Donkeys, with their sweet face, and gentle and intelligent nature, make wonderful pets. They don't deserve a reputation as stubborn animals – in fact, they are smart and quiet. Donkeys need several acres of land to live, a dry place to sleep and enough fiber to eat. If you take good care of your donkey, it will live more than 30 years. Check out Step 1 to make sure your donkey lives a long and healthy life.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Selecting and Raising Donkeys
Step 1. Choose a donkey of the right size, gender and disposition
When you own a donkey, it is very important to consider these factors. Male and female donkeys have different temperaments, and there are donkeys of small, medium, and large sizes. Figure out which type is right for your needs before you decide which one to take home.
- If you are going to keep your donkey as a pet, choose gelding (male barren) or jenny (female).
- If you intend to breed your donkey, you will need a jack (fertile male) and one or more jennies. However, don't buy jacks if you want a pet, and don't put jacks with other male donkeys, they will fight.
- If you intend to ride your donkey, make sure it is big enough to support your weight. Donkeys can safely ride 20% of their body weight.
- If you intend to use your donkey as a safety animal against predators, such as wolves and dogs, choose a medium or large donkey instead of a small donkey. It is very important that the donkey is larger than the predator.
Step 2. Make sure your donkey has basic training
If this is your first time raising a donkey, you should choose a donkey that knows how to stand and walk without jumping. You should also make sure the donkey will be petted and allow you to lift its legs without any problems. Donkeys are a little difficult to train, so unless you're experienced, it's best to choose a donkey that is well behaved.
Step 3. Keep more than one mule if you can
Donkeys are very social creatures, they are sad when alone in the field. Your donkey will be happier to have friends. Two jennies, two geldings, or a jenny with gelding would make great friends. Donkeys will have a strong bond with their partner for the rest of their lives, and they won't go anywhere without them.
- Donkeys can make friends with horses, but if you intend to take the horse elsewhere without the donkey, it is not recommended to let them be friends. The donkey will be sad when you take the horse away from the field. It is better to put them in separate cages.
- Donkeys have special dietary needs, and if placed with other animals they will become overweight and unhealthy.
- Donkeys and dogs will not be best friends, unless raised from infancy together.
Step 4. Be gentle with your donkey
Donkeys should not be punished harshly. Teach gently and patiently when demonstrating or practicing new things. They are not stubborn, but they need time to think through the situation before deciding what to do, and they don't like to be rushed or forced. Caress your donkey, speak in a soft tone, and don't raise your voice or force it.
Step 5. Let your donkey exercise every day
They need exercise to stay healthy. They will exercise if they have a field large enough to roam around. You can also take your donkey for a walk on a leash. Remember riding your donkey isn't a good idea unless it's big enough to support your weight.
Let your donkey exercise more in the winter. If you must keep your donkey in a cage during the winter, you should allow it to come out every few days for exercise. If you can allow your donkey to roam around the barn between releases, that's great. Don't force a donkey that doesn't like snow to come out; give him a place to exercise inside. Give him a layer of cover if you want when out in the winter so he doesn't catch a cold, a donkey can catch pneumonia or bronchitis if it's exposed to rain or very cold air
Method 2 of 3: Providing Food and Shelter
Step 1. The main diet of donkeys is low in sugar and high in fiber
Barley straws are a good choice and they can chew for hours without gaining weight.
Step 2. Donkeys need food in small amounts but often (like other horses) and are not good if given a lot of food at one time, for example a bucket in the morning and evening
You should also avoid feeding cereals or whole grains such as oats, barley, and corn. This product contains too much starch and sugar and can cause diseases such as laminitis in donkeys and also lead to obesity.
Step 3. Donkeys are happiest when they have plenty of room to roam and eat grass, which is what they do most of the time
It is difficult to determine how much grass a donkey needs, they can eat different amounts of grass. Grass can be added to the straw, not as a large part of their diet.
Step 4. Another alternative to pasture is a non-grassy area such as a concrete yard, or a sandy lawn
Donkeys always want to chew so make sure you always have plenty of straws.
- In winter, when the grass dies, or at other times when grass isn't available, you can feed your donkey meadow hay. These should be of high quality, i.e. clean, well produced and not slimy, and the longer cuts may be better as they are high in fiber and low in sugar. Avoid giving alfalfa unless she is pregnant or nursing, or an animal with special needs. Make sure it's not old or damaged, as this could make your donkey sick. If you can buy chaff with additives that nourish your nails, hair, etc., you'll have a good look at the options available. Chaff is suitable for older donkeys with dental problems, donkeys recovering or donkeys having children.
