Did you know that donkeys are pretty fragile compared to the horse? Yes it’s true. Donkeys evolved from the desert, donkeys seek shelter during extreme heat, cold, wind and rain. Donkeys cannot tolerate extreme wet and wind chills. Donkeys are prone to hyperthermia and frost bite much faster than a horse. Even fat donkeys can have life threatening issues if we do not take the safety measures needed. Why? When the metabolism is compromised due to obesity or cushings the immune system is destroyed, making it impossible for donkeys to regulate temperature changes.
Signs a donkey needs a blanket; shivering, shaking, freezing ears, standing will not move, tale tucked.
How to I measure my donkey for a blanket?
Order the blanket weight based on the weather including the wind chill.
Choosing A Blanket Weight (light, medium, or heavy) Based On The Temperature Outside:
30 – 40 degrees due to surgery or severe sickness.Lightweight blanket: The only time a lightweight blanket is needed for a donkey is on vet orders in warmer weather. The shelter is best for rainy weather. Featuring 1200 Denier RipStop, Teflon coated outer shell, 80 grams of hollow fiberfill, 70 Denier nylon liner, adjustable elastic leg straps, tail flap, double-locking hook and loop front chest closure, and belly band
20’S – 0 degrees – Medium weight blanket: Protect your mini with this waterproof, breathable turnout blanket. Featuring 1200 Denier RipStop, Teflon coated outer shell, 180 grams of hollow fiberfill, 70 Denier nylon liner, adjustable elastic leg straps, tail flap, double-locking hook and loop front chest closure, and belly band.
0 – below – Heavyweight blanket: Protect your mini with this waterproof, breathable turnout blanket. Featuring 1200 Denier RipStop, Teflon coated outer shell, 300 grams of hollow fiberfill, 70 Denier nylon liner, adjustable elastic leg straps, tail flap, double-locking hook and loop front chest closure, and belly band.
How do I keep my donkey healthy in the winter? Provide shelter, slow feeder, warm clean water, loose salt and a blanket as needed.
Congratulations you own a donkey. If you only have one donkey please consider getting your donkey another donkey to live with twenty-four seven. Geldings with geldings and jennies with jennies always works best. Try and get the size fair as donkeys grab the neck in play and battle and managing the weight is easier if the donkeys require the same amount of food. Looking for help with your donkeys, training, diet, tack, shelter fences? Sign up in my store select Donkey Trainer.
Understanding why your donkey is biting
Baby donkeys are full of energy are constantly testing their boundaries with their pasture buddies and humans. All donkeys bite one another in play and in battle, they nip the legs, grab the neck, and use their mouth and teeth like we humans use our hands. Just like we train a puppy to go potty outside we need to train our donkeys how to have human basic social skills. Humans have to learn how to become a fair leader and be a fair leader 100% of the time they are physically with their donkeys.
I teach the donkey owner or caretaker worldwide how to tame and train donkeys. Learn how to stop the bite, nip, and kick in my training program Donkey 101 video on demand sold with my E-book. The videos are quality proven exercises to do with your donkeys, right and left side. The E-book is where I teach humans how to tame and train their donkeys, most importantly become a consistent fair leader. Learning how to have excellent timing (three second rule), and learn how to be in the moment, I call this On Donkey Time ®.
How Do I Stop The Nipping and Biting
Donkeys are intelligent, donkeys train humans quickly to do only what the donkey wants to do. First I never give a treat because a donkey is cute, I give a bite of a carrot, a small bite when the donkey does something I asked him or her to do such as come to me when called. Giving treats to donkeys because they are cute creates a human treat dispenser. Soon the donkey is leading the human, the donkey will do nothing the human wants to do.
Abused Donkeys
Never use pain, slapping, kicking, hitting, twitching, tying up a leg to tame and train a donkey. Donkeys that have been abused by humans hold on to the pain its call post traumatic stress disorder (ptsd) for life. Triggers of the pain can be a hat, cigarette, man, woman, gloves or a sound. Rehabilitation of abused donkeys is sadly one of the reasons I began my training program as so many donkeys are abused by frustrated and ignorant humans.
