Would castrating our mini Donkey make him sweeter?

[TXFarmGirl]

We have a 7 month old male mini Donkey, we'd love to keep him, but he is getting meaner and meaner everyday. Would castrating help? We aren't in the best financial position, so we wouldn't want to get him castrated if it wouldn't help, because it would just be a waste of money. My kids are 11-14, and they used to be strong enough to handle him and tell him who's boss, but they can't even make him move any more. Donkey has a 4 month old male mini Mule friend, that is not castrated either. Or should we just sell him? Ideas and opinions?

 

[Baymule]

Castrate them both. ASAP. I've had jacks before, they are real notional and can be hard to handle. These are pets and there is no reason to keep them intact. Even a Mini can hurt you. Intact mules are especially mean and ALWAYS castrated. If you find him another home, you are just passing the problem along. And you will have cheated yourself out of a fine pet.

I am sorry that finances are tight, but this needs to be done as soon as you possibly can. Call vets, explain and price the castration. Note: Donkeys and mules MUST be ligated, that means the blood vessels must be tied off to prevent excessive bleeding. (when I castrate my lambs, I just pull the testicles out and do not tie off blood vessels) Be sure and ask the vet about it, to make sure that they know to do that. If possible, take them to a livestock vet, not a pet dog/cat vet.

A good resource, they also have a magazine that is full of good information.
www.lovelongears.com

Donkeys are brilliant. Really, really brilliant. Their stubbornness is misinterpreted as stupidity, in reality, you have to show them why they should do something. They are all about self preservation and refuse to do something they perceive as a danger to themselves.

By all means, YES! Get them both castrated, then give time for the hormones to settle down. Treat them with love and respect, admire them for their intelligence and they will reward you with years of fun and pleasure.

 

[greybeard]

I really don't see many good reasons to keep intact any equine unless you intend to use them for breeding.

 

[TXFarmGirl]

Castrate them both. ASAP. I've had jacks before, they are real notional and can be hard to handle. These are pets and there is no reason to keep them intact. Even a Mini can hurt you. Intact mules are especially mean and ALWAYS castrated. If you find him another home, you are just passing the problem along. And you will have cheated yourself out of a fine pet.

I am sorry that finances are tight, but this needs to be done as soon as you possibly can. Call vets, explain and price the castration. Note: Donkeys and mules MUST be ligated, that means the blood vessels must be tied off to prevent excessive bleeding. (when I castrate my lambs, I just pull the testicles out and do not tie off blood vessels) Be sure and ask the vet about it, to make sure that they know to do that. If possible, take them to a livestock vet, not a pet dog/cat vet.

A good resource, they also have a magazine that is full of good information.
www.lovelongears.com

Donkeys are brilliant. Really, really brilliant. Their stubbornness is misinterpreted as stupidity, in reality, you have to show them why they should do something. They are all about self preservation and refuse to do something they perceive as a danger to themselves.

By all means, YES! Get them both castrated, then give time for the hormones to settle down. Treat them with love and respect, admire them for their intelligence and they will reward you with years of fun and pleasure.

Awesome info, thank you so much.

What should we do when say my 12 year old daughter is walking out the gate, and he jumps on her back, moves her out of the way, and walks away??

 

[frustratedearthmother]

What should we do when say my 12 year old daughter is walking out the gate, and he jumps on her back, moves her out of the way, and walks away??

Totally unacceptable and extremely dangerous! I wouldn't be letting a child with him/them if they are physically attacking her.

What would I do? I won't elaborate here but it wouldn't end well for the donkey.

 

[Baymule]

She should watch for him to do this and stop him before he jumps her. Do not turn your back on him. Even after he is castrated, this is now a learned behavior and he may try to continue it. What size pen/pasture is he in? This is important.

He may be attempting to breed her. Not to be crude, but when a woman has her time of the month, an intact animal can smell it and may try to breed the source of that scent. I've had friends attacked by stallions. I had another friend that had a jack with his cows, when they came in heat, he attacked the bull that was trying to breed the cows. He chased the cows, biting them and attempting to mount them.

 

[Baymule]

She should not go back in with him unless an adult is with her.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Were these guys bottle raised? I seem to remember someone bottle raising a donkey and a mule.

If they were bottle raised - and even if they weren't - they need to be taught at a young age they must show respect. Their dam and any other herd members would not put up with this behavior and neither should you. At this point, as @Baymule pointed out - this is a learned behavior. It sounds like they maybe got away with behaviors that were "cute" when they were tiny and are no longer cute.

Castrate ASAP! I don't totally disagree with rehoming them - but if this is the route you take you must be sure they go to a home with experienced handlers who can, and will, follow through with castration.

I can't emphasize enough what a dangerous situation this is and it will only get worse as they gain size and learn that they are in charge. I don't intend to sound harsh but this is not a good situation.

 

[TXFarmGirl]

Those are excellent points Baymule...

She has started carrying a broom with a metal handle in their with her, just swinging it around behind he so that it sacks him when he walks behind her...it is slowly working, but we are calling several vets today about getting him castrated. Do both testicles have had to of dropped for him to get castrated?

 

[TXFarmGirl]

Yes, we bottle fed Donkey since he was 8 days old.