- Be careful not to overfeed your donkey. Donkeys will become sick with fatal diseases if they eat too much protein and other high-nutrient foods. Donkeys, which live in the arid regions of the Middle East and North Africa, can get the nutrients they need from high-fiber pastures. If the grass is too fertile (such as horse pasture), you should limit the area available to them so they don't overeat and gain weight. Installing a secure electric fence will help you to limit their food portions. Move the fence regularly to provide a fresh supply of grass for them.
Step 5. Provide appropriate treats
As noted earlier, donkeys gain weight easily, so be careful about giving treats. Give no more than a handful of treats at a time. Apples, carrots, bananas (unpeeled) are great snacks. Leftovers from your kitchen are no good because donkeys can't digest brassica vegetables (like broccoli, cauliflower, etc.) potatoes, onions, and more. Fresh or dried mint leaves are a great snack. Donkeys need a diet that is simple and healthy and does not include foods such as toast, biscuits, and cakes. Don't give highly processed snacks, high sugar treats to humans, or horse treats.
Step 6. Donkeys eat only vegetables and should not be given meat or fish
Step 7. Ask your veterinarian about dietary supplements; this will be recommended depending on the soil type of your area
Here are some supplements your vet might recommend:
Licking-block salt/mineral for horses can help, but ask your vet first. Choose one that doesn't contain sugar, so he doesn't lick it just for the sweetness
Step 8. High-fiber cubes – can be given to donkeys who need to gain weight, try to find one specifically for donkeys (may be difficult depending on where you live), or it could be one made for horses
- Freeze-dried grass – can be a supplement to a sick or emaciated donkey to get healthier, make sure it is free of pesticides, and never feed mowed grass donkeys as this type of grass can be harmful to them. Be careful about feeding freeze-dried grass in any quantity as the sugar content can be harmful to healthy animals and cause a painful nail disease called laminitis.
- Protein seeds/cubes – these ready-to-eat grains contain essential nutrients; it is useful for female donkeys who have babies/kids or donkeys going through the winter that need additional nutrition. In addition, the food was too nutritious for everyday. Never give food made for other animals (such as chicken food); some grain foods contain meat and this is toxic to donkeys.
- Carrots – what treaded animal doesn't like carrots?
Step 9. Provide clean and fresh water
Place a trough or bucket and fill it with fresh, unfrozen water. Make sure it doesn't leak and wet the donkey's floor, as they need a dry footing. Don't forget to check the water to make sure it's not frozen; if so, you have to remove the ice cubes or equip it with a heater. Older donkeys like warm water in winter.
Step 10. Provide a dry shelter with a solid floor
Donkeys come from the desert. They prefer hot weather but they are very hardy, as long as they are given shelter that meets their needs. Donkeys do not like wind or rain and will seek shelter. Unlike horses, donkey hair will absorb rainwater and threaten its life. The place to live does not have to be large, the important thing is that it is adequate and provides the protection he is looking for. A cage or barn with a solid wooden floor will suffice. Make sure the floor is firm and dry. Donkeys have porous footprints and can cause disease if they stand in the wet for too long.
- In normal weather, provide a residence that has at least three walls, with enough back room to escape the rain and wind. This could be a stable, or even a small barn. Lay straw on the floor for comfort and warmth, especially in colder weather.
- In very cold weather (sub-freezing temperatures and snow) you should provide the donkey with adequate housing. The cage should be comfortable; cover the gap to prevent the donkey from getting cold. The kennel in winter should also have sufficient space for exercise, otherwise the donkey doesn't like being taken out in the snow.
Step 11. If you want to blanket your donkey in the winter (very cold temperatures, or an old/skinny donkey) make sure you remove the blanket to check the donkey's skin and change it every day
Step 12. Make sure the dining area is clean
To prevent contamination and worms, always clean the donkey's feeding area. Remove mud, wash food buckets daily and place hay in a hay-net basket, not on the floor. Clean the cage by removing the dung and donkey hay. Wet the walls and let them dry before the donkey enters the pen.
Step 13. Surround it with a solid fence
To protect your donkey from predators such as dogs and wolves, or to prevent forcibly pushing against the fence, build a secure and sturdy fence around the area where your donkey lives. Donkeys are very clever, they can run away if you don't put up a good fence around the barn and pasture. The fence should be at least as high as the donkey's shoulders.
Method 3 of 3: Keeping Your Donkey Healthy
Step 1. Brush your donkey regularly
The best way to clean it is to brush it every day. They don't like getting wet, so you don't have to spray or bathe them. Brushing it every day, and also cleaning the footprints/nails, is enough.
Step 2. Make sure the tread is dry and the nails are trimmed
Donkey hooves grow, just like human nails, and they must be trimmed from time to time to prevent them from growing and cracking. Use a professional nail clipper and trim the donkey's nails at a 60-65ͦ angle. Donkey hooves should be trimmed every 8 weeks or so.
