How Are My Donkeys?
It's still winter, but here at my Bedford, New York farm, this week is feeling a little like spring - and the animals are happy, especially my pace of fun-loving donkeys - Rufus, Billie, Clive, Jude “JJ” Junior, and Truman “TJ” Junior.
Yesterday, temperatures were in the high 40s Fahrenheit. It was quite breezy, but the donkeys played and brayed for much of the day. They love being out in their large paddock just outside my stable where they get lots of attention from passersby. And then in the afternoon, the five are brought back indoors, where they are groomed and fed.
It's been a while since I shared pictures of the "donks." Enjoy these photos.
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- No one passes the donkey paddock without saying hello to these five – Rufus, Clive, Billie, Jude “JJ” Junior, and Truman “TJ” Junior.
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- Every day as soon as the sun is up, all the donkeys are let out into their paddock. Ideally, any outdoor space should consist of donkey-safe grazing pasture, and at least half an acre of land – more if possible.
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- Once visitors stop at the gate, at least one or two come quickly for pats and hopefully treats. Rufus is on the left and Truman “TJ” Junior is on the right.
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- Here’s Truman “TJ” Junior in front of the run-in shed. When the weather is wet or windy, donkeys need access to a warm and dry shelter.
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- Donkeys are herd animals, so they don’t like being separated from other members of their pack. I am very glad all five get along so well. The donkey or ass is a domesticated member of the horse family, Equidae. The wild ancestor of the donkey is the African wild ass, E. africanus. The donkey has been used as a working animal for at least 5000 years.
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- Here are my two youngest donkeys, Truman “TJ” Junior and Jude “JJ” Junior – affectionately named after my grandchildren. They joined my stable in May 2019. These two are very bonded and are never far apart.
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- Truman “TJ” Junior is about nine years old now and a little taller than Jude “JJ” Junior who is about seven. Donkeys can live longer than other animals – some more than 40 years.
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- Here’s Billie, the elder of my two females, or jennies.
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- Donkeys have a great sense of hearing, in part because of their large ears. In fact, a donkey is capable of hearing another donkey from up to 60-miles away in the proper conditions.
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- Here’s the donkey manger. During winter, when the grass is dead, or at other times of year when there’s not enough, I supplement with good quality meadow hay made right here at the farm. Donkeys can make use of more than 90-percent of the food they consume. Their digestive systems are efficiently designed to break down and absorb nutrients.
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- 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. My donkeys are in good shape.
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- Donkeys are quite vocal and can be heard across the farm. They have a two-toned call that is called braying and sounds close to “hee-haw.”
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- Although donkeys are very conscious of safety in their surroundings, they are also quite curious. Rufus never misses an opportunity to say hello.
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- In the afternoon, the donkeys are walked back to the stable. Truman “TJ” Junior is first to the NibbleNet, a hay net specially designed to slow feed times, curb boredom, and simulate grazing. I use them for all my horses. At this time, they also get a small meal of nutritious grains.
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- Here’s a photo of the girls – Jude “JJ” Junior and Billie. They are “stall mates.”
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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. Truman “TJ” Junior and Clive look over the gate eager for dinner.
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- 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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- All the donkeys have very different and fun personalities. Donkeys have a reputation for stubbornness but this is because of their highly developed sense of self-preservation. What is Clive looking at?
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- It’s Cinco hoping for a belly rub. Cinco is one of two barn cats I adopted last year. They both adore the donkeys and horses.
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- And there’s always petting time for these handsome donkeys… or an ear rub… or a cookie… or a peppermint… or a carrot from my greenhouse garden… or maybe all the above.
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