Redirect The Behavior, Give Endorphins
As soon as the donkey gives the right answer to the task I asked such as walking up to me when asked I give a small bite of a carrot, on my open flat hand. If the donkey comes at me trying to mug me for the carrot I do not give the treat. I quickly massage the donkeys mouth careful not to get my fingers inside their mouth for at lease two to three seconds. Next I move my hands to the the withers for a massage for a few seconds. No treat for a try, no treat for trying to bite me or mug me. I teach all of this in Donkey 101 Video On Demand. When the donkey comes back wanting to push for a treat I give another massage on the mouth and back on the withers. The more you can rub the mouth the better for your donkey. Donkeys are one of the most intelligent animals on the planet. Make sure your eyes are eye level for your donkey to see you. Study the donkeys eyes, learn what calm eyes look like compared to fearful or angry.
Ears On A Donkey Flat Back
Please remember donkeys are not horses with long ears. Ears back can mean I am happy, thinking or angry. Learn to study the eyes of your donkey not the ears.
Socialization and Training Is very important for donkeys
Training involves following the exercises outlined in Donkey 101 & 102 video on demand with my E-book Donkey 101 is foundation training one hour. Take me Melody Johnson to the farm with using any smart device connected to the internet. The great news about training donkeys is they need no tune up unlike the horse once you teach your donkeys to follow you as a fair leader the donkey will follow you as a fair leader for life. I highly recommend one person do the training, after the donkeys are trained teach the rest of your family how to become a fair leader and be consistent. Consistency is very important when taming and training animals.
Donkeys evolved from the desert, donkeys are not horses with long ears. Healthy young donkeys can usually handle winter. Please remember extreme wind chill and cold can kill even the most healthy animal if preventive care is not provided. Donkeys are stoic meaning they hide pain. I do not blanket a donkey because I am cold I blanket a donkey due to health needs.A blanket is like a fire extinguisher we have it ready in case of an emergency. Once you blanket any equine it is important to check the blanket every day for dampness rubs etc., Always replace a wet blanket with a dry blanket quickly. Remove the winter blanket when the weather is back to rain. I do not blanket my donkeys in the rain as they have shelter.
donkey blanket
Providing preventative action to prevent colic, hyperthermiashould be every donkey owners plan of action. Think about the part of the world you live in, do you get into the the teens and lower with the wind chill? If you said yes, you need to be prepared in case of an emergency.
Are you looking for a miniature donkey blanket? Order Miniature donkey blanket in my store Donkeywhisperer.com.
How do I keep my donkeys healthy during winter?
Provide shelter to get out of the rain, snow and wind. Use a slow feeder provide three meals a day during extreme cold and wind. Provide clean warm water and lose granular free salt with minerals add selenium if your hay does not have it and remove if your hay has selenium. Make sure your donkey has his/her teeth checked by a veterinarian at least once a year. Provide a worming schedule using fecal samples, fecal samples do not show tape worms so always give ivermectrin after the first frost. Over worming creates resistance parasites. I send fecals to my vet in the spring and fall.
When does a donkey need a warm dry blanket?
Donkey is shivering, shaking and blowing diarrhea, stands still frozen, tail tucked and the ears are very cold.Frost bite is a major concern for donkeys as they are more prone to it than a horse. Senior donkeys, donkeys with health illness such as cushings and endocrine metabolic disorder and obese donkeys need to have a blanket that fits and is ready to go. Donkeys that have cushings and endocrine metabolic disorders need a blanket right before the weather drops into freezing as these donkeys cannot regulate their body temperature. Even fat donkeys age eleven or older can start shivering and shaking from the cold.
How difficult is it to find a blanket to fit a donkey?
Very difficult as most companies sell horse blankets not donkey blankets. Make sure you measure your donkey correctly avoiding having to return the blanket for a new size.
Watch our six donkeys one standard, two formerly wild burro’s and three miniature donkeys running and playing on our mares (horses) track. Enjoy!
How can I create a track for my equine?
Read the book Paddock Paradise, Jaimie Jackson for some ideas. We have three tracks on the Donkey Whisperer Farm ®, one connected to our mares (horses) shelter, one to the standard and burro’s shelter and one connected to the miniature donkeys shelter. Due to the diet of the miniature donkeys they need their own shelter and paddock. After meals we let them go out with the larger donkeys on the track.
Do I feed our equine on the track? No. The equine love to try and find food on the track and love to walk, run and play. I want them to walk or run back to the shelter to get water and salt. Please understand in the wild horses and donkeys walk fifteen to twenty five miles a day. The track keeps them fit, prevents obesity, laminitis, stops cribbing for horses and well its a paddock paradise.
What size is the track?
Twelve feet wide corners are twenty one feet to run and lay on. We drive the A.T.V with the cart behind to pick up the poop once a day. Remember to mow and bag the grass before letting the equine on the track. The track is for exercise, mental and emotional enrichment. Meals are fed in the shelter with portion control.
