What do you feed a donkey?
Consider feeding your donkey chaff, a mixture of chopped up hay and/or straw. There are many types of chaff on the market. These contain variable amounts of chopped rye, timothy or alfalfa grasses and oat straw. Some have added oil, molasses, minerals, herbs or hoof growth supplements whilst others are high fibre and molasses free.
How to know if a donkey is pregnant?
Keep reading as we explain how to know if a donkey is pregnant. The most obvious sign is quite simply an absence of heat periods, but these are often seasonal anyway. The pregnant donkey (or jenny) may just look a little fatter for a long time and this fatness may only resemble pregnancy in the last month or so.
How do you take care of a baby donkey?
Donkeys exposed to sunlight for at least three hours a day can produce their own vitamin D, which is essential for proper bone development The foal should be kept in a warm, dry place, and sheltered from the wind. A clean, loose box with clean bedding is ideal.
How to feed a donkey grass pellets?
For this purpose, it is recommended that you feed your donkey grass pellets that contain about 5% of its bodyweight. The best way to feed a donkey is to offer it high-quality hay.
What do pregnant donkeys need?
Breeding and growing donkeys need specialist nutrition which requires some changes to feeding and management. Pregnant jennies should be fed as normal with appropriate vitamin, mineral and protein provision until the last 3 months of pregnancy, after which their nutrient requirements will increase.
How do you know when a donkey is about to give birth?
Signs of foaling The udder will swell and subside for as long as four weeks before finally increasing in size, to the stage where the teats and udder are swollen and the udder is almost indistinguishable from the teats. In the last 72 hours milk usually starts to run.
What is the best thing to feed donkeys?
What to feed your donkeysStraw. We recommend feeding donkeys quality barley straw as it is high in fibre and low in sugar, and closely resembles the food that a donkey would eat in the wild. ... Hay. ... Silage. ... High fibre pellets. ... Short chop chaff products. ... Dried sugar beet pulp. ... Succulents. ... Minerals and vitamins.More items...
What food do donkeys need to breed?
Food item to breed donkeys Players will need golden apples and golden carrots to breed these mobs. Once the two of them are fed these golden food items, they enter the 'love mode' and produce a foal.
How long does a donkey stay in labor?
She will start getting up and down and rolling caused by the contractions and her discomfort. When she goes down, stays down, lies on her side with legs extended, she is having contractions and full labor has begun. The foal should be produced in 20 minutes. Don't panic if it's 30 minutes.
What time of day do donkeys give birth?
nightTHE FOALING PROCESS Like the majority of animals, donkey foals are usually born at night. Normal presentation is a diving position with the head between the forelegs. Stand back and quietly watch, apart from carefully ensuring, when the foal is born, that its nostrils are free from any membranes or mucus.
What foods are toxic to donkeys?
Barley straw is a great option along with Meadow hay or seed hay. However, it's important to avoid feeding donkeys cereal grain, as they may develop gastric ulcers from these. Many other foods can be harmful to donkeys such as bread, rotting fruit, chicken feed, and horse nuts, and should all be avoided.
Should donkeys eat hay or straw?
Straw should make up the majority of most donkeys' diets, with grazing and hay or haylage being considered a top-up only. Feeding a donkey on grass and hay without providing any straw will end up over-supplying them with calories and energy, causing them to store the excess calories as fat.
What is the best grain to feed a donkey?
barley strawThe donkey diet should consist of mainly good quality barley straw or oat straw (barley straw is best) and carefully restricted access to grass. Donkeys may require supplemental hay if they are not maintaining good body condition with the straw and restricted grass diet (for e.g. during the winter months).
What is barley straw for donkeys?
Barley straw is the best all-rounder for most healthy donkeys, as it makes a good feeding and bedding straw and is readily available. Wheat straw is more fibrous than barley straw and more difficult to chew. We would usually only recommend feeding it to younger donkeys for this reason.
Can donkeys eat cow feed?
Therefore, cattle rations should not be fed to donkeys unless the contents are known to be free of urea and additives like monensin. Cereals and cereal by-products such as millet, sorghum, maize and their brans can be fed to donkeys as a source of energy.
Is alfalfa hay good for donkeys?
Straw is also far lower in protein than a typical grass hay and, certainly, donkeys should not be fed alfalfa due to its significantly higher protein content .
How can you tell how far along a donkey is?
