Hi all, I am near Harrisburg PA and will be looking for a new spring baby...mini donkey female...If you are close and planning to breed and have babies march or april please contact me...must be hand raised for pet!!!
Forgive me for being nosey, but how much do you know about donkeys? The gestation period is 12 months (give or take), so any pregnancy resulting in a Spring baby would have to be well along at this point. Hand raised equines are a royal pain in the patootie, nobody would go there except as an absolute last resort! The problem is that they tend to be too familiar, and bite and kick and push people around as if they were equals. A donkey foal that has been handled from birth but raised by a jennet would make a far better pet (though donkeys need company, they are happiest with another of their own kind).
It would be an *awfully* good idea to learn a *whole* lot more about donkeys before deciding you want one -- preferably including actually going and handling and getting some experience with them, weanlings and yearlings included.
Donkeys are not goats or sheep or dogs, they are not even *horses* despite the close relationship. They are smarter and faster than you, and cannot be bullied around or intimidated, and need a smart knowledgeable person handling them unless you want to end up with the DONKEY running the show
I have heard lots of horror stories about these donkeys that turned very vicious from lack of discipline form inexperienced owners. Even mini donkeys!
I suggest you do a bit more research and talk to people who have them, even shoot an email to a local breeding farm or such.
If you are wanting a "pet" , I would suggest that you go for a mini horse. Most pet quality minis are cheaper then donkeys, and more easier to handle then a full sized donkey. Plus I think they are easier to care for, and you can find em just about anywhere. Check online for local equine classifieds,or breeding farms.
I think that if you have a good support system and someone close to you that can give you adivce you would be fine. I got my first donkey a year ago and have had a wonderful time. If you give your donkey love, attention, disclipline and patience you will be fine.
If this is something you want to do, you can do it. Be sure to get your donkey from a responsible party or local rescue. They will get you set up with the good donkey wtih a personality good for a new owner. It may be a year or two older than you may think. Do not get an intact Jack (male). They should only be owned by an experience person.
Be sure to post any more questions you might have. Again, if this is something you really want to do, put your mind to it and go for it. Read up on it, visit a few donkey farms and get yourself ready before you get the first one.
This is something I'm so glad I did and would never go back. Even without any
experience on a farm, with farm animals I have grown over the last year. I now have two rescued Donkeys and am hoping to rescue an older horse next week.