How I got started
As seen in The Mountaineer article written by Julianne Kuykendall
I bought my first three donkeys in 2004 from a man in Hendersonville who thought he was ready to give them up and raise other animals. I always loved the Christmas story in the Bible where Mary rode on the donkey to Bethlehem so buying the donkeys originally was for a very spiritual reason.
I instantly fell in love with the animals and very soon never wanted to be without one grazing in the pasture. That’s why, when the man from Hendersonville called me back and said, “I miss the donkeys so badly. Can I have just one of the donkeys back?” I understood and agreed to let one of them go back home.
Since 2004, our farm has grown from three to now 18 miniature donkeys. The male donkeys, called “Jacks,” are named Sambo, Justin and Alfalfa while the female donkeys, called “Jennys,” are named Darla, Julie, Clara Bell, Prissy, Maggie Roy, China, Lucy Lockett, Satin, Flo, Bella, Annie, Samantha, Lizzie, and twins named Minnie and Pearl.
I love having children over to the farm to learn all about the donkeys. We give children a tour of the rolling acreage, and explain all information about the miniature donkeys such as at full height, they measure anywhere from 36 to 39 inches tall and they live to be in their 40s. They are very hearty animals and very easy to take care of because they were originally born in the wild and are used to taking care of themselves.
On a typical day in the summer, the donkeys pick grass and drink water and they love apple nuggets, a mixture of apple and grain I pick up at Tractor Supply. I also feed them a mixture of different oats and grains with some corn and they eat things like thistles just like goats would eat. The cost to raise a miniature donkey is approximately $30 to $40 a month.
I love seeing them go to families with children because they are so loving and calm – they are not jittery or quick or upset easily. If they are not handled, they can get very suspicious of you and can bite or kick you if you approach
If they are handled from birth, they trust you and are very affectionate and kind to you.
If you scratch them and brush them and love on them, they are yours forever
I would also like to thank my very patient husband Randy and my grandsons and neighbor Dylan Brookshire because they are all so good with the donkeys.
Contact Gail at 828-400-1250 Address : 96 Rocky Branch Road , Canton NC 28716
I bought my first three donkeys in 2004 from a man in Hendersonville who thought he was ready to give them up and raise other animals. I always loved the Christmas story in the Bible where Mary rode on the donkey to Bethlehem so buying the donkeys originally was for a very spiritual reason.
I instantly fell in love with the animals and very soon never wanted to be without one grazing in the pasture. That’s why, when the man from Hendersonville called me back and said, “I miss the donkeys so badly. Can I have just one of the donkeys back?” I understood and agreed to let one of them go back home.
Since 2004, our farm has grown from three to now 18 miniature donkeys. The male donkeys, called “Jacks,” are named Sambo, Justin and Alfalfa while the female donkeys, called “Jennys,” are named Darla, Julie, Clara Bell, Prissy, Maggie Roy, China, Lucy Lockett, Satin, Flo, Bella, Annie, Samantha, Lizzie, and twins named Minnie and Pearl.
I love having children over to the farm to learn all about the donkeys. We give children a tour of the rolling acreage, and explain all information about the miniature donkeys such as at full height, they measure anywhere from 36 to 39 inches tall and they live to be in their 40s. They are very hearty animals and very easy to take care of because they were originally born in the wild and are used to taking care of themselves.
On a typical day in the summer, the donkeys pick grass and drink water and they love apple nuggets, a mixture of apple and grain I pick up at Tractor Supply. I also feed them a mixture of different oats and grains with some corn and they eat things like thistles just like goats would eat. The cost to raise a miniature donkey is approximately $30 to $40 a month.
I love seeing them go to families with children because they are so loving and calm – they are not jittery or quick or upset easily. If they are not handled, they can get very suspicious of you and can bite or kick you if you approach
If they are handled from birth, they trust you and are very affectionate and kind to you.
If you scratch them and brush them and love on them, they are yours forever
I would also like to thank my very patient husband Randy and my grandsons and neighbor Dylan Brookshire because they are all so good with the donkeys.
Contact Gail at 828-400-1250 Address : 96 Rocky Branch Road , Canton NC 28716
