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MINIATURE DONKEYS
When asked about the purpose of donkeys on our farm, I always say it's love. If you haven't met a miniature donkey, you're missing out! In most pictures, the donkeys are on the other side of the fence because they stay too close for good shots. They love being at your feet for hugs. Besides that, they are great pack animals and can carry a 100-lb pack.
Miniature donkeys are known to be friendly towards people. From the moment a foal is born, they tend to approach humans for interaction. If human contact starts at birth, there is no need for a gentling period as seen with other livestock. They automatically want to say hi to you and get hugs and kisses each time they see you. They truly are nature’s antidepressant and will brighten any cloudy day!
These little guys are highly sought-after. From the first time I ever met a miniature donkey I knew I needed one. We searched high and low and finally fulfilled my dream of having a sweet mini donkey. We started our herd with Gus as a baby in 2018.
As most things go on our farm, “one thing led to another” (usually the best laid plans never began as plans, right?!) and we began collecting our herd. Needless to say, it has been a very unexpected SLOW and LONG process. We have grown the majority as babies, so we have been waiting for them to mature.
We are slowly but surely entering the next phase of our donkey breeding program. We have now had 4 foals born. We are on our way…even though it has been painfully slow!
Our Jennies (females) include:
We have now grown our herd to have two Jacks (males):
Woodrow & Gus
Lori, Clara, Elmira, Sally, Pearl, Janey, Faris, Liza Jane,
Betsy, and Fiona
Clara is a full size donkey that we adopted through the BLM Burro Program. She was a wild donkey in the Nevada desert before she came to live on our farm. As of now, we don’t breed her, but that could change in the future as well.
All our donkeys are named after (or inspired by) characters from Lonesome Dove.
FAQ's
The short answer is: 2027
The long answer: Our mature jennies that foaled this spring are expected to have foals again in 2027. The tricky part is...we don't know exactly when!
Miniature donkeys have a reputation for keeping their owners guessing when it comes to breeding. Unlike many other livestock species that have fairly predictable gestation lengths, donkeys operate on their own schedule.
There is no magical due date. A miniature donkey's gestation can range anywhere from 10 to 14 months, with healthy foals arriving throughout that entire window. Because of this wide range, it can be difficult to predict exactly when a jenny will foal, even when the breeding date is known.
To make things even more interesting, jennies don't always breed back immediately after foaling. Some settle quickly, while others take more time. Every donkey is different, and Mother Nature ultimately decides the timeline.
We'll share updates as our jennies progress through their pregnancies, but until little ears start peeking out...we'll all just have to be patient together!
When will you have
more babies available?
While donkeys LOVE human attention and love, they are also herd animals. Ideally two donkeys together is the best case scenario. However, they do make good companion animals for barrel horses and other hooved animals. They are FARM animals, not backyard animals like a dog. They do need other farm animals, in addition to their humans. Be aware that not all donkeys
like small animals. We have two donkeys that will stomp a small dog or
goat into the ground given the chance. However, we also have
donkeys who are not concerned with small animals. But definitely be aware of this before letting dogs or other small animals around them.
What should I expect before owning a mini donkey?
We’ve been in your shoes! Dreaming of having a mini donkey that normal people like us could afford. They can get spendy and are in high demand. Our goal in raising them is to price them so that normal people like us can add them to their small farms and homesteads. Throughout the years I have answered this question to people who have asked. However in the past 5-10 years, a lot has changed in agriculture and livestock (as well as every other aspect of the world really). Price depends on many factors: sex, color, size, temperament, etc. Join our “Interest List” at the bottom of the page to stay updated on our current pricing, as it is likely to change from year to year.
How much can I expect to pay?
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If you follow us on social media (Facebook and Instagram @evansacresminifarm), you will see babies being posted as they are born. That does not mean they are available…YET. Once they are born we will watch them and make sure they are healthy before offering them to a new home. Once that decision is made, THIS LIST will be the first to be notified. So you’re already a step ahead. Our practice is to not take deposits on babies before birth (for any species of animal). We also don’t have a prioritized waiting list. Contacting us directly will NOT move anyone to the top of list.
That being said, we are constantly reevaluating this and deciding the best way to go about it, so it could change. We have considered moving the donkeys to a prioritized wait list with a deposit to secure your spot. We have also discussed the logistics of an auction-type sale. We haven’t made any firm decisions, but joining the “Interest List” at the bottom of the page will definitely keep you updated if anything changes and you will be notified via email.
What is the process of being notified and purchasing a donkey?
The next step once a baby is available, a livestock contract must be signed and within 24 hours a 50% deposit must be made. The remaining 50% needs to be paid upon pick up. We wean between 4-6 months depending on how the baby is growing and how well they are eating other food. The baby will have been handled during their time with us and started with a halter. You’ll find donkeys don’t take much training to break them. They naturally want to be with you and follow you around. They are docile and loving animals to begin with.
We appreciate your interest and support of our farm. We plan to continue to do this for the foreseeable future. Obviously we would love to have enough babies to make everybody’s dream come true immediately, unfortunately that’s not the reality. So if it doesn’t happen this year, we will continue to have more and more each year available. We are in the homestretch of this and we can’t wait!
PAST FOALS
Please remember - donkeys are a herd animal and do best with another donkey, but at the very minimum need other hooved farm animals to live with. For the well-being of our animals, we reserve the right to refuse a contract be sent if we don't feel comfortable with placing our animals with you.
Miniature Donkey Foals
We do not have any mini donkey foals available at this time. We do not take deposits on babies until after they are born. If you would like to be notified as babies become available, fill out the form below. It will place you on a list of people to be contacted. This is NOT a wait list. Once babies are born and deemed to be healthy, it will be first come first serve. A 50% deposit will be placed to hold the donkey with the other 50% due upon weaning - typically 4-6 months of age.