our newest addition~ a guard zonkey

 Meet ~Zipporah~ Zippie for short

(this may or may not be her name....we will see)

she is 1/4 zebra...i know, you couldn't tell. She looks just like a donkey!

EXCEPT her pretty outlined eyes...she was free,

because her previous owner had her mom to guard his flocks,

and Zipporah is just weaned from her.

We are going to brush her down real good today,

(she still has her winter coat)

and see if there are any traces of stripes on her.

 She is reluctant to go in the pasture with Buttercup...rightfully so.

 Animals have super keen senses!

 Buttercup is throwin' a slobberin' fit! Can you see the glare in her eyes?!

 I love this picture! If you look closely,

the hogs are sniffing the air, saying Hello ;o)

We will see how Buttercup has adjusted to her new companion today.

Until then, here are some interesting facts on "Guard donkeys"

How Donkeys Do Their Work
Guard donkeys can also protect farm animals from foxes and bobcats, according to the Texas Department of Agriculture, but black bears, wolves and mountain lions may prey on donkeys.

Sight and Sound “Donkeys rely predominantly on sight and sound to detect intruders,” according to a bulletin from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

Bold, Brassy Braying “When approached, sheep will tend to move so the guard animal is between the intruder and themselves. The donkeys' loud brays and quick pursuit will scare away predators and may also alert the shepherd.

Will It Come to Blows? "In most instances donkeys will confront and chase dogs or coyotes out of the pasture.
"If the canines do not retreat quickly the donkeys will attack them by rising up on their hind legs and striking with both front feet. A solid blow can injure, kill or at the very least discourage the predator.”

Guard Donkey Tips Guard donkeys should be selected from medium-to-large size stock. Do not use extremely small or miniature donkeys. Do not acquire a donkey which cannot be culled or sold if it fails to perform properly. Use jennies or geldings. Do not use jacks as guard animals because they are frequently aggressive to other livestock and may kill sheep or goats. Test a prospective guard donkey's guarding response by challenging the donkey with a dog in a corral or small pasture. Use only one donkey or jenny and her foal per pasture. Isolate guard donkeys from horses, mules and other donkeys. To increase the probability of bonding, donkeys should be raised from birth or placed at weaning with sheep or goats. Raise guard donkeys away from dogs. Avoid the use of herding dogs around donkeys. Monitor the use of guard donkeys at lambing or kidding as some donkeys may be aggressive or overly possessive to newborns. Remove donkeys temporarily if necessary. For best results, use donkeys in small (less than 600 acres) open pastures with not more than 200 head of sheep or goats. Large pastures, rough terrain, dense brush, too large a herd and scattered sheep or goats all lessen the effectiveness of guard donkeys. Top Source: Texas Department of Agriculture