would it be a good idea to let say a pair of mini donkeys loose out in a pasture by themselves? Have seen the pics of a pair of coyotes taking a mature buck. I really dont think the mini donkeys would do well. Anybody know ?

The reason some people keep donkeys in a pasture is so they can kill or run off yotes. The little Arses hate yotes and sometimes dogs. They will try to stomp the yote/dog.

heard this also..

my neighbor has 5 on his property just for that reason alone

I watched a donkey once, who was between a baby calf and a coyote, stare eye to eye across a barbed wire fence at the yote. This went on for about 45 seconds until the yote decided that he didn't want any part of it and walked off.... then I shot him!

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We raise donkeys in all sizes, Miniatures to Mammoths. Most people use standard size donkeys as guards. You also may want to consider only jennies (females) as some jacks (males) can be aggressive towards other livestock. Lots of Jacks seem to hate sheep and goats.

I knew of a guy north of Douglas, AZ that kept a donkey for security purposes. He was hell on invaders and trespassers as I understood it. How are donkeys against deer and hogs?

You or need one donkey , if you have to sometimes they won't guard the other stuff get you a Jenny an dont let your dogs out in the Feild lol

One out of ten Jenny's are good protectors to sheep and goats. The rest are useless. The good ones are better if they are by themselves with the herd. They are better guardians if they are raised with the flock they are to protect. When yotes get thick you are much better off with Lamas or guard dogs with your stock.

I'm still waiting to hear if donkeys get along with deer and hogs or do they run them off too?

We have two donkeys,,,deer graze rite by em. Dont know bout the hogs yet.

donkeys are pretty self sufficient from what I understand and very low maintainance compared to horses and cattle and such.

there is a landowner down by lake ivie that has mini donkeys all over his land & he has tons of deer. no pigs down there but they dont bother the deer. unless they get to the feeders before the deer, then they eat up the corn. or at least try.

From what I saw growing up most hogs know better than to get too close to a donkey. If the donkey feels threatened or if a hog got a little too close to its food source you may have a dead hog in the pasture. As far as miniatures, not too sure as we only had full size.

First I ever heard that donkeys are protectors of others, live and learn!

Don't worry about your donkeys. They can hold their own against any predator.

Personal experience--donkeys are not protectors as much as they hate dogs. Donkeys will go after your dog, and friendly dogs, etc. Your relatives come to visit and kids jump out of auto and run over to see the livestock and loved Shep or Fido trot into field, they may get killed because the donkeys don't like them. They is why I have said numerous times to get a mule when people start b&tching and crying about neighbor dogs coming on their property, the mule will put an end to the dogs.

Also, donkeys have to be with the livestock to do any good, and you can't make the donkey heard with your stock.