Their pregnancy bump will be lower in the belly than normal excess fat and usually lean more to one side. specially if the donkey is viewed from the front or back. The bulge will be lower in the belly than normal fatness, and will very likely be more on one side than on the other.
How do you know if a horse is about to give birth?
The visual signs of a mare's readiness to foal are:Udder distension begins 2-6 weeks prior to foaling.Relaxation of the muscles of the croup 7-19 days prior to foaling; relaxation around the tail head, buttocks, and lips of the vulva.Teat nipples fill 4-6 days prior to foaling.Waxing of the teats 2-4 days before.More items...
Can mini donkeys have twins?
Twins are extremely rare in donkeys, with only a few pairs currently known in the world, and when twins are born, one invariably dies.
How long is a mini donkey pregnant for?
Miniature donkeys, on average, carry a foal for 12 months. The average jennet produces one offspring every 13 to 14 months. Birth weights are generally between 18 and 25 pounds (8.2 to 11 kg). Twinning in miniature donkeys is rare.
What to feed donkeys in winter?
If you plan to feed your donkeys hay during the winter months, ensure you have enough forage in store to see you through the winter as supplies could run out before the winter is over. Never feed donkeys mouldy hay as they may have potentially fatal allergies to the mould. It is best to try and build up a good relationship with your hay supplier to make sure you have a consistent supply of good, clean hay suitable for feeding to your donkeys. Different types of hay available include:
Why do donkeys eat straw?
Constant access to straw allows a donkey to eat to appetite without consuming too many calories. Too many additional calories adds a risk that the donkey could put on excess weight, which has associated risks of developing health conditions such as laminitis and hyperlipaemia.
How long does it take for haylage to grow?
Once the plastic wrapping is broken (deliberately or accidentally) fungal spores start to grow so the haylage must be used within three to four days (less in warm weather) or discarded. This is why it is better suited to those with more than one or two donkeys to feed.
What do donkeys eat?
In their natural habitat donkeys will browse, eating highly fibrous plant material in small quantities throughout the day. During the spring and summer the donkeys at The Donkey Sanctuary have access to restricted grazing.
What is haylage grass?
Haylage is semi-wilted grass that has been allowed to dry to only 55-65% dry matter (as compared to 85% in hay). The grass is baled, compressed and sealed in tough plastic and the resultant forage is virtually dust-free, highly palatable and nutritious.
How long does it take to soak sugar beet pulp?
Dried sugar beet pulp is available in shredded or cubed form and must be thoroughly soaked before feeding and used within 24 hours once wet. Soaking times vary so refer to the manufacturer’s instructions.
How do donkeys control grass?
The amount of grass donkeys have access to is controlled, either by strip grazing using electric fencing or by co-grazing with other species to prevent them from becoming overweight. During the winter months some of our donkeys are housed in large airy barns with concrete run-out yards, without access to grass.
What does a donkey eat?
The donkey is a herbivore. This means that it eats plants as food. The food provides the energy, protein, minerals and vitamins which the donkey needs for maintenance, for work, for growth, and when appropriate for pregnancy and lactation.
How much do donkeys eat?
It will then eat about 2.5 kg of dry matter in a day per 100 kg live weight. A donkey allowed access to grazing at will, will spend about 60% of the day in feeding.
How does a donkey get energy?
Energy is available to the donkey in several different forms. It is supplied in the food as carbohydrate, fat or protein. It is also available from the body reserves of glycogen in the muscles and liver or from fat in the adipose tissue throughout the body. Providing energy from food protein is wasteful. Many working donkeys are in lean condition and so have few body reserves to call on. The main supply of energy to a working animal is therefore the carbohydrate and fat in the diet. Carbohydrate is in two forms:#N#(a) simple carbohydrates, which are broken down to glucose which is absorbed from the small intestine into the bloodstream and#N#(b) complex carbohydrates found in fibrous plant material, which are fermented by the microorganisms in the large intestine to produce volatile fatty acids absorbed through the gut wall into the bloodstream.
How does a donkey regulate its temperature?
One way the donkey regulates its body temperature is by reducing the metabolic heat produced during feeding. Rate of passage of digesta through the intestine can also slow down when the donkey is hot, further reducing food intake.
How to meet water requirements for donkeys?
