What kind of hay do donkeys eat?
Different types of hay available include: Meadow Hay is a natural mix of grasses made from grass grown on old pasture and is suitable for feeding to donkeys. Seed Hay is also good for donkeys. It is a planted crop of specific grasses, such as rye or timothy, which the farmer makes from the stems remaining after the grain has been taken.
What can I feed a 6 month old donkey?
Hi Cheryl, Thank you for your interesting question about feeding the 6 month old standard donkey that you rescued. Timothy hay is a suitable hay for donkeys, but is not going to provide the combination of energy and protein (essential amino acids) that your donkey needs to gain weight at this age.
What is the best feed for a mini Donk?
Our feed store recommended “Sheep & Goat” grain for my goat buck pen, that includes the mini donk, bc there’s a certain mineral in regular goat feed that’s “toxic to donkeys.” But I have googled and googled and can’t figure out what mineral is toxic to donkeys (similar to how copper is toxic to sheep).
How much do miniature donkeys cost to take care of?
Outside of the initial costs, miniature donkeys can live on high-grade alfalfa-based feed that costs around $140-165 each ton. Regular hay is less than this, so miniature donkeys might not cost anywhere near as much to take care of as some might think.
What is the best feed for miniature 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 do miniature donkeys like to eat?
Miniature donkeys eat grass and hay. One barrell of hay has several precut blocks. Feed one block to each miniature donkey per day. Check on the water every couple of hours to make sure that it is clean of insects and algae and make sure to have water in various places out of direct sunlight.
Do miniature donkeys Need grain?
Answer. I agree with your vet that the donkeys do not need any grain, although historically that is what horse owners have used to balance their horse's diet. Fortunately, there are other options these days for stock owners who wish to balance the diets of their horses and donkeys.
What do dwarf donkeys eat?
Miniature donkeys require good quality hay and fresh, clean water. Their primary food is grass, but they also graze other shrubs and desert plants. If only poor quality hay is available, it should be supplemented with a commercial feed. Because donkeys are prone to weight gain, their feed should be closely monitored.
How much hay should a mini donkey eat per day?
Ideally your hay selection should be in the range of 10% to 12% protein. We like to feed two times per day. We use a fish scale hanging in the barn to weigh the hay. Allow for the weight of your bucket and make sure each donkey is getting 1 ½ to 2 pounds of hay per feeding.
Do mini donkeys need salt blocks?
Donkeys need salt and, if suffering from a salt deficiency, they may eat dirt or lick/chew objects. To avoid this, pour some loose salt into a separate container to other food or give a little at night. You can also buy equine salt lick blocks, but make sure you do not buy a cattle salt block by mistake.
What should you not feed donkeys?
Avoid dusty or mouldy feeds. Access to an equine salt or mineral lick is advisable (avoid mineral licks designed for other types of livestock as they may contain inappropriate mineral levels).
How often do you worm mini donkeys?
WORMING. Donkeys should be wormed every two to three months with an equine paste wormer. Until recently, rotational worming with an ivermectin product then a fenbendazole or other category of wormers was the preferred worming technique. This is thought to prevent the donkey from developing immunity to wormers.
Can mini donkeys eat sweet feed?
You should never feed Longears (donkeys, or mules) any pre-mixed sweet feeds, or products high in alfalfa. Equines in general should never be turned out in a pasture with Fescue grass.
Do donkeys need hay in the summer?
If the pasture area you have set up for the donkeys to graze from has quality grass in abundance, there should be no need to feed hay during summer months.
Can donkeys just eat grass?
Because food availability in their native settings is sparse donkeys in such environments don't only eat grass. They happily eat browse (woody shrubs, trees, and broadleaf plants) and forbs (flowing plants) as well.
Are mini donkeys hard to care for?
Miniature donkeys are not hard to take care of, nor do they require as much commercial grain as other barnyard animals. They get many nutrients from grazing, but they also need high-quality hay and crimped oats. You can also feed your mini lots of fresh fruits and veggies—they are bottomless pits sometimes!
What fruits can mini donkeys eat?
Our donkeys all love carrots, bananas, apples, pears, and turnips – which are all safe and usually very popular with donkeys. Be careful to cut fruit or vegetables in a size that allows the donkey to safely eat them and prevent any choking hazard.
What do donkeys eat for treats?
TreatsBasic treats like carrots, apples, peppermints, bananas, watermelon, oranges, pears, grapes, celery, strawberries, and pumpkin are all safe for donkeys. ... Donkeys like sweet flavors, like raspberry.More items...
Can mini donkeys eat sweet feed?
You should never feed Longears (donkeys, or mules) any pre-mixed sweet feeds, or products high in alfalfa. Equines in general should never be turned out in a pasture with Fescue grass.
What is the best thing to feed a miniature horse?
An average miniature horse weighs 200 pounds and should receive at least 2 to 4 pounds of forage a day. Look for a fine, soft, leafy hay rather than a coarse, mature hay. Feed at least one-third to one-half of a flake of a good quality grass or alfalfa- grass mixed hay twice a day.
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:
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.
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 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 is the best grass for donkeys?
Meadow Hay is a natural mix of grasses made from grass grown on old pasture and is suitable for feeding to donkeys. Seed Hay is also good for donkeys. It is a planted crop of specific grasses, such as rye or timothy, which the farmer makes from the stems remaining after the grain has been taken.
When is the best time to cut hay for donkeys?
Weather conditions tend to influence the cutting season - late May to July. Remember late cut hay will have lower energy values, which may suit your donkeys if they are overweight and require forage with a lower energy content, but not if they are elderly/underweight donkeys that need feeding up.
Can donkeys eat wheat straw?
