The Donkey Companion: Selecting, Training, Breeding, Enjoying & Caring for Donkeys

by Sue Weaver

Overview

Strong, intelligent, dependable, friendly, and extremely versatile, donkeys are the perfect farm companion. Whether you use your animal to pull carts, till fields, or protect livestock, you’ll benefit from this practical and inspirational guide to working with and caring for your donkey. Providing expert advice on selecting the right breed for your needs, daily maintenance, training, and first aid, Sue Weaver also includes plenty of fun facts and charming donkey anecdotes. Raise a happy and healthy donkey!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781603420389
Publisher:	Storey Books
Publication date:	08/27/2008
Pages:	352
Sales rank:	122,282
Product dimensions:	9.94(w) x 10.90(h) x 0.93(d)

About the Author

Sue Weaver has written hundreds of magazine articles and many books about livestock, horses, and chickens, including The Backyard Cow, The Backyard Goat, The Backyard Sheep, Storey and The Donkey Companion. Weaver and her husband share their ridgetop farmette in the southern Ozarks with an array of animal friends.

Table of Contents

Preface: Why Keep Donkeys?
Acknowledgments

Part 1: Donkey Primer
1 Meet the Donkey
A Basic Brayer Lexicon
• Donkeys Aren't Horses
• Out of Africa
• Brayers on the Move
• Donkeys in Myth

2 Born to Be Wild
The African Wild Ass
• The Asiatic Wild Ass
• The Kiang

3 The Breed You Need
Which Breed?
• Closing In
• Popular North American Breeds
• Evaluating Donkeys

4 A Donkey of Your Own
Finding a Veterinarian
• Finding Breeders
• Adopting a Wild Burro
• Adopting a Rescued Donkey
• Transporting Donkeys

5 Donkey Behavior
Donkey Behaviors, A to Z
• Donkey Whispering

Part 2: Donkey Care
6 Tack and Shelter
Halters
• Leads
• Shelter Options
• Gimme Water
• Fencing Makes Good Neighbors

7 Feeding Your Donkey
Hay
• Grass and Browse
• Nosebag Know-How

8 Grooming and Hoof Care
The Tools of the Trade
• Grooming Overview
• Bathing
• Sheath Cleaning
• Freeze Factor
• Finding and Keeping a Top-Notch Farrier
• Can This Hoof Be Saved?

9 Parasite Control
Internal Parasites
• Demystifying Dewormers
• Lice
• Mites
• Mosquitoes
• Horse- and Deerflies
• Blackflies
• No-see-ums
• Ticks

10 Health Care
Health Care Pointers
• To Be Your Own Vet (Or Not)
• 22 Classic Donkey Maladies
• Medicating Your Donkey
• Don't Wait, Vaccinate!

11 The Holistic Donkey
Herbs
• Flower Essences
• Homeopathy

Part 3: Donkey Fun
12 Clicker Training
What Is Clicker Training?
• Why Click?

13 Donkey Riding
Donkey Dos and Don'ts
• Why Ride a Donkey?
• Donkey Tack 101
• Training Your Donkey to Ride
• On the Trail

14 Donkey Driving
Getting Started
• Driving Gear
• Choosing Harness
• Teaching a Donkey to Drive
• Drive Safely

15 Fun with Donkeys
Showing
• Packing
• Pack Burro Racing

Part 4: Donkey Business
16 Breeding Donkeys
Breeding Q&A
• A Jack for Your Jenny
• Getting Ready for Breeding
• Preparing for Foaling
• Give Me a Sign
• Here Comes Baby!
• After the Birth
• Bringing Up Baby
• Socializing Baby
• Very Basic Training

17 Those Mules
Origins
• Today's Mules (and Hinnies)

18 Making Money with Donkeys (Maybe)
Breeding to Sell
• Marketing Donkey Milk
• Manufacture Donkey Equipment
• Donkey Trekking
• Be a Traveling Photographer
• Portray Sinterklaas
• Throw a Donkey Party

19 Donkey Marketing Mojo
Web Sites
• Do It Yourself!
• Effective Web Design
• The Rest of the Story
• Business Cards
• Flyers and Brochures
• Show Off Your Stock
• Penny-Wise Promotion

Appendixes
A: ADMS Code of Ethics
B: Donkeys as Livestock Guardians
C: Weighing and Body Scoring Donkeys
D: Emergency Euthanasia

Glossary
Resources
Index
Photography Credits

Editorial Reviews

The Donkey Companion is the most complete, up-to-date reference of its kind. The book offers readers a walk through the wonder and capabilities of this equine species, with keen insight into the differences between donkey and horse.”

Sir ReadALot.org

From the Publisher