The best advice that can be given on how to meet water requirements is - offer water to the donkey at every opportunity and at least 4 times a day, more if it is working in the heat. Contrary to popular belief a donkey, and a horse, does not suffer from water toxicity. Both species can drink large amounts of water in one go without suffering any ill effects. A donkey deprived of water is very good at drinking to its requirements. In a study in Zimbabwe donkeys drinking only every 48 hours, drank the same amount over a three-week period as donkeys allowed to drink as much as they wanted daily. Working donkeys can also be watered during work in the day with no harm. In any short rest periods it is important to make sure the donkey is in the shade and to offer it water. It may not drink straight away so let the donkey spend some time at the trough or with the water bucket (at least 5 minutes) to see if it will drink. When it starts drinking it may pause in drinking and look about, make sure it is allowed to continue until it has finished and turns away of its own accord.
How much time do donkeys spend feeding?
In natural conditions a donkey would spend 14 - 16 hours a day in feeding. It is important that donkeys kept on grazing land have time to eat. Work in particular takes the donkey away from feeding. The more work it does the less time there is for feeding, but the more food is needed to meet the increased energy requirement. A working donkey therefore needs more concentrated feeds than one that is not working. Donkeys are more susceptible to the time available for eating than cattle. Cattle increase rate of eating if they have been working, donkeys do not, since the initial chewing is more important in processing the food in the donkey than in the ox (a ruminant).
What is the digestive system of a donkey?
It consists of the mouth (lips and teeth), the esophagus, the stomach, the small intestine, the large intestine (cecum and colon) and the rectum.
How to tell if a donkey is foaling?
Signs of foaling. Usually the birth of a donkey foal is a relatively quick process, so it is essential to be prepared in advance. As donkey foaling approaches, the mare will become more solitary. The udder will swell and subside for as long as four weeks before finally increasing in size, to the stage where the teats and udder are swollen and ...
What is a donkey sanctuary?
The Donkey Sanctuary offers information for donkey owners seeking advice on donkey foaling. However, before deciding to breed from your donkey, please consider the number of donkeys taken into care by welfare organisations.
How long does it take for a donkey to foal?
Donkey foaling usually takes around 40 minutes, from the first signs to the point where the foal is free from the mare. Like most animals, donkey foals are usually born at night. Normal presentation is a 'diving' position with the head between the forelegs.
How old do you have to be to care for an orphaned foal?
There are many reasons why a foal might become orphaned, but alternative means of caring for an orphaned foal must be found until the foal reaches at least five months of age. Finding a nurse mare has many advantages, but they are rarely available.
Can you use milk replacer on calf?
Calf milk replacers are not recommended as they are a poor source of protein and often contain antibiotics. Human formulae should also be avoided, as they are not well tolerated by the foal’s digestive system. Poor milk replacers can also cause stunted growth.
Can you milk a foal with milk replacer?
Milking a mare is also very time-consuming, and not possible if the foal has been orphaned.
The gestation period
Donkeys have a longer gestation period than horses. It lasts between 11 and 14 months, depending on the size of the donkey. Foals born at 11 months are not considered to be born premature, regardless of their size. If your jenny is not a first time mother, the chances are high that the gestation period will be same as before.
The heat cycle
It is fairly difficult to tell whether your jenny is pregnant for the first few months of the gestation.
Putting on weight
The next sign to look for is your donkey putting on weight. Normally, your donkey’s weight may appear to fluctuate from time to time. If your jenny is pregnant, she will appear a little plumper, for longer. This may be difficult to detect in winter months, if your donkey tends to gain a bit of weight or acquire a thicker coat.
Last trimester
The foal will be growing rapidly and absorbing nutrients from the mother. Slowly introduce grains to her diet to sustain them both but monitor her for signs of excess weight gain, in the wrong places.
Last month of pregnancy
If your jenny’s pregnancy has gone undetected this long, you still have a few weeks to prepare the nursery. Around three weeks before the foal is due, her udders will swell and she will start milk production. In the last few days, the swelling increases and lactation becomes obvious as milk leaks out.
Can a donkey have a ration balancer?
A product like Hallway Feeds Pure & Simple Balancer can support a healthy digestive tract and has the protein, vitamins, and minerals that many equines need to ensure overall health. Note , though, that a donkey would be fed a balancer at a much lower rate than a pony. Consult your vet for appropriate advice.
Is a donkey a pet?
Donkeys are growing in popularity as pets, even here in Kentucky, home of the Horse Capital of the World! Because donkeys look so similar to ponies, their owners may think Hallway Feeds is a good option to ensure they get all the nutrition they need. However, donkeys and ponies are very different—with different digestive systems, ...
