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| Mare Stare provides us with a live feed of our barn camera during foaling season. Click the link below to view our barn cam |
| Mission Statement |
We are deeply committed to raising the very finest miniature donkeys possible. All foals are imprinted at birth, and handled everyday. We have had extensive experience using our miniature donkeys as "therapy animals". We have one jennet that has logged nearly 700 hours of community service: visiting nursing homes, challenged people, schools, and churches. Ken & Helle Parker |
| Butternut Ridge Miniature Donkeys - All Rights Reserved Webmastered by Holly Besaw |
| Miniature Donkeys are native to the Mediterranean islands of Sicily and Sardinia. Miniature Donkeys have not been bred down in size. The 25-30 Miniature Donkeys originally imported into the U.S. were between the sizes of 32" and 38" with the majority of them being in the 35"-37" size range. Over the years, breeders have concentrated more on the 32"-33" size, and today your most desirable and well-conformed donkeys are from 31" to 35". The word "miniature" usually connotates animals that have been bred-down in size, so keep in mind that 'Miniature Donkeys' are simply diminutive, and not bred down such as is the case of many other 'miniature' animals. |
| The most prevalent color for Miniature Donkeys is gray-dun which consists of a gray colored body, light colored nose - or dark colored nose -, light colored belly and inside legs, with a dark color dorsal stripe down the back and over the shoulders. The dorsal stripe is known as the donkeys cross. There are variations of this gray-dun from dark to light. As with most animals, donkeys can range in color from black to white and everything in between. True blacks are rare with black/browns (not quite black) being more common. There are chestnut/sorrels which are various shades of reddish brown. There are also white donkeys and "spotted" donkeys. Some people refer to spotted as "pinto" and this really boils down to semantics. Spotted or pintos are generally gray or brown and white. There are also various colors of roans. Roan coloring is black, brown, gray hairs intermingled with white hairs. Donkeys do not breed true to color. Since gray-dun is by far the predominant gene, you can breed black to black and get gray-dun, spotted to spotted and get gray-dun, etc. Never knowing what color foal will be produced is part of the excitement of having foals. Colors other than the typical gray-dun makes the donkey more exotic looking therefore increases their price. |
| What is a Miniature Donkey.... |
| Colors |
| Care & Management |
Butternut Ridge Miniature Donkey Farm
| Please call to set up a time to visit the farm 518-643-8295 |
| Last updated: 4/22/13 |
| Links |
Normal Temperature: Adult: 97.2-100 F Under 2: 97.8 Normal Pulse: Adult; 36-68 Under 2: 44-88 Respirations: Adult: 12-44 Under 2: 16-48 |
| Butternut Ridge Farm |
| Miniature Donkeys require a small amount of grain, give each miniature donkey 1 cup of grain per day. Give your miniature donkey free access to roam a pasture. Miniature donkeys eat grass and hay. A bale of hay can weigh up to 50 pounds-but if you cut the bale twine that holds it together, it will separate into precut blocks called "flakes." Leave one flake out per miniature donkey each day. We recommend that you feed twice a day divide the amount and give half in the morning and half at night. Provide a salt and mineral block. They should be kept in a dry place and be available to the miniature donkeys at all times. Leave fresh water out for the miniature donkey to drink at all times. Check the water twice a day to ensure it is clean and that no dead insects or algae are floating in it. They should always have shelter from rain, snow, wind, hot sun, and flies! It should be dry and draft-free. Fencing need only be four feet high, woven wire is considered a safe and popular choice. Donkeys can withstand cold temperatures as long as they have shelter and are fed properly (extra hay not grain) in really cold weather. Miniature donkeys are "herd" animals. To avoid undue stress and loneliness, it is strongly recommended they not be kept singly but with another Miniature Donkey or other animal as a life-long friend. Always remove the halter before leaving your miniature donkey. The Miniature Donkey is a compact, well-proportioned animal with a sweet, sociable disposition. At maturity (3 years), it is able to pull a cart or carry a pack as it did in its native Sicily and Sardinia |
| The farm is located in Peru, NY Email us to set up an appointment to visit the farm! |
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| Thinking about purchasing a donkey Watch this video on DONKEY 101 |
| This Calender will be used for farm information. Thera-Pets activities will be posted on the Thera-Pets News Page |