Plan ahead to keep pets safe; owning pets is a huge responsibility and for those of us who have equine (donkeys, horses, and mules) living in rural areas, we must be extra careful. The equine is a flight or fight animal when terrified of death. Meaning; they can get scared when the fireworks start, and the smell is in the air. Some horses have been known to run into fences. Locking them in their stalls is the safest when neighbors are shooting off fireworks I turn the radio up and give lots of hay and fresh water. Donkeys have died from fear, yes fear. Colic is a life-threatening matter. Donkeys are stoic will not show pain until it is too late. Do your best to stay calm and keep your donkeys, mules, and horses locked up safe in their stall until the fireworks are over. Long-distance fireworks are not that big of a deal, fireworks right over the farm or barn can kill your equine.
Want to read more tips on pet safety and fireworks? Select Blue Cross Pets Fireworksfor more details.
Dogs and cats can get so scared of fireworks they can run off and not be able to find their way home best to keep them locked in the house too. Our doggies get very stressed, turning the radio up helps, some people tranquillize their dogs until the fireworks are over. I say do whatever you have to do to keep your pets safe as they don’t understand fireworks. Please remember animals do not understand fireworks “they are truly scared and think they will die.” It’s our job as the smart human to protect them and take care of them.
What do you do to keep your pet(s) safe during the fireworks? Please leave a comment to help others.
I am happy to share sixteen years of experience with donkeys. Very few donkeys make great livestock guarding donkeys. Donkeys are intelligent and emotional beings that prefer to live with their own species, eat, drink, play, groom and sleep together along with grabbing the neck, biting, playing tag and tug with a jolly ball. Always get two donkeys geldings with gelding’s jennies with jennies (female), jacks (stallions) must become geldings. Very few donkeys make great guardian donkeys. Why? Donkeys evolved from the desert their diet is strict. Donkeys metabolize food and drugs different than a horse as this is one of their gifts to survive living in the desert forging for food. Please stop and think about what kind of food is in the desert, this is what we are trying to create for donkeys living on the farm.
Donkeys can kill smaller animals quickly by grabbing the neck or stomping to death. Can donkeys live with livestock? Yes and no. Donkeys need a large space and another donkey as listed above and it depends on the donkey as each has a personality and life experience. Miniature donkeys cannot guard anything they need protection. Donkeys need to live on desert pastures to prevent obesity. When livestock babies are born they must be moved away from the donkeys to avoid death by the donkey grabbing and killing the baby by the neck. I highly recommend a Great Pyrenees dog to live with your livestock they are the best and will cost less to care for.
Donkey care is extensive, donkeys need a farrier visit every six weeks in the spring and summer and seven weeks in the fall and winter. Donkeys need vet checks at least once a year, dental teeth, and gums yearly, shots in the spring, west Nile, rabies, and tetanus. Donkeys need tested hay 10% or lower ins sugar and protein with portion control. Salt with minerals, no alfalfa, no grains, oats, breads, cookies, vitamins or sweet feed. Do not let donkeys graze on rich grass or brush 24 x 7 as they will become obese and have life threatening side effects, hoof abscesses, fat on the neck, fat pockets, fat in the blood, laminitis, insulin resistance and white line disease of the hoof. Donkeys need shelter, clean water, warm in the winter and some donkeys need a blanket in the winter as they cannot handle the cold as good a horse. Donkeys need exercise, create a hot wire track if you do not live in the desert as the track will turn to dirt or have very little grass on it. https://blog.donkeywhisperer.com/what-a-donkey-needs/
Here is my free video Bringing Your Donkey Home How do I exercise my donkey?
Donkeys can safely carry 20% of their body weight including the saddle and rider. Please be sure your donkey is prepared to work, meaning be an adult and in condition to work. This means that a miniature donkey weighing 300 pounds can carry 60 pounds great for a small child. Donkeys should be full-grown before attempting to do any form of heavy work. Percentage calculator.Donkeys that are sick or geriatric cannot do heavy work without causing serious harm to the animal.
What age is my donkey full-grown?
Miniature donkey age three.
Standard/burro age four.
Mammoth donkey six or seven depending on the height of the donkey
Donkeys evolved from the desert. Donkeys’ fur and hooves do not like to stay wet.
