Q&A for How to Care for a Donkey

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  • Question
    We have a shed for our minis but they won't go in - how can we coach them in? It's rainy here.
    Community Answer
    "Coaching" them isn't likely to work but encouraging them just might. Place delicious food inside that shed, fresh hay for example, to entice them in. You could also gently lead one in and tie its rope near a food source; once one goes in and realizes the benefits, the others will soon learn it's a good place to go.
  • Question
    Can I feed my donkey Christmas tree branches?
    Community Answer
    Fresh needles are fine. Cedar is bad for them, and hemlock can be mistaken for pine, but actual pine is edible. The needles are very high in vitamin C, and the inner bark is an excellent source of fiber. Pine needles can terminate an animal's pregnancy, but apart from that they are fine.
  • Question
    Can I put sheep in the same field as donkeys?
    Community Answer
    Yes, I have 2 female sheep with a jack and jenny and they seem to all do well.
  • Question
    I have a small orchard and was wondering if I needed to keep the donkeys separate from the trees?
    Community Answer
    It depends on age of trees and availability of feed. Established trees should have no problems and the donkeys will love the shade in the summer.
  • Question
    Can donkeys run fast like horses?
    Karin
    Top Answerer
    Yes, but it depends on their size, fitness, and motivation. The larger-sized donkeys certainly can run fast (around 35 to 40 mph), and some can even outrun most horses, like the Asiatic Wild Ass, which has been known to run upwards of 43 mph. Most donkeys run closer to 30 to 35 mph, which is still a little faster than the average horse, which is around 25 to 30 mph.
  • Question
    In the field behind my house, there are four donkeys with no shelter, and they stand at my back wall crying. Is there anything I can do for them to help keep them warm?
    Community Answer
    If they are in an environment unprotected from severe cold, wet weather with no shelter, that needs to be reported to animal services as abuse. They will educate the neighbor and usually give them a couple of warnings, as well as teach them to care for them properly before they would take them away. If the neighbor cannot afford to put up a shelter, and gives you permission to build a lean-to or provide weather proof blankets, or lets you help them with any other ideas, then that would be great, too.
  • Question
    Will a donkey and a goat be good companions?
    Community Answer
    If they were brought up with goats there is no problem. We have a donkey that was 2 years old when first introduced to goats. At first she would chase them away. After about 6 months she would let the newborn kids run between her legs and even climb on her back when she was laying down. I have heard of other donkeys that will kill goats though.
  • Question
    What do I do if my donkey gets rained on? Can I just rub him down with a dry towel?
    Community Answer
    It would depend on how cold it is. If it is bearable, yes. If it is too cold, dry him and if he is OK with it, put a donkey blanket on him.
  • Question
    Is it okay for my donkey to go into the woods if I own many acres of wooded land?
    Community Answer
    Having access to woods would be great for them, but it would probably be best to separate off an area for them rather than having them disappear too far into the bush where you can't keep an eye on them. They can get into all kinds of trouble in a forest, and they should never be loose if they are wearing halters, blankets, or anything that could cause them to get hung up.
  • Question
    Can donkeys live in Florida?
    Community Answer
    Yes.
  • Question
    What do I do if I have dogs and they will chase the donkey?
    Community Answer
    It would be good to keep the dog away. The donkey may kick and severely injure the dog if it feels threatened.
  • Question
    Is a half-acre per mini donkey enough space?
    Community Answer
    Yes, but extra is great! The same rule goes for mini horses.
  • Question
    What is a good size fenced in area for a standard donkey? Can they go in the woods?
    Community Answer
    I wouldn't recommend letting them wander off into the woods. A general rule of thumb is one acre of pasture for each equine.
  • Question
    Can donkeys eat sweet potatoes?
    Karin
    Top Answerer
    Cut up as a treat, yes, but not all the time.
  • Question
    Can donkeys and cows be in same field?
    Community Answer
    Absolutely. Donkeys and cows interact well together and have great respect. Benefits to sharing a field include social interaction for both and protections for the cows.
  • Question
    What could be wrong if a health and active donkey suddenly begins to shiver?
    Community Answer
    It could be colic, or simply being too cold or damp. Take it to the vet to know for sure.
  • Question
    Can I keep a donkey on 0.4 acres?
    Community Answer
    A couple of minis probably could probably be kept on your land in theory, but they would require a lot of feed in addition to pasture. Someone should also be training them daily for exercise and to prevent boredom. You should never just have one donkey. They get lonelier than horses and really need another donkey for companionship. The point might be moot though; most municipalities won't let you keep livestock or equids on such a small lot.
  • Question
    Will a miniature donkey go across a cow grate?
    Community Answer
    It is possible for this to occur.
  • Question
    Can I keep two donkeys in one pen if it is large enough?
    Community Answer
    Yes, as long as it is not a gelding with a jack or two jacks, because they will fight.
  • Question
    Can I feed them the remains of carrots in carrot juice?
    Community Answer
    It will not hurt them as long as they are not fed more than a carrot's worth - and only once in a while. I would not give them any of the juice part. Carrots should be saved for special occasions, and not as a regular treat.
  • Question
    Can I give horse pellets to my donkey?
    Community Answer
    You should consult a vet before doing this. Their digestive systems may seem similar, but donkeys require a high fiber diet that is low in sugar and starches. The main problem with horse pellets is that some brands have animal byproducts in them and are actually toxic to donkeys.
  • Question
    My donkey brays a lot. Why?
    Animal A
    Community Answer
    A lot of the time they either want attention or food. When your donkey brays, go out and pet them and lavish love on them. If that doesn’t do it, give them a bit of food. If that doesn’t work, perhaps consult your veterinarian or a donkey whisperer.
  • Question
    Is it okay for mini donkeys to be in the sun all the time?
    Animal A
    Community Answer
    It is important to give it a bit of shade. A tree or shed is enough. And since your donkeys are minis, a large dog house would probably be fine.
  • Question
    Do donkeys need more then a tree to stand under to protect them from the weather?
    Animal A
    Community Answer
    Not necessarily. But in extreme hot weather, a shed or something else will probably be good to have. The donkey needs to have somewhere to get shelter from during hot days.
  • Question
    Will my donkey be okay with alpacas and sheep?
    Community Answer
    Yes. Our alpacas were afraid at first, but got used to our donkeys. It just takes time.
  • Question
    What do I do if my donkey won't let me pet it?
    Community Answer
    There could be several reasons why this occurs. The animal may have been abused and donkeys never forget. Or, it could simply be because they have been put out in a field without much handling. Coaxing your donkey with healthy treats to start can break the ice. Start with putting something in a dish and work your way over time with the dish closer to you. Then feed from your flat hand. Be patient. Donkeys are very cautious so it will take weeks, not minutes. Once they are eating from your hand you can start to try to touch them. They see better from the side than from the front. They don't like sudden movements, so move slowly and deliberately.
  • Question
    Should I feed donkeys chaff daily?
    Community Answer
    Depends. If you do do this, make their field a bit smaller. I didn't make my donkeys field smaller and I fed them chaff every day. Turns out they gained weight easily! For one donkey, if fed just grass and treats sometimes, the space should probably be 0.6 acres. But if you feed them chaff, downsize it to 0.5 acres.
  • Question
    Do I need to have two donkeys?
    Community Answer
    They need companionship but it does not need to be two donkeys, as they will bond with sheep, goats, and horses as well.
  • Question
    Do I need to put my donkey in nighttime quarantine? Do they need a daytime pasture?
    Community Answer
    No not really, unless you have very lush grass, then they need a grazing muzzle or to be taken off of the pasture for awhile.
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