Wheat straw is very fibrous and has lower energy values, but may be fed to young healthy donkeys with a good set of teeth. Linseed straw is best avoided since the seed is poisonous to donkeys unless it has been boiled, and it is very difficult to ensure that no seed is present in the straw.
What is the best feed for donkeys?
While grass and hay is most often sufficient to supply the maintenance requirements for most donkeys and mules, additional supplementation in the form of concentrate feeds may be needed when donkeys cannot eat sufficient forage to meet nutrient requirements.
What classes of donkeys need concentrate feeding?
Classes of donkeys and mules that need concentrate feeding include those that are working heavily, pregnant, lactating, growing or senior. The amount of concentrate that should be provided is determined by the BW and physiological state of the animal.
Why are donkeys prone to obesity?
Donkeys and mules are prone to obesity and will develop laminitis if they are given access to lush pastures such as spring and fall pasture.
What do mules and donkeys eat?
Mules & donkeys are members of the equine family along with horses, ponies, zebras. Most people think you can feed them a diet similar to horses but in lower quantity. Donkeys however have unique evolutionary traits that make them anatomically and behaviorally distinct. Donkeys are highly adaptable feeders that if given the opportunity will consume a variety of different grasses and shrubs to obtain sufficient nutrients. It is generally accepted that the donkey can exist with less food than a horse. Donkeys and mules can utilize more mature, less digestible, more fibrous plant material than a horse. They are able metabolize their feed very efficiently and can be overfed very easily. The donkeys’ efficient utilization of food makes them “easy keepers.” However, don’t let the term misguide, you. It is important to take care in determining when and how much to feed a donkey. Obesity is a major concern in modern domesticated donkeys and mules.
What is LMF feed?
LMF Feeds offers an excellent option for feeding donkeys to avoid obesity and maintain health. LMF Super Supplement G is ideal for most donkeys and mules. The Basics. Management. Feed Ingredients. Disciplines. Breeding.
What are the challenges of a donkey?
Nutritional Disorders. Obesity is the biggest challenge facing most non-working donkeys and mules kept in areas of the world where food sources are abundant and of good quality. Emaciation is very common in most areas where donkeys are used heavily for work and food is scarce and of poor quality.
How do donkeys conserve water?
It has been suggested that donkeys have the ability to conserve internal water stores and avoid thirst by reducing sweating for temperature control and reducing the amount of water lost in man ure.
How to care for a donkey?
To correctly care for your donkey, remember that it is not just a “horse with longer ears”. Donkeys are unique in their nutritional and care requirements, but they will give you endless enjoyment if you manage them properly. Categories. Care and Management, Feeding Management, Horse Nutrition, How To, Weight Control.
Why do donkeys eat desert?
Due to their typical desert diet, their digestive system is much more efficient than that of a horse, and therefore donkeys require a different feeding strategy. In many parts of the world, donkeys face the issue of malnutrition and starvation.
What to feed a rescue horse?
If the teeth are OK, can use either a good quality grass forage (coastal, timothy, brome, Tifton etc.) or a legume such as alfalfa.
Do donkeys need energy?
In countries like the United States we present donkeys with energy rich food and usually don’t require them to work very hard for it. People tend to feed these animals just like horses – but a diet that may be perfectly fine for a maintenance horse could cause the average donkey to become grossly overweight.
Do donkeys eat horses?
Donkeys have a little different feeding behavior in some cases than horses. You might try a different feed just to give the donkey a different taste/feel. Old timers used to say that donkeys are very responsive to anything that made them uncomfortable and learn to graze very selectively, more so than horses.
Is donkey feed better than horse feed?
Hello Larry, Thanks for the question. Donkeys are typically more efficient digesters, and thus easier to put weight on than horses. We would suggest a high fat, high fiber horse feed, that is also controlled starch. SafeChoice Original or Special Care would both be excellent options for you. Good luck!
Do donkeys use fiber?
While under a visual inspection the digestive tract of a donkey and horse is the same, the way donkeys ferment and use fiber is unique. Donkeys (descendants of the wild ass) originated as desert animals and are adapted to foraging on coarse plants and grasses.
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.
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.
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 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.
Are Miniature Donkeys Good Pets?
As their name suggests, miniature donkeys take up less space than full-sized ones and they might also need less feed. They’re every bit as intelligent as full-sized donkeys and can be taught to get along with other pets.
How Much Do Miniature Donkeys Cost?
True miniature donkeys that are less than 9 hands tall can cost anywhere from around $500-2,000. You can find ones that are slightly larger at much lower prices.
How Big Do Dwarf Donkeys Get?
In general, the term dwarf donkey isn’t specifically defined by any breeders. As a result, there’s no concrete definition as to how big they get.
What are Miniature Donkeys Good for?
While they’re usually kept as companion animals at this point, miniature donkeys have historically been used for a number of farm-related tasks. They’re safer than full-sized donkeys and can be used for pasture as well as yard maintenance.
Can You Keep a Miniature Donkey in Your House?
Some people do keep miniature donkeys in their house, but you’ll want to make sure that you either raise them as an indoor animal or introduce them to your house over time. An outdoor miniature donkey who has never been inside of a home before will otherwise be likely to start wrecking things.
Do Miniature Donkeys Keep Coyotes Away?
Coyotes don’t usually like the presence of donkeys or the noise they make, so miniature ones can in fact keep them away. You don’t want to solely rely on them as the only way to keep coyotes away, however, since there are numerous reports of instances where coyotes successfully killed an unprotected miniature donkey.
Are Donkeys Expensive to Keep?
Outside of the initial costs, miniature donkeys can live on high-grade alfalfa-based feed that costs around $140-165 each ton. Regular hay is less than this, so miniature donkeys might not cost anywhere near as much to take care of as some might think.
