Little donkeys: features of the content

Little donkeys; history of the distribution and appearance of miniature donkeys; behavioral characteristics, diseases, care, maintenance, and use; and exciting facts. Purchase. As you know, people at critical moments of life often designate each other with the names of animals. Many people associate donkeys with qualities such as stubbornness and stupidity. It should note that such an unfair attitude of humanity toward these animals was a long time ago. How many different sheep in the world: horses, cows, zebras? And come on, all the negative sayings went to him. However, this is more the result of basic human knowledge.

Donkeys can lay claim to a little-studied animal. Scientists from different countries often disagree about many features of their existence. It seems more straightforward: here, they are calm and approachable animals, common throughout the earth – take and learn. But you can see that this is how a person is arranged – he is not interested in what is nearby. So who exactly are they?

Donkey story

Animals are divided into wild and domestic animals. Strong hooves allow you to overcome any steep slopes. Long ears will hear the screams of their companions from a distance. The dense hide protects against both cold and heat. Their endurance has earned them worldwide popularity. There are forty-three million people on earth. Their close cousins ​​are horses. Donkeys are classified as equines – the family and genus of horses. They live for about 30–35 years.

They came to us from Africa, where ancient shepherds domesticated them about 4, 5 thousand BC, and they became among the first domesticated animals. The friendship between donkeys and humans is 6.5 thousand years old. The history of these relations is reflected in the works of many nations. The ancient Greeks worked especially hard.

With their “light hand, ” the donkey symbolized stupidity, laziness, and stubbornness. It happened mainly because of Aesop’s fables. And in the future, many storytellers and fabulists could not resist the temptation to use an already developed template. What qualities did the great writer not attribute to the poor animal: “I must tell you in advance: there was little honor in the donkey…”

So what’s a donkey like? In the mountains of Dagestan: cliffs, caves, mountain rivers. The existence of both humans and animals under these conditions continues at the limit of the physical capacity that nature gives them. In the North Caucasus, the donkey is considered a constant companion of the rural worker. How does our ear hero, a native of the distant African deserts, live here?

Donkeys are born very viable and mature. They stand up straight away and get skinned straight away. The place where they were born is forever fixed in their memory as their homeland. When they become adults, they often come to the area of birth to think and philosophize about life, alone themselves. It should note that such manifestations of emotions are inherent in many young animals, especially horses and camels. But it is with donkeys that this ritual sees the most.

The main danger for the animal is the wolf—the most vicious and harmful enemy of people and pets. The shepherds say that the gray brother’s favorite delicacy is donkey meat. Very often, donkeys following herds are the first to attack their flock. At the same time, only hooves remain from them in the literal sense.

Every donkey knows that there is no escape from this animal. If there is an attack, there is only one thing left: to sell your life at a higher price. It is paradoxical but true: seeing a wolf, the donkey screams and tries to defend itself. It should note that wolves do not always succeed in winning. Hálandir thanks the animal for such courage. Shepherds often take him with them to herd livestock because he knows the danger.

The donkey is also respected for its cleanliness. He has a neat, clean coat. He does not walk in mud or water. He eats calmly and slowly. It can deplete essential moisture and vitamins, even from rough grass and straw. And all these are thanks to their African genes. Such genetics also contribute to the fact that he drinks two to three times a day and does not choke, like a horse, but carefully filters water through his lips. He excitingly cleans his coat: he picks out small patches of dirt in the grass so that later he rubs himself selflessly while receiving pleasure.

Not all donkeys look the same. There are gray beauties – “Karabakh people.” Small, robust, and very hardy “many” – according to the terminology of the Caucasians, this word means “local authority.” There are many types of these animals: with long hair – “Poitou,” taller and very small in size. The history of little donkeys goes back to ancient times. Before they came to the United States, they appeared in the northern part of Africa, then on the islands of Sicily and Sardinia, where they are called miniature Mediterranean donkeys.

Another unusual animal, “Mule,” – is a cross between a donkey and a horse. The mules are significantly more robust and more challenging than his parents. As a product of artificial intelligence, they cannot have offspring. Unique genetics clearly explains the fact that they are brilliant and, at the same time, hilarious.

