Visiting My Five Donkeys
Some of the most popular residents at my Bedford, New York farm are the donkeys - Rufus, Clive, Billie, Jude “JJ” Junior, and Truman “TJ” Junior.
This quintet spends most of the day outdoors in a paddock just down the carriage road from my home. Like many animals, donkeys are happiest when outside where they can roam free, roll on the ground, play, and graze. When guests tour the gardens, they always make a stop to greet the donkeys and take a few snapshots.
Here are a few of our latest photos plus a video of the two youngest playing with their Jolly Ball, enjoy.
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- My donkeys always know who’s visiting the stable! Here’s Billie with her front up on a platform looking through the bars of her stall to see what’s going on in the stall next door. My donkeys reside in a large stable located on one side of the farm at the foot of my long Boxwood Allee.
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- Here’s Rufus next door. Right now, we keep the three males together in one stall and the two females in the other. Although donkeys are very conscious of safety in their surroundings, they are also quite curious. Here is Rufus trying to get up close to the camera. The donkey’s sense of smell is considered to be similar to the horse. Donkeys greet each other by smelling and blowing in each other’s nose. The smell of breath imparts important information to the donkey.
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- In the afternoon, Helen and Dolma walk the donkeys to their large paddock just outside the stable.
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- Ideally, the outdoor space should consist of donkey-safe grazing pasture, and at least half an acre of land per donkey – more if possible. Donkeys are happiest with plenty of space to roam around and graze, which they do for the majority of the day. The five are in their large paddock from afternoon and through the night. During the summer, this is when it is coolest. In the morning, they are brought back into the stable where they are fed and groomed.
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- Here’s Rufus coming to say hello. Donkeys are very social animals. Do you know… male donkeys are called jacks and females are called jennets or jennies? Billie, in the middle, is a jennie. “JJ” is also a jennie.
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- On the right are the original three Sicilian donkeys – Billie, Rufus, and Clive. On the left are the two youngsters, Truman “TJ” Junior and Jude “JJ” Junior. They joined my stable in May 2019 and are doing great. These two are very bonded and are never far apart.
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- And neither are the three amigos. Donkeys are herd animals, so they don’t like being separated from other members of their pack.
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- When the weather is wet or windy, donkeys need access to a warm and dry shelter. A run-in is essential for donkeys. Donkeys originated in a desert climate, but are very hardy, provided they are given adequate accommodations. This day was warm with an overcast, so the five felt comfortable outside.
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- Here is Clive – the tallest of the group, but very friendly. And look at his big ears. A donkey is capable of hearing another donkey from up to 60 miles away in the proper conditions. They have a great sense of hearing, in part because their ears are so large.
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- The donkeys love to graze, but they also like to run and play – they ran as soon as someone came near. Here’s “TJ” – running around the pen, perhaps hoping someone will chase him.
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- And of course, here comes “JJ” right behind him.
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- They all came running when Dolma arrived with a treat for each. The thing to remember, however, is that donkeys cannot be overfed. Eating too much protein and other nutrient-rich foods can make them sick. They also tend to gain weight very easily. I am very glad these donkeys are in excellent shape. Billie is wearing a fly mask, but she can still see very clearly. She is the only one of the herd who doesn’t mind wearing it – she’s smart.
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- Dolma gives one donkey cookie to each. Donkeys require a diet low in protein, sugar, and starch, but high in fiber. By this time, they have already eaten their lunch and grazed on the taller grass on one side of the paddock. Helen and Dolma watch their diets very carefully. A healthy fully mature donkey can weigh between 200 to 1000 pounds depending on type.
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- This is “TJ” from above. Donkeys usually have a dark stripe of fur down their backs and across their shoulders and can be born with a wide range of colors.
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- Donkeys are calm, intelligent, and have a natural inclination to like people. Donkeys show less obvious signs of fear than horses.
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- And the five are off once again… At the fastest, a fit donkey can run up to 15 miles per hour.
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- Donkeys have a reputation for stubbornness but this is because of their highly developed sense of self-preservation. It’s difficult to force or frighten a donkey into doing something that’s contrary to its own best interest or safety.
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- “JJ” and “TJ” stopped for a quick photo. The best photos are when the ears are facing forward. Donkeys communicate by using a wide range of body language and vocalizations. They carefully move and position their heads, necks, bodies, and tails in order to give clues as to their moods.
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- Donkeys also understand dozens of voice commands, come running when they are called, and are fiercely loyal to those they trust.
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- I am so pleased all five donkeys get along very well. Here they are walking in a line around their paddock – this time, Billie is their leader. See you later my sweet donkeys.
Some donkeys love to play with balls. The donkeys have several Jolly balls in their enclosures. Sometimes they will bite, throw and run with these balls - it's a fun way to expend energy and provide good mental stimulation. Here, my stable manager, Helen Peparo, catches Truman "TJ" Junior trying to get Jude "JJ" Junior to play ball with him.
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