Donkeys can get bald patches any time of the year. Donkeys love to grab (bite) the neck, hip and nip at the legs sometimes pulling large chunks of fur out. When you see this put a little neosporin on the skin. Then there is lice the most common in donkeys due to the birds pooping, immune system and the long fur coat on the donkey. Check for lice, ticks, and mites. ULTRA BOSS oil based work much better than powders due to the donkey’s thick and long fur coat. Pour down the top of the neck to the end of the tale, (do not get in the eyes) rub in deep with a brush to get past all the thick donkey fur. Repeat in seven days as this will kill the lice but not the lice eggs. The second dose kills the eggs. Please check your donkeys body every day.
Bald patches on donkeys normally develop in the spring, late winter and fall but can occur any time of the year. Donkeys have longer hair than a horse. Donkeys are more susceptible to rain rot than horses. Make sure your donkey has access to shelter as clumps of hair fall out and bald patches develop.
Fungus and rain rot can grow on donkeys, making flakey skin and clumps of hair coming out to raw skin. As soon as the weather is 70 degrees I give all our donkeys and horses a good bath with antiseptic fungus shampoo and cream rinse. Tie up the donkeys next to their donkey buddy. I never spray water in my donkeys or horses’ faces. I wash gently wash their face with a wash cloth. Get the donkeys body wet before adding the medicated shampoo. Select Virbac medicated shampoo leave on for fifteen minutes use conditioner. In severe cases use betadine as a shampoo do not dilute it, will not foam up on the skin, leave on for fifteen minutes before rinsing and add the conditioner.
If after doing all of the above your donkey has not healed and started growing their hair back please call your vet as your donkey may have allergies. Donkeys can have allergies in the spring and summer just like people needing Antihistamines and in some case the dog pill apoquel will work.
Donkeys evolved from the desert making their metabolism different from the horse. Donkeys thrive on low sugar and protein forage. Donkeys living in the wild walk up to sixteen miles per day searching for food and water. Creating a Paddock Paradisetrack is a game changer for the health and life of donkeys, mules and horses living in domestication on green lush farm land.
What happens if my donkey becomes obese? Insulin resistance, laminitis, colic, fat in the blood, fat pockets on the body, the neck gets so fat the crest breaks over forever, hoof abscesses, white line disease meaning the hoof rots off. Sadly, the donkey dies a slow painful death due to not feeding the correct forage low sugar/protein and not giving portion control. Yes, donkeys need portion control.
The benefits to feeding a healthy balanced diet with exercise is healthy donkeys without the tears and stress of trying to find a veterinarian to save the donkeys life. Please learn how to care for your desert equine the most beautiful and humble of all the equine the donkey.
Looking for personal consulting sign up under Donkey Trainer.
We sell the best quality and fit adjustable miniature orstandard/burropremium soft yacht rope halters with a matching lead line, solid stainless steel twist safety snap and a real black leather end. Order $150.00 or more of tack and receive free shipping in the U.S.A.
Donkeys evolved from the desert meaning one of their gifts is to survive and thrive on low sugar/protein forage. When donkeys are fed the wrong foods and given the ability to graze twenty-four seven on pasture and brush along with fruits, cereal treats, oats and even vitamins they can gain weight quickly and become obese.
What Is Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) do horses get it?
Equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) is a disorder causing the blood insulin levels to become too high along with fat on the body and in the blood. Making it very difficult for equine (horses, donkeys, ponies) to lose weight. Donkeys with EMS produce higher than normal levels of insulin and are slow to return to a normal value.
Donkey side effects:
A fat donkey, cresty neck, fat pockets on the body, diarrhea, drinking more water, chronic hoof abscesses, laminitis, white line disease, cushing’s, laminitis.
How Can I Prevent EMS?
Watch the diet closely, work with your vet to do preventive care such a blood work and Thyro-Lfor a short amount of time along with diet and exercise.
What Can I Do To Help My Donkey or Horse that has EMS?
Do not starve your equine. Test your hay before you purchase it for the year. A great place to send off hay samples is Equine Analytical Lab. Use a slow feeder we use the Hay Pillow using 1 1/4 holes. Last but most importantly portion control you may need to weigh your hay. If you have a thin donkey needing to gain weight you may have to create another eating arrangement for the obese donkey. Do not let this equine graze on grass or brush ever as the sugar is too high.
Weigh your donkey regularly
Create a track for your equine to walk and run keep moving but not eat fresh grass. A great book is Paddock Paradise.
If you need help selecting a blanket I am here to help you. Order in our store at Donkey Whisperer Farm ®.
Donkeys evolved from the desert their thick fur makes it very difficult to stay wet and cold in freezing and below-freezing weather. Donkeys are prone to hypothermia much faster than a horse and can get frostbite, laminitis, and sadly death.