In terms of agriculture, donkeys’ primary duty has always been to transport goods. As a burden, he is simply irreplaceable. He always goes ahead of the owner and chooses the road himself; he needs to know where to pull the load. With this feature of their nature, the human idea of ​​donkeys as unusually stubborn is connected.

But this quality is just one sign of a strong feeling – the instinct of self-preservation. He only trusts himself! If the owner tries to impose an unknown or dangerous path, he will do everything not to complete this task. The donkey is very careful with nature around him: he does not step on the ice and does not like to cross rivers. It is hypothesized that the fear of waterways is a genetic fear of crocodiles left behind in a distant African homeland.

The relationship between man and donkey is a particular subject. In some countries, as many years ago, people continue a fierce struggle for survival with nature. Donkeys are one of man’s main assistants in difficult farm work. They are found on most farms. Each owner, in his way, refers to the ear pet. For some, it’s just a burden, but for some, it’s a best friend and companion. But none of them will say that the donkey is stupid and lazy. They claim that his stubbornness depends on how you interact with him.

One of the primary scientific debates is a problem – whether lambs can detect people or not. Many scientists believe that donkeys and horses do not really recognize people by appearance or other signs but only respond to the correct sequence of human actions. “That’s right!” – you will be surprised. But what about the many historical examples of the affection of horses and people? Donkeys don’t like to sit idly by on a leash. If there are no people around, they immediately try to get rid of it. That’s why most highlanders fasten their pets with such knots that fishermen envy. Despite its love of freedom, a donkey gets attached to a person much faster than neighbors in the barn.

With a friendly and gentle attitude towards children, he is more like a dog than a representative of horse riders. Therefore, it is not for nothing that donkey races are a favorite pastime in all villages of Dagestan. It is not at all easy to ride. First of all, the donkey only rides those it trusts. Second, because of the structure of the donkey spine, this still needs to be learned. However, one can only envy those who have mastered this movement. The donkey is capable of carrying a man up the most dangerous steps. Here we have a biblical story: Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey. It is believed that in memory of those days, they had a characteristic pattern on the back in the form of a cross.

As a rule, during a break between agricultural activities in the summer, mountaineers engage in “ears” in herds, which graze freely on the green slopes. Here, in the bosom of nature, the instincts and terrors of their distant, wild ancestors awaken in the donkey. It manifests in defending their territory, trying to take all the donkeys into their harem, and fighting for them. Generally, when it comes to competition, they are calm and friendly. Sometimes two men work together and spend all their free time together – they are friends.

After observing these unusual animals for some time, you understand that humanity’s interest in donkeys has much deeper roots than it seems at first glance. He is the most remarkable individual of all the farm animals in the countryside, not immediately visible behind his impassive demeanor.

He surrendered 6/ 5 thousand years ago to man; during all this time, he managed to preserve his inner independence and love of freedom. Today, his whole life is a struggle between his individualism and his stubbornness of the individual. The fact that this animal has left such a noticeable mark on people’s work is understandable. Each of us has our little donkey.

Peculiarities of the appearance of little donkeys

Height at withers from 65 to 95 cm. Weight from 80 to 140 kg. They are members of the horse family, but their ears are longer. The hooves are smaller. Their shape is rounder than horses. The wool comes in a variety of textures. It is longer and thicker, but it can be short. On the head of long-haired individuals, there is a thick, funny frontal valve. The color is usually grey-brown, with a dark stripe running along the back and shoulders. The primary color can be of different shades: sand, darker gray, or deep brown. The muzzle, lower abdomen, and legs are painted white with a monochrome coat. There are also spots on the donkey, but brown, sandy, and gray areas of various sizes are on the main white background.

Characteristics of behavior and illness of little donkeys

Little donkeys are loyal, friendly, and cute. They are the size of a large dog. These are unusual farm animals, and they are real pets. They are trendy in the US. It is estimated that forty-five thousand miniature donkeys live in North America. People of different social statuses hold them. TV host and author Martha Stewart has two deaf friends named “Cliff” and “Rufus.” Many people are known to treat them like family pets and take them home with them.