Step 3. Check the donkey's teeth to make sure there are no sharp edges
Donkey teeth will grow continuously, and will wear out while the donkey chews food. Your donkey should be taken to a specialist dentist every year no matter what condition his teeth are in. A donkey's teeth are roughly the length of your forearm, so you don't know what's going on in its mouth without specialist tools. The dentist will check into your mouth to make sure your donkey's teeth are functioning properly and are not causing feeding difficulties and pain.
Donkeys with bad teeth are better served with chaff or crushed/wet food – this will help them to avoid chewing grass or hay as much. Consult with your doctor the best option
Step 4. Give vaccinations at the right time
Donkeys are very strong and don't get sick easily. They should be vaccinated every year to avoid getting tetanus, flu, and other diseases. Other vaccinations depending on where you live, for example rabies, encephalitis and West Nile Virus.
Step 5. Like horses, donkeys can get intestinal worms
Due to the over-treatment of worms in the past, worms are now not responding as usual to treatment and are more difficult to treat. There's no easy solution, but we certainly can't continue the old ways that cause new worm problems to appear. Horse and donkey manure should be checked annually to see if it contains worms and treatment can be instituted. Ask your veterinarian for instructions, and do a re-examination to make sure the treatment is working.
Step 6. Make sure the barn and barn are free of feces to prevent worms as they live outside before entering the donkey
Reducing the number of worm eggs your donkey eats can help fight the number of worms growing inside your donkey. Cleaning manure at least 3 times a week has been shown to reduce the number of worms that live in pastures.
Tips
- If bugs are bothering your donkey, ask your vet about an insect repellent that can be used. Sometimes fleas can be a problem because they hide in the donkey's long fur. Donkeys that have fleas will scratch at walls and fences to relieve itching, over time this can lead to baldness.
- If you want to reduce your donkey's weight, ask your veterinarian first. Donkeys need fiber every day to improve their digestion, otherwise they will get sick.
- Spend a lot of time with your donkey.
- Donkeys sometimes make friends with young children and the disabled. If you have a large farm or plantation, you can consider this when choosing your pet. Donkey riding therapy can sometimes help people with disabilities and can build friendships between the donkey and the rider. If you have time to help those in need, this can be a great activity for you and your donkey.
- Donkeys live longer than horses, usually around 30-40, so they can accompany you for life.
- Donkeys don't survive very cold weather, although they can be taken out in the winter for a breath of fresh air as long as they don't fight it (some donkeys love snow, others don't). If you take your donkey out in the winter to exercise, remove any snow that has stuck to his fur before he returns to the barn so he doesn't freeze when the ice melts. Donkey fur is not resistant to rain or snow.
- This is just a quick guide on how to raise a donkey; For more information on concerns or other concerns, ask your veterinarian or read from the donkey-only webpage.
- Learn more about donkeys. Browse the web or borrow a book from the library to learn about the types of donkeys, their characters, illnesses and other interesting information. There's a lot you can know about your pet.
- Alfalfa hay is not good for donkeys because it contains too many nutrients. Timothy and other types of hay are better for your donkey's health.
- The female donkey is called ``jennet`` or ``jenny``; male donkey is called ``jack``. Children or baby donkeys are usually called ``foal``.
- In the past, the donkey served as a mate for the racehorse to appease him and was often placed with a male foal separated from his mother to keep him company. This animal is amazing for its patience and kindness, but remember that many donkeys are lonely when their racehorse or stallion is moved elsewhere. Donkeys bond with their mates, and will be faithful for the rest of their lives. Don't break her trust
Warnings
- Humans love petting donkeys. If you're worried about people approaching and feeding your donkey the wrong way, set a warning sign so others don't feed you.
- Train your donkey to stand still when taken to the vet, and allow the vet to lift his leg. Don't allow the vet to put the donkey to bed to check its tread; this will make the donkey angry and needn't be done.
- Don't let anyone be rude to your donkey. Donkeys are gentle animals; Don't tug at his ears or try to hurt him. If your donkey is a rescued animal, you will have to make a strong effort to earn its trust; usually donkeys who have been hurt are restless, shy, and timid. Since this is not the norm, it is very sad and if you want to do this, ask for help from the nearest donkey organization.
- If your donkey won't eat or is eating very little, this is a big sign that you should take him to the vet immediately for a check-up.
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Many plants are poisonous to donkeys, the list is too long to describe here but here are some of the most dangerous plants:
- Dried or fresh ragwort
- yew
- acorns and oak leaves
- fig or red maple leaf
