Being ready with a well-protected shelter is one of the basic requirements when it comes to getting a donkey for yourself. But your responsibility as a donkey owner does not just end there. Providing proper fencing for your donkeys, around the space they move, is equally important as creating a good shelter for them, since your donkeys are not going to be there in the shelter all the time. And finding the most suitable fencing for your donkeys will not be a huge task as there are lots of options from which you can choose. Let us see some of the best fencing for donkeys recommended by farm owners and experts.
Preparing Outdoor Spaces for Your Donkeys
Since donkeys are social animals and thrive in the company of others, adequate outdoor space must be allotted for them in order to meet their needs. Preparing a space right outside of the indoor shelter is a method used by many so that your donkeys will have constant access to water and fodder. In this way, the pastures around the shelter will be divided into small parts or paddocks by fencing, with the shelter in the center. Such an arrangement will also give time for the land to recover from the previous grazing while the donkeys will keep on grazing on the other paddocks.
As you might already know, grazing through pastures and roaming around freely is one of the activities that donkeys love. The pastures could provide them with all the food they need, while they spend their time roaming around with their companions from the herd. But in this scenario, it is important to ensure that the outdoor spaces are properly fenced
Why is Fencing Important for Donkeys?
The straightforward answer to this question is that fencing protects your donkeys from predators and keeps them safe inside, and prevents them from escaping the farm and ending up in danger. When raising animals, be it donkeys or any other animals, confining them into closed and crammed shelters is not the best way to adopt. Especially when it comes to animals like donkeys, who love to move around freely and socialize with their companions, locking them up will adversely affect their physical and mental health. Hence, letting them out is the only way here to keep them happy and satisfied. But donkeys being quick learners, you must be careful to prepare a fence that they will find unable to cross and jump. So that must clear the query regarding the necessity of fencing for donkeys.
Finding the Perfect Fencing for Your Donkeys
When it comes to the materials to be used for making the fence, there are a lot of options in the market which you can choose from according to your budget. Wood, woven wire, and pipe fencing are the popular materials used, which could also be used in a combination of twos or threes. Wooden fences are aesthetic to the eyes and an expensive choice, while wire fencing will be pocket-friendly and an efficient protection. Wooden fences covered with wire fencing are also popular among breeders and farmers. Plain wire fences topped with a wooden pole will give you a view inside the grazing area, which could help you to watch your donkeys and monitor their activities and behaviors.
Barbed wire is not recommended as it could lead to your donkeys getting injured from it. Also, keep in mind that whatever the material is that is going to be used for fencing, it has to be at least 4 feet in height and has to be secured by poles or posts every 8-10 feet or so. You can also easily find No Climb Horse Fences in the market, which are also highly recommended and used by donkey owners.
All these measures done right can help you prevent your donkeys from getting out of your hands. These fences also prevent coyotes and dogs from entering, who are enemies with donkeys. In that way, you can also keep your dogs safe by keeping these good fences.
Is Electric Fencing a Good Choice to Opt for?
Electric Fencing is one of the most used fencings for donkeys and other farm animals. The popularity and acceptance of this kind of fencing is mainly due to the ease in installing and moving it from time to time as well as the factor that these are very much affordable. Electric fences are also low maintenance compared to other fencing, especially against wooden and wire fences. These fences most often will have to be eventually reinforced by electric fencing as the donkeys will try chewing and rubbing off the wooden fences and get tangled in the wire ones. In such a case electric fencing is the best choice given that it is always turned on, so that the space where your donkeys are contained is well protected.
Will a No-Climb Fence Work for Donkeys?
The no-climb fence is also a popular choice among farmers and breeders as it ensures great protection to your donkeys. Made of woven wire, the spaces left in between will be no larger than 2 by 4 inches, which will not allow the donkeys to put their hooves and heads through it. Hence, you will not have to worry about them getting stuck between the fences. These fences will be installed very close to the ground, which also prevent small animals like dogs and coyotes from entering the fenced area. The height of the fences, which will be no less than 4 ft., will also keep the donkeys from jumping and escaping while at the same time will not allow others to enter too.
Some Tips Before You Start to Work on a Fence
- Fences keep your donkeys and herd safe from predators and running away. But before putting on a fence around a space, make sure that the plants and grass in the enclosed area are safe for your donkeys to consume.
- At least 0.5 acres of land must be allotted for each donkey for their grazing, which could be adjusted according to the availability of pasture and the change of seasons.
- Remember that donkeys will try to get out of the fences if they find the space inside too crowded, if they are unhappy, scared, or if they get very hungry. So make sure that these things do not happen on your farm.
- Make sure that each donkey has enough space to walk and run around freely whenever they wish to. This will help you keep their physical well-being and mental health in check.
- The wooden posts at the fences must be checked properly for shards and pointed edges that could injure your donkey.
- If you are installing the fences according to the availability and density of pastures, make sure that you put in easily moveable fencing so that it will be easier to move it around with the changing seasons.
- Try to install double fences in work areas and where you keep your foals and young donkeys for extra protection.
Conclusion
By now, you must have got some ideas as to how to prepare for your donkey and some of the best fencing you could adopt for donkeys. Following these could help you keep your donkeys content and happy, at the same time keeping them safe from dangers and mishaps. So, have a happy time at your farm, keeping these tips in mind!