Donkeys love their owners. Greet them with tears. They meet the visitors who come to you. They play and play unknown all the time. They especially love to do this with children. To attract your attention, “tricks” will be shown. They are so loyal that it is difficult to identify them with livestock. They love to come and lay their head on your lap. They like to relax with the family: watch TV, and listen to music. They will be happy to walk around the city with you. Very clean. If they are indoors, they ask for the yard when needed.

Despite their small size, they are strong and healthy. They live for about 40 years, so if you have such a pet, you are responsible for it for life. Most of all, they need the attention of a veterinarian regarding vaccinations, hoof, and teeth care. Vaccination is carried out regularly throughout the life of the animal. Don’t forget health preventatives. They also need it because on the surface of the grass they chew, many parasites can be present. Such operations are carried out every three months.

Tips for the care and maintenance of little miniature donkeys

• Characteristics of the maintenance and equipment of the apartment. Little donkeys need to live in the countryside, in a country house, and not in an apartment. They need a place to walk in an area of ​​about two to four square kilometers, with shelter in case of bad weather. As well as a sawmill, access to a feedlot and a fence. Healthy and resilient people celebrate themselves perfectly in all conditions and at different temperatures. But if they live in a cold area, you must provide them with a warm shelter that protects them from wind, cold, and rain. Additionally, give the “kids” warm bedding. Must clean the room where the animal is kept regularly. Carrying out measures for disinfection and extermination of rats and mice.
• Wool and hooves. They care for their fur in the same way as for horses. You don’t need to bathe them; comb them. The donkey will look good thanks to a brush with natural thick bristles. The head and tail are combed with a massage comb. It would help if you also cleaned their hooves. If the animal does not walk on rugged terrain, but soft grass, the horny layer of its hooves grows back. The feet are checked before the procedure. Are there any cracks or other damage? They destroy it with a special knife, fasten the leg, and remove all unnecessary. If there is an unpleasant smell during treatment, it may be a fungus. It needs to be treated, or the structure of the hoof will become soft and loose. An iodine solution helps eliminate this trouble, in which the pet’s infected feet are immersed for several days for five minutes.
• Feeding. Their diet is almost the same as horses, but not in such quantities. A small amount – 400 grams of grain or grain mixture, hay, rock salt, and freshwater is enough for them. Of course, they love to be treated to treats. For example, carrot, apple, pumpkin, or something else tasty. Don’t forget water – the donkey needs it too. For the animal’s body not to feel the lack of trace elements, buy a particular salt block in pet stores. Store in dry hay for the winter.
• Things to avoid are an excellent addition to the family, but little donkeys do not like dogs. They cannot be alone. They will need a friend. If you can’t be with them all day and spend a lot of time playing, get another donkey or animal, for example, a llama, a goat, or a sheep.

Application for a little donkeys

Of course, it is not suitable for riding, but it can easily transport a load or a person up to 40 kg. It also works great in a belt. Quietly moves a wagon with one or two people.

In America, the little donkeys are wonderfully used in various treatments for sick people. These include cancer patients, disabled children, and the elderly. This treatment produces positive results.

Interesting facts about the little donkeys

Newborn foals of miniature donkeys weigh only 6–12 kg. Moreover, their incredible ears take up a more significant percentage of their weight.

When two donkeys meet, they blow each other’s noses funny.

Donkey milk is very similar to human milk. It contains more than 300 valuable elements. It was used by many Americans until the early 20th century to feed infants. The fat released from it is widely used in cosmetics to produce various products.

Purchase of a little donkeys

These are freshly drawn farm animals. Materially, they are not capricious. A lot of food and personal care is not needed. The main thing is to have where to run and with whom. They are characterized by good health. Miniature donkeys are perfect if you have always dreamed of a horse but don’t dare to keep a large animal. Of course, they are expensive but worth it. The estimated cost of a miniature donkey will be $8,000 – $10,000. They will bring joy and happiness.