Settle this debate

[Biciclista]

a down side to particularly the smaller races of Donkeys is that, like ponies, if you have a really rich pasture, they can founder and overeat.

[Aggie_Ama]

Mimi that was my husband's one plus for them- not needing to mow! But I wouldn't want a roly poly donkey. We do have coyotes in Texas, my husbands stepfather (and born and bred hill country ranch boy) told me about the llamas scaring off coyotes. I have to say he was suspect but he said that was "the theory".

I keep trying to say our home owner's association rules only speaks to cattle, horses and goats so we should get an alpaca.

[badger]

ha, that's essentially the same dialogue my boyfriend and I have. When we live in an acreage, I've told him I want a rescue donkey and he says they're mean and horrible and no way will we have one.

I saw one episode of Animal Miracles (that show always made me cry, is it even still made?). It was a donkey that this man rescued. They had made leaps and bounds in getting the wounded soul to trust people again, and during one of their walks in the hills, a pack of wolves came out and circled them. The donkey went and chased the wolves away but in the process they became separated. The man was frantic to find the donkey and he finally did find him.

It was quite moving how the donkey protected the man, even if it meant he was to be killed doing so. *sniff*

[GLC1968]

We do have coyotes in Texas, my husbands stepfather (and born and bred hill country ranch boy) told me about the llamas scaring off coyotes. I have to say he was suspect but he said that was "the theory".

Oh, it's true! Coyotes are pretty cowardly animals unless they are really desparate. Hell, our dogs have scared them off a few times! (our dogs are both about 70lbs but they are not agressive breeds at all).

Mini versions of many animals are popular when you don't have much land. They can usually live on about a third the space of a full sized animal and usually have a better ROI in terms of what they produce (ie, mini dairy goats give you more milk for what they consume compared to a full sized animal - same with bantam chicken eggs vs feed). We have one mini-fiber goat as a companion for our full size dairy goat and he's really a lot of fun. I wanted a mini-burro, too...but we just couldn't justify the cost when they won't really produce anything (and our land/space is very limited).

[badger]

I'm actually surprised cats haven't been bred to have miniature versions. Not that there ought to be more cats, there are so many out there who need homes.

If they can make rottweilers into ~40lb sizes, I would be all over them!

[Biciclista]

cats have been bred to produce mini-versions. There's a line of Persians that stay very tiny.

[Aggie_Ama]

If they can make rottweilers into ~40lb sizes, I would be all over them!

Me too! Instead they just breed them bigger. Our house is comfortable size but I just don't want a big down fumbling around. About 40 lbs is perfect size to be indoor/outdoor.

GLC- I am jealous of your little farm. My husbands dad has some chickens (I have no clue what kind) and we get farm fresh eggs everytime we visit, they are so huge and FREE! I love goats and apparently with our large hispanic population they are not a bad animal to sell at market. My husband's Oma does pretty well around Easter selling them. She sells cattle year round but goats only usually around Easter, they are hard to get to the trailer. I guess cabrito is popular in the spring and at Easter? My lot is only 50x150 so it is tiny and again HOA means no goats/alpacas/donkeys. They ruin all the fun!

[Aggie_Ama]

I told my husband donkeys are good for protecting from coyotes (which incidentally he heard commuting home last night). His response? "And what are we protecting with your heard of little asses?" I replied "My goats I want for amusement and brush control and the chickens for eggs and they are keeping my alpaca I have for the wool company." I really don't think he gets the farm animal as pet reasoning, he thinks dogs (and not cats he is resisting adding one) can be our pets.

[Aggie_Ama]

Badger- she is so cute, who could not melt with that face?

[Biciclista]

I told my husband donkeys are good for protecting from coyotes (which incidentally he heard commuting home last night). His response? "And what are we protecting with your heard of little asses?" I replied "My goats I want for amusement and brush control and the chickens for eggs and they are keeping my alpaca I have for the wool company." I really don't think he gets the farm animal as pet reasoning, he thinks dogs (and not cats he is resisting adding one) can be our pets.

I'm sorry he's such a hard sell. And cats, people who have indoor cats never have mice in their homes!

[GLC1968]

I'm actually surprised cats haven't been bred to have miniature versions. Not that there ought to be more cats, there are so many out there who need homes.

If they can make rottweilers into ~40lb sizes, I would be all over them!

You may find a mini Rottie mix at the pound. I had a shephard/dobie from the pound who was barely 50 lbs full grown. She was awesome! Her bark sounded like a full sized Doberman and behind a closed door, she'd scare the pants off anybody!

[badger]

You may find a mini Rottie mix at the pound. I had a shephard/dobie from the pound who was barely 50 lbs full grown. She was awesome! Her bark sounded like a full sized Doberman and behind a closed door, she'd scare the pants off anybody!

have you seen big dogs crossed with basset hounds? the low-riders. I once saw a black lab, or so I thought, until he got up and he was barely off the ground!

[GLC1968]

have you seen big dogs crossed with basset hounds? the low-riders. I once saw a black lab, or so I thought, until he got up and he was barely off the ground!

Ha! I have one!! One of our dogs is a golden retriever/bassett mix now. He's got the golden shaped head and coloring (and personality traits), but bassett fur type and body/legs. He's got a huge chest and his front feet are huge and turn outward when he's facing forward. He's really funny looking but we love him nonetheless. Most people think he's just an odd looking yellow lab, actually.

His freakishly loud hound-dog howl sends the coyotes scurring away, too!

[OakLeaf]

have you seen big dogs crossed with basset hounds? the low-riders. I once saw a black lab, or so I thought, until he got up and he was barely off the ground!

Ha, you remind me of our Ickey - I still miss her Who knows what-all she had in her, besides a generous dose of pit bull (coloring, forehead, and personality - i.e. more personality than any other 5 dogs combined, sweeter than honey with people of all ages, but aggressive with adult animals other than the ones she was raised with)... No identifiable basset/dachsie/anything else you could place, but she had these short little legs that were just comical on her.

She had a whole range of odd voices, too.