · Feb 6, 2013

See post #9 in this thread.

300UGUY · Feb 6, 2013

I had a throughbred mare that hated dogs. She would bite, kick, stomp anything she could. She also would kick the crap out of the gelding that we had. One time she picked up a neighbor's beagle that ran at her barking. She threw that dog at least 20 feet!! It survived, but it never came on our property again. Dog would go down the road, keep to the other side, out of sight of the horse. She also kicked me, stepped on my feet, bit me. That's why she went down the road.

joshuabardwell · Feb 6, 2013

You need one of these. Sorry about the terrible music.

grsthegreat · Feb 6, 2013

I have a BLM rescue donkey...have had him about 9 years or so. I would never consider him a guard of anything.

For a rescue animal is is great. super gentle, loves to be petted and scratched. Follows me like a dog.

I put 2 sheep in with him thinking hed like some company. he killed both of them after a few months. so much for guarding the flock.

He doesnt bother my dogs, but will chase any other dog off the property.

I also have 4 horses, and i think the donkey is smarter .... overall... than the horses.

The BLM warned me he would never drink out of a fountain, never want to go indoors, etc. He LOVES his indoor stall, he LOVES his heated water trough. Once he learned it wont hurt him, hes an easy keeper. Comes to me when i call his name even if hes out on pasture.

Pete Judd · Feb 7, 2013

After reading all the feedback and learning about the critters, I think that I will pass on the Idea.

Thanks all for the feedback and links.

JamesHW · Feb 7, 2013

The cyclist should have watched the horses ears for the clue; "I'm going to chomp on your arm buddy!"

AGRIMAN · Feb 7, 2013

I had a Jake in one of my pastures for several years and he done a really good job at guard duty. I got to see him in action a few times and know that he would ran a dog or go after a lurking coyote. I started noticing that he was acting sort of weird awhile back but didnç¨š think much of it at the time. A few days later I found a dead new born calf and couldn't figure out what had happened. Something started telling me that he was involved, so I started watching him close. A day or two later I walked up on a new calf that was only a few hours old. I guess me standing there got his attention and he started coming my way, but once he seen the new calf he went crazy and attacked it. He picked it up by the back of the neck and threw him like piece of trash.

There was no time to go back to the truck for my gun so it was just me, the mama cow, the calf and an old fence post (that just happened to laying there). The mama was fighting with everything she had and I wore him out with that post. I finally landed a good lick up side his head with everything I had. After that, I was able to get between them and keep him off long enough to call my son on the phone for help. Needless to say I donç¨š have him anymore.

I have talked to a few folks since then including my Vet and asked why after all these years did he just snap They all have heard of similar issues and said for some reason it seems, as they get older some of them will start to see the new calves as predators and kill them instead of protecting them.

RichZ · Feb 7, 2013

I have llamas guarding my goats and sheep. They are excellent guard animals, very bonded to the herd, and very aggressive towards any predators. if they see a predator they will run at it, screaming what my wife and I call their war cry. That will intimidate almost any predator. If a predator is foolish enough to try to engage them, llamas have a very lethal kick.