Donkey Data: What Burros, Asses, and Jackstock Have in Common.
Life at Carry Farm would not be the same without our donkeys Barney and Louis. Erin was delighted to ‘find’ Barney in our stable on Christmas Day 2010, and ever since, he has been a much-loved member of the family.
For a number of years, Barney was very content keeping company with our Hebridean sheep. Erin trained him to pull her beautiful cart and he would delight passengers with his steady pace along the shore walk. In July 2017, Louis arrived, the baby of the family and Barney’s little cousin. Smaller, bolder and full of opinions, he brought a new energy to the fields from the very start.
Between them they help keep the rushes down, watch over the sheep, and provide a huge amount of entertainment for ourselves and our visitors. They love interaction with us humans, especially when they have pockets full of chopped carrots or apples!
Donkeys are thoughtful, intelligent animals with strong characters and plenty of quirks. Here are our top favourite facts about them…
Donkeys are also known as burros, ass and jackstock. We prefer plain old Barney and Louis the donkeys, unless they are just being an ass!
Did you know that donkeys have an excellent memory? They are capable of remembering a place they have been to or other donkeys they met 25 years ago! We hope Barney and Louis always remember the first day they met - it was love at first sight.
A happy, healthy donkey can live for more than 40 years.............we must remember to add them both into our will!
They are very social animals and form very strong bonds, often choosing one companion over others and showing loyalty similar to dogs.
Due to their large ears a donkey is capable of hearing another donkey brae from a distance of 60 miles in desert conditions. We think this distance is perhaps reduced in Argyll, but still pretty impressive.
It is no surprise that China has the highest number of donkeys in the entire world. In Britain, our donkeys need to have a passport.
A male donkey is often referred to as Jack while a female goes by the name Jenny.
Jennies stay pregnant for 11 to 14 months and eventually give birth to a single baby donkey.
A donkey will never get involved in an activity it considers unsafe. Compared to a horse, donkeys are capable of independent thinking and decision making, ensuring their safety. If they sense something is wrong, they will simply not move and dig their heels in. This has led to them having the misleading characteristic of being stubborn.
They’re stubborn, but clever. What looks like obstinacy is usually them thinking things through… carefully.
Donkeys can be well trained, although it does require some patience! Once you have earned their trust, they will be willing learners.
For their size, donkeys can carry up to 30–40% of their body weight and are excellent pack animals.
Their large ears evolved to keep them cool in hot, arid conditions. Arguably not required for this purpose in Argyll. However, you cannot argue they definitely contribute to their delightful look. Donkeys are rarely seen running, an instinct which evolved in the high temperatures to help keep them cool.
If you would like to get to know Barney or Louis a little better, then why not book a stay in one of our lodges by the shore. They would love the attention and you would go home enriched by the friendly contact from two very cute donkeys!