Help with Mini Donkey treats

Foot · 07-16-2009, 07:41 PM

Okay Hello!
Everyone says Donkeys LOVE treats. We have recently acquired a lovely 15 month old Mini Jack. He doesn't accept anything from our hands. We have tried Apple slices, carrot bits, horse cookies, sweet feed, alfalfa cubes, watermellon rinds... He wont take anything from our hands. He grazes on grass and eats hay and is happy. If you walk up to him while he is eating and pet him he stops chewing and just stands still until you are done with him He will stand with a mouth full of hay and let you brush him and pet him and pick up his front feet and he will just stand there. As soon as you stop touching him he carries on chewing like nothing ever happened. He comes a running with the mini zebu for the treats but just wont take them. He is a Lovely strange creature... Any ideas.... ?

thanks

Foot

**taelesean** · 07-16-2009, 09:56 PM

Sounds like he doesn't know what a treat is. Patience, patience, patience. Park yourself in his turnout with some treats and a book and let him come over and find them.

muttduck · 07-17-2009, 07:06 AM

Our jenny is equally shy about hands, and fast movements as well.

She will only eat Dumor Horse Cookies (the Oatmeal Raisin & Honey ones.) She likes that kind so much, that she'll wrap her lips around your entire wrist, because she's so excited about the cookie you're trying to feed her.

Her daughter, on the other hand, who was born here less than a year ago, will take anything from you (even sour green blackberries), and isn't shy in the slightest about hands. (Correction - she won't take her momma's cookies, she doesn't like those for some reason.)

I have the feeling that somewhere in the past of your boy, and my jenny, someone used hands in a not-so-nice way. They are nervous about hands and what they might do, so they stop what they are doing, out of preparation for what they think might be coming.

It takes time, and you still might never be able to overcome the issue. My suggestion is to hunt for treats that he likes and work them to your advantage.

horselady · 07-17-2009, 05:06 PM

And where are the Pictures of the hay hanging out of his mouth,?
Mine did not know what treats were either but with time he started to love them.,
He loves bread, and donuts, orange donuts are his favorite.

Foot · 07-17-2009, 07:46 PM

Here Is our Mini Donkey "Mario" will try to get a pic with hay In his mouth tomorrow.

..Foot..

*Owen*8807 · 07-18-2009, 10:42 AM

When we first got my donkey, he didn't eat out of our hands either. We even tried throwing treats on the ground. I didn't even work with it. After a while, he trusted us and now he goes crazy whenever we give out a treat. You do have to remember not to feed to many, because donkeys gain easily and have a hard time losing the weight. Good luck!

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07-16-2009, 07:41 PM
Foot Newborn Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Nassua County Florida U.S.A. Posts: 8	Help with Mini Donkey treats Okay Hello! Everyone says Donkeys LOVE treats. We have recently acquired a lovely 15 month old Mini Jack. He doesn't accept anything from our hands. We have tried Apple slices, carrot bits, horse cookies, sweet feed, alfalfa cubes, watermellon rinds... He wont take anything from our hands. He grazes on grass and eats hay and is happy. If you walk up to him while he is eating and pet him he stops chewing and just stands still until you are done with him He will stand with a mouth full of hay and let you brush him and pet him and pick up his front feet and he will just stand there. As soon as you stop touching him he carries on chewing like nothing ever happened. He comes a running with the mini zebu for the treats but just wont take them. He is a Lovely strange creature... Any ideas.... ? thanks Foot

07-16-2009, 09:56 PM
taelesean Administrator Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 6,342	Sounds like he doesn't know what a treat is. Patience, patience, patience. Park yourself in his turnout with some treats and a book and let him come over and find them. __________________

07-17-2009, 07:06 AM
muttduck Kid Safe Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Central Kentucky Posts: 7,067	Our jenny is equally shy about hands, and fast movements as well. She will only eat Dumor Horse Cookies (the Oatmeal Raisin & Honey ones.) She likes that kind so much, that she'll wrap her lips around your entire wrist, because she's so excited about the cookie you're trying to feed her. Her daughter, on the other hand, who was born here less than a year ago, will take anything from you (even sour green blackberries), and isn't shy in the slightest about hands. (Correction - she won't take her momma's cookies, she doesn't like those for some reason.) I have the feeling that somewhere in the past of your boy, and my jenny, someone used hands in a not-so-nice way. They are nervous about hands and what they might do, so they stop what they are doing, out of preparation for what they think might be coming. It takes time, and you still might never be able to overcome the issue. My suggestion is to hunt for treats that he likes and work them to your advantage. __________________ sigh

07-17-2009, 05:06 PM
horselady Kid Safe Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: albany new york Posts: 7,093	And where are the Pictures of the hay hanging out of his mouth,? Mine did not know what treats were either but with time he started to love them., He loves bread, and donuts, orange donuts are his favorite. __________________ www.rainbow-horse-retirement.com We love and take care of your companion for the remainder of his lifetime

07-17-2009, 07:46 PM
Foot Newborn Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Nassua County Florida U.S.A. Posts: 8	"Mario" Here Is our Mini Donkey "Mario" will try to get a pic with hay In his mouth tomorrow. ..Foot..

07-18-2009, 10:42 AM
Owen8807 Newborn Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 35	When we first got my donkey, he didn't eat out of our hands either. We even tried throwing treats on the ground. I didn't even work with it. After a while, he trusted us and now he goes crazy whenever we give out a treat. You do have to remember not to feed to many, because donkeys gain easily and have a hard time losing the weight. Good luck! __________________ Mr. Owen ~ 1 1/2 year old Mini Donkey