“A blanket is like a fire extinguisher we have it ready to go before the emergency hits. Melody Johnson, Donkey Whisperer Farm ®.”
How can I keep my donkey healthy during freezing weather?
Provide shelter with a door during high winds and freezing weather. Warm clean water, lose salt and a slow feeder with hay. A blanket that fits a donkey is vital as when a donkey is shaking, shivering and blowing diarrhea we need to get the blanket on quickly. This is not the time to measure for a blanket. The blanket should be measured and ordered way ahead of time.
The Donkey Whisperer Farm ® is a dealer for Kensington Protective Products we are excited to share that Kensington is now making custom donkey blankets made to fit a donkey. When you order from the Donkey Whisperer Farm ® store you will get custom donkey blankets, sold with a lifetime warranty.
Watch my Free YouTube Video Measure A Donkey For A Blanket.
Donkey Lovers, Please learn the facts not the myths about donkeys. Order Donkey Blankets, tack and E-training in our store at Donkeywhisperer.com
Did you know that Donkeys are more likely to be hypother-mic than horses? Sadly donkeys can move quickly intoHypothermia. Meaning their body temperature drops and can not go back to a normal temperature.
What happens if a donkey survives hypothermia? Laminitis, the hoof turning soft rotting off to the point the donkey needs prosthetic.
Thinking your fat donkey is safe? Metabolic health issues can cause the donkey to not be able to regulate the extreme cold. Please be prepared for severe cold and wind chills.
Signs a donkey needs a blanket;
Shivering, shaking and blowing diarrhea.
Preventative care for the winter:
Shelter, slow feeder, warm clean water, salt and blankets (2).
Blanketing:
A blanket is like a fire extinguisher we are prepared before the trauma hits. Measuring for a blanket, selecting the correct weight of a blanket, finding a donkey blanket that fits, taming the donkey to wear a blanket and finally waiting for shipping.
The Donkey Whisperer Farm ® has had donkeys and horses in our life since 2007, all of our donkeys and horses live in their forever home. We have experienced bringing home a baby donkey to sadly caring for the elderly donkeys and burying donkeys humanely. I am going to explain the truth about donkeys not the myth or the incorrect information shared on the internet and social media.
Watch my Free Youtube Video Bringing Your Donkey Home
Donkeys evolved from the desert the diet is one of the most important considerations in owning donkeys. Why? Donkeys were given the git to survive in the desert, over grazing, feeding the wrong foods will cause life threatening health issues for donkeys. Donkeys hooves are pointy unlike the horse as they were created to live in the desert. Donkeys cannot stand in urine, feces and mud without having hoof issues their thick fur coat needs to stay dry you must have a shelter. Think about what the donkey has to eat in the desert and you will have a clear understanding of why the donkey cannot graze on brush and grass and eat human breads, cookies, grains and oats without becoming obese and dying a painful death. Give lose free salt with minerals never vitamins. Please remember all hay or straw must be tested to come in at ten percent or lower in sugar and protein along with portion control. We can not look at hay by the color or the brand i.e., orchard, timothy or teff and know it is low in sugar and protein. Do not feed beet pulp or Alfalfa to a donkey. Low sugar/protein hay starts with the farmer making sure his soil has all the nutrients needed nitrogen and more. Cutting the field when the hay seeds have popped, and cutting on a gray day or early in the morning helps to ensure low Sugar and protein.
How can I find low sugar/protein hay?
Send hay samples off to Equine Analytical Lab before purchasing hay for the year. We use a slow feeder Hay Pillow fed inside the shelter locked inside of the High Country Plastic Slow Feeder. Feed two two meals a day morning and night is sufficient. When winter comes donkeys will need more meals to keep warm. Provide warm clean water using a heated bucket or bring warm water to your donkeys within 2 hours of feeding during freezing temperatures. Read Donkey Winter Care.
Mario and Luca
Donkey Shelter Big Enough For All Of Your Donkeys:
Donkeys need shelter to get out of the hot sun, wind, rain and snow. Make sure your shelter has a door that can open and close. Donkeys love to go in and out of the shelter when their food, water and lose salt is inside the shelter. Closing the door during fireworks, high winds and for teaching Donkey 101 & 102 video on demandis needed.
Quality fences and gates:
Donkeys are smart, they can watch us do something and repeat it. We use electro-braid hot wire for the paddocks and hot wire tracks. The exterior of our farm to keep neighborhood dogs and coyotes etc., out is Red Brand horse woven fence.
Storage for hay for one year:
After you test and find low sugar/protein hay testing 10% or lower in sugar and protein purchase enough hay to last one year.
Donkey Training:
I train the owner or caretaker how to tame and train the donkey via Donkey 101 & 102 Video On Demand with my E-book to print out. Sold with lifetime access. If you require personal consulting and coaching hire me under Donkey Trainer.
Hoof Care:
Hooves need to be trimmed by a farrier or trimmer every six weeks in the spring and summer and seven weeks in the fall and winter.
Shots and Veterinarian Care Required:
All donkeys need a veterinarian to come to the farm at least once a year. If you do not have a vet doing preventative care you will not be able to call a vet in an emergency. Vets do not come to farms that are not their customers. In the spring the vet will come to give shots and dental care. The minimum shots given to our donkeys as they do not travel to shows or other farms are Rabies, West Nile and Tetanus. All donkeys need the vet to check their teeth, jaw and gums once a year. Do not skip this as this is one of the most important preventive care medical procedures needed. Why? Donkeys are stoic they will not show us pain or suffering until in most cases it is too late. Colic is preventable.
Worming Donkeys, Mules and Horses:
I collect poop samples from all of my equine and give them to my vet twice a year spring and fall. My vet tells me which wormer to give my donkeys based on the fecal count and the part of the world we each live in. Over worming causes resistant parasites and can make the immune system suffer. Do not over worm your equine.
Exercise is vital to your donkeys health. Create a track made out of hot wire connected back to the shelter and sacrifice paddock. Donkeys love to run and play on their track browsing and exploring.
Freezing Weather With A Horrific Wind Chill Is An Emergency For Most Farm Animals.
“A blanket is like a fire extinguisher, we are prepared before the emergency hits” Melody Johnson. Some equine (donkeys, horses and mules) need a blanket until the freezing temps leave. Shivering, shaking and blowing diarrhea means they need a blanket. As hypothermia begins to set in, the core body temperature begins to drop.
Basic Care Needed:
Provide a slow feeder with hay, clean warm water and free lose salt. If you do not have an electric bucket to plug in bring your equine warm clean water within two hours of each meal.
Shut the door in the shelter if you have high winds with below 0 freezing temperatures. Frost bite can be prevented. Ordering a blanket at the last minute is almost impossible due to shipping and roads etc., plan ahead. Frostbite is also more common in donkeys and mules that have longer ears.
Providing shelter from wind and moisture is the single most important thing you can do.
Watch the footing for ice. Ice accidents can become a serious medical emergency.
Where Can I Find A Blanket for my donkey?
The Donkey Whisperer Farm ® is a dealer for Kensington we can sell any thing they sell using their MAP price always lower than the MSRP. Order Miniature donkey blankets, standard, burro, baby donkeys or Mammoth directly from me. I will help you find the best fitting blanket and weight for the cold with a life time warranty from Kensington. Send me an e-mail at Melody@donkeywhisperer.com asking for support. We have had donkeys in our life since 2007, if you need consulting sign up under Donkey Trainer for anything you need help with.
How to Wash and Care for your Donkey, pony, horse or mule Blanket:
Remember that no blanket is 100% waterproof for the entire winter. Once you start putting the blanket on your equine you must check for rubs and dampness daily. I keep two blankets ready to go for all of our eight equine, six donkeys and two horses. Why? As I stated above the blanket can get wet and I need to add a dry blanket until the weather breaks and we move back into rain. I remove the blanket as soon as we are out of the 20’s and move back to rain weather. I never blanket my equine during the rain as they all have shelters to move into and no blanket is 100% waterproof though the rainy season.
How often do I wash my blankets?
DO NOT OVER WASH YOUR BLANKETS. Scrape the poop of the blanket, before washing. I wash all of our blankets once a year in the summer, this way I can hang them out to dry. DO NOT PUT A WATER PROOF BLANKET IN THE DRYER. After they are dry I spray a water repellant on each blanket. Now I am ready for winter.
Are you looking to purchase a blanket for your donkey, horse, pony, mule or Zonk?
The Donkey Whisperer Farm ® is a dealer for Kensington Protective Products. You can order a miniature horse, pony or Donkey blanket in my store under Miniature Donkey Blanket. Send me an e-mail at Melody@donkeywhisperer.com to place an order that is not in my store as I can order anything from Kensington for a cheaper price than the MSRP price.
We are deeply saddened to share that Tuba our rescue donkey age is estimated to be in his thirties has passed away. God in Jesus Christ precious name has brought home another precious donkey to heaven.