Is a donkey a browser?
For example, ponies are grazers, and they can meet a lot of their nutritional needs out in the pasture. Donkeys, however, are both grazers and browsers.
Can donkeys get laminitis?
It also means that if a donkey is let loose in a lush pasture, he’s more likely to put on too much weight. (And yes, overweight donkeys can develop laminitis.) Ideally, a donkey’s year-round diet should include more mature hay than grass, to help keep his condition in check.
Can donkeys eat cereal?
Donkeys, on the other hand, don’t need this kind of supplementation. In fact, cereal grains should never be fed to a donkey; a donkey’s increased metabolism of energy and protein makes cereal grains completely off-limits.
What Are You Going To Use Your Donkey For?
You may be wondering why this question has been included in an article instructing you on how to raise your donkey. However, the answer to this question is particularly relevant to how your donkey needs to be raised to perform well in their future careers.
Raising Donkeys as Mule and Hinny Breeders
Mules and hinnies are prized as hard-working pack and riding animals. They combine the surefootedness and hardiness of donkeys with the size and stride length of a horse, in other words, they’re the best of both worlds.
Raising Donkeys as Riding Animals
Although less popular than horses and mules, donkeys nonetheless make surefooted, hardy riding and pack animals.
Deworming Schedule and Pasture Management for Young Donkeys
Donkeys can easily pick up worms while grazing in the pasture, particularly if they share their field with other livestock. Controlling your donkey’s worm burden is essential to preventing future health problems. Additionally, worms “steal” all the good nutrition from your donkey’s feed.
What Vaccinations Does Your Donkey Need?
Donkeys typically follow the same vaccination schedule as horses, which vary according to which part of the world you live in. Donkeys are susceptible to many of the same illnesses as horses, such as African horse sickness, equine herpes virus, strangles, rabies, and tetanus.
Hoof Care for Young Donkeys
Most young donkeys won’t need to see a farrier until at least a year old unless they have hoof problems. From then on, they will need to see a farrier every six to ten weeks, according to their hoof growth patterns.
Gelding Your Jack
A crucial decision to make when raising male donkeys is whether to geld your jack. In 95% of cases, the answer is a resounding YES!
How long does it take for a donkey to give birth?
How long is the donkey birthing process? The whole birthing process takes about an hour from the first contractions. After her waters break (i.e. when the amniotic sac is broken inside the mother), the foal usually comes out forelegs first. On some occasions, the foal may come out in a different position. At this stage, it is important ...
How to tell if a donkey is pregnant?
Symptoms of a pregnant donkey. The most obvious sign is quite simply an absence of heat periods, but these are often seasonal anyway. The pregnant donkey (or jenny) may just look a little fatter for a long time and this fatness may only resemble pregnancy in the last month or so.
How to help a foal that is not showing?
If the foal doesn't seem to be appearing, help can be given by reaching in with a thoroughly disinfected arm. This is to ensure the front hoofs and head are pointing in the right direction - i.e. outwards! Fingernails must be cut to prevent scratching.
Why is my baby's belly bulging?
The bulge will be lower in the belly than normal fatness, and will very likely be more on one side than on the other. Around 3 weeks before birth, her udder will be swollen due to milk production (lactation). Furthermore, she may even exude some milk a few days before the birth.
How long after birth do foals need milk?
This milk must be taken within two hours after birth if possible.
Can a foal stand at first?
The foal will of course struggle to stand at first, and keep on falling. If the jenny is an experienced mother, she will guide her baby to her udder once they have managed to stand, albeit shakily. Otherwise, if she is confused as to what should happen, for longer than an hour, then you can intervene.
Do you cut the umbilical cord when a foal is out?
Finally, when the adorable foal is out and the mother has rested for a few moments, their collective movement will break the umbilical cord naturally. Do NOT break or cut the cord, it should remain intact for as long as it can.
Introduction
Feeding Strategy of The Donkey
The Digestive Tract
Foods Available
Guidelines to Feeding Donkeys For Different Activities
Conclusions
- The final test of a ration is to try feeding it to some donkeys and see if it is palatable, maintains weight and keeps the animals healthy. Feed a range of feedstuffs - if possible a mixture of dry forage, green forage and some concentrate - and then you can rarely go wrong. Feed the young donkey on the best possible feeds available, good quality r...
General Textbooks on Equine Nutrition