Donkeys.

[Nicos]

Only if they are weed seed free, unless it's well composted
How poor is the pasture?

We have loads of weeds following on from using our friend's donkey doo...brill veg, but lots of weeds.

Might be a bit like horse muck?...or do they digest better than horses???
Beware of origin of hay/bedding too to make sure it's not been treated with the dreaded weed killer....

[veggiechicken]

Donkeys are lovely but, like all animals, they are a commitment and have specific needs.
Better to think about these before having one/two.
Lion droppings are good at deterring rabbits

[Darwin.]

Any hay I get would probably come from my fathers farm so I'd know it was good quality. Maybe chickens would be good enough company and the donkey could keep foxes away.

There wouldn't be too many weeds unless Donkeys eat nettles.

[veggiechicken]

I don't think its fair to keep just one donkey. Sorry Darwin.

[Nicos]

Our very, very old sit on mower has finally given up the ghost(piston exploding inside the engine!) not worth repairing. It was only given to us 9 months ago!
Ah well...so we too are back to working out what to do with our field/garden....another sit on mower( flippin expensive!) or a couple of lambs to bring on for meat....

[Nicos]

Nettles?...yup...according to this they do.....

Gardening Q & A: Livestock - Telegraph

[Darwin.]

I've never really liked sheep because they seem to die too easily. Id need a herd number for sheep too. The whole idea is to keep the grass down. I want the orchard to lookget more natural so don't like mowing it.

I'll look at the price of a shelter, see how much feed would cost, I have relations that kept Donkeys a few years ago so I could probably find out a bit from them.

[veggiechicken]

What about geese? They'll keep the grass down for you.

[Bigmallly]

............and they will keep you out of the grass...............

[Nicos]

Geese are absolutely fantastic! Absolutely wonderful!
Too noisy for us though cos we have lots of guests.

[Nicos]

Alpacas....go on you know you want to...

You can get money for their wool too!...espesh the white ones....

[Alison]

Our neighbours when I was a kid had donkeys in the field behind us. Started off just in winter for a seaside one (George, I think ) but then he retired there permanent and they had another couple I think but he moved out my then. George was definitely the only donkey but he hung out with some cows. There was a row with the neighbour once when our apple tree windfalls fell that side and he got colic but don't know anything more - it was a huge field though and extra feed was definitely provided in winter.

[mothhawk]

Alpacas....go on you know you want to...

You can get money for their wool too!...espesh the white ones....

The same issues arise with alpacas, though. They do need feet trimming, worming, winter feed and shelter - and shearing - and that is apparently not so easy..... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Yl8DeOWadk

[Darwin.]

Ok, so that's two Donkeys, two Alpacas, a goat, a sheep and two geese, just to make sure nobody gets lonely and all the grass is cleared. I need to buy more land!!!

[veggiechicken]

You wanted "your own tiny little farm", Darwin! How about some pigs and a house cow?