Tuba was healthy no signs of illness and than boom he started to have grand mal seizures. Our veterinarian came quickly and was able to administer medication to help him for a few hours. Early in the morning the grand mal seizures returned with a furry, we made the decision to have our vet humanely euthanize him. No more pain and suffering Tuba you are in heaven now.
Tuba & Oboe playing hours before seizure.
What does donkeys are stoic mean?Donkeys unlike the horse will never show us pain until in most cases it is way too late making keeping donkeys healthy truly more challenging. We had absolutely no warning sign that Tuba was not feeling well, he ate his breakfast and dinner like normal. Tuba went out on the big paradise paddock track and proceeded to run and play with Oboe his bonded companion while the miniature donkeys grazed on the track. That evening Tuba had grand mal seizers, our vet promptly came and tried to stop the seizures within hours we made the decision to euthanize him. Tuba was truly a special donkey and the leader of Oboe his bonded companion. We miss him deeply and thank God he did not suffer.
What We Must Do When A Donkey Dies?
Donkeys are emotional beings and have excellent memories. It is vital that you put the halter/lead line on and walk the living donkeys buddies up to the body to say goodbye. This step is really important to give closure. Next it is vital that this donkey is not living alone get another donkey asap. Donkeys can die from grief and colic stress. Donkeys can go into a depression stop eating and drinking, have a glazed look in their eyes. Spend as much time as you can with your living donkey and help him/her through the grief.
Tuba (3rd donkey) with the mammoth donkeys
I met Tuba and Oboe bonded pair of standard donkeys (Tuba 3rd donkey to the right Oboe butt) for the first time in 2008 as I was called asked to try and help the owners who were not able to halter or catch the donkeys. I went to the farm with the intention of teaching the owners how to tame and train Oboe & Tuba so they could stay in their forever home. Sadly they had tried horse methods on the donkeys that clearly did not work and the owners were frustrated with donkey behavior. I began working with the boys and was making great progress with them but sadly the owners did not want to learn as they had small children and a business leaving no time for the donkeys. I helped to get these two boys into a donkey sanctuary as our farm at the time was not big enough to take more equine. In 2014 we moved to our property in Sequim, WA I promptly brought Oboe and Tuba home to live with us in their forever home with Rio our Mammoth donkey on the Donkey Whisperer Farm ®. I always said God has a sense of humor as their names Oboe and Tuba fit Melody. 🙂
Tuba & Melody 2009
After Tuba passed we moved Oboe in with our miniature donkeys to help him. Luckily the miniature donkeys and our standard donkeys Oboe and Tuba have been spending lots of time together on the paradise paddock track. Please remember when a bonded pair of donkeys lose their companion it is vital to move the donkey in with another donkey quickly. Donkeys are very emotional and can stop eating, drinking and next is colic. Spend as much time with your donkey helping them move past the loss of the beloved companion. It is very important that all of the donkeys in the herd are able to smell the deceased donkey before burying the donkey. Why? Donkeys will cry out for a donkey that disappears if they do not know what happened and can stop eating and drinking. Its truly one of the hardest things to do loose a donkey, mule or horse. We thank God for his peace and strength to handle this pain and suffering. Tuba is in no more pain, we believe he is in heaven with Rio our mammoth donkey.
God bless you and your family two and four-legged!
Donkeys evolved from the desert. The donkeys gift is to survive on low sugar and protein forage and use every calorie. Donkeys are stronger than a horse the same size. Donkeys have pointy hooves made to survive in the dry climates with rocks. Donkeys long ears are made to hear their donkey buddy up to 60 miles away in the desert and to cool them down in the desert heat.
Donkeys living in the U.S.A. are being overfed and fed the wrong foods. Once the neck crest (fat) breaks over nothing can be done to repair the neck. Insulin resistance, laminitis, hoof abscesses, white line disease, hyperlipidemia (fat in the blood) and soon death. The good news is with diet and exercise the donkey can live a healthy life.
Do not starve a donkey trying to loose weight. Tested hay in a slow feeder with portion control works best @haypillowinc
What can I do to help my obese donkey? Just like humans diet and exercise changes everything in most cases. Test all of your hay, equine analytical lab in the USA to ensure 10% or lower in sugar and protein. No grain, no sweet feed, no oats, no vitamins give salt with minerals, no breads, beet pulp or human snacks. Limit time grazing on pastures and brush. Diarrhea is on sign of too rich foods along with stress. A safe treat is a bite of a carrot. If you cant find low sugar/protein hay remember you can soak it to remove sugar.
Exercise & Diet: Create a donkey track connected to the shelter and dry paddock for clean water, salt, and portion control with a slow feeder. Remember portion control is important no big round bales of hay eating on full-time 24×7. Do not let your donkey graze on pasture and brush.
If you would like to learn how to setup your farm for the desert equine sign up in my store under Donkey Trainer for a consultation.
Donkeys evolved from the desert their gift is to survive on low sugar, low protein forage:
Equus asinus (Donkey) evolved in the desert regions of our world. Donkeys have been been given the gift to survive in the desert, a part of our world where very few other creatures can survive. Donkeys can survive and thrive on very low sugar, and protein diet. The donkey has one of the most efficient digestive systems seriously better than the horse helping the donkey metabolize low nutritional value shrubs and trees, grasses for survival. Donkeys digest foods much slower than the horse and this gift helps the donkey to absorb more nutrients from lower-quality forage. Drugs in donkeys are not the same as with a horse. Most vets must learn the hard way about giving far fewer drugs to a donkey as their bodies absorb drugs differently from the horse per weight and size.
Please remember donkeys are healthiest emotionally and physically when getting to live with another donkey. Never make a donkey live without another donkey in isolation. Can a horse work out? It depends, most donkeys prefer another donkey over a horse but will take any animal in lieu of being forced to live in isolation. If you decide to place your donkeys into a pasture environment with cows, horses, sheep, lama, etc. you will have to watch the diet of your donkeys as they cant eat foods the other animals eat without becoming obese. Obesity in donkeys is a life-threatening health concern as laminitis, hoof abscesses, insulin resistance, fat in the blood, and kidney failure are all due to a rich diet. Additionally, donkeys grab the neck in play with their pasture donkey buddy, and in battle, they can kill another small animal quickly.
How Do I Keep My Donkeys Happy and Healthy?
Tested low sugar/protein hay with portion control. Test hay atEquine Analytical Lab before purchasing enough hay for the year. Do not feed free-choice hay twenty-four hours a day or your donkey will become obese. No grain, oats, grazing full-time, eating brush as even brush can be high in sugar in the Pacific Northwest. Create a hot wire track (dry) but safe for exercise and enjoyment.
Geld jacks as jacks (stallions) are never a safe option for the farm. Only experienced donkey breeders should be keeping a jack.
Provide excellent fences, gates, and locks. Donkeys are one of the most intelligent animals on the planet they are capable of opening gates and doors that are not secure.
Shelter, donkeys need to get out of the rain, snow, and sun.
Clean Water and warm clean water in the winter.
Salt with minerals, add selenium if your hay does not have it, and remove if hay has selenium.
Vet care is needed for a donkey; spring shots, fecal samples (spring and fall) health checkups, and dental exams once a year.
Farrier visits schedule every six weeks in the spring and summer and seven in the fall and winter to trim and balance the hooves preventing white line disorder, seedy toe, and more.
Check for lice and rain rot in the winter months and spring.
Watch my free youtube video Bringing Your Donkey Home
GOD bless you and your family two and four-legged!
Donkeys make life better. Owning a couple donkeys is a truly wonderful blessed life but with it, we must learn as much as we can to keep our donkeys healthy and happy. Please never make a donkey live without another donkey. Donkeys have thick fur, slanted long eyes pushing back further into their head enabling the donkey to see behind them without turning their head giving the donkey peripheral vision. Donkeys have pointy hooves made to walk on rocks and dry hard ground. Donkeys are born with unique personalities, introverts, and extroverts just like humans. The extrovert donkey can sing, and bray definitely has more go than whoa, the introvert donkey will never bray or sing, never and has more whoa than go. The introvert donkey is a deep, deep thinker. Donkeys are truly the most sensitive and emotional equine as they become deeply attached to their herd buddies and are one of the most intelligent animals on the planet. Meaning a donkey will never forget any experience good or bad and has a memory that is truly comparable to the elephant.
Preparing for any form of haul into the veterinarian’s office that requires more than one afternoon or night at the vet’s office is truly as important as the surgery. Additionally, we must prepare our farm to keep the donkey healthy while recovering from surgery.
Surgery is over, the veterinarian does an outstanding job in surgery and the prognosis is high that your donkey will recover. Day two or three after surgery you will get a call from your vet telling how your donkey is not eating. Most of the time when a donkey stops eating it is directly due to depression and seriously missing his/her heard buddy. Sure sometimes it can be due to the illness and this is a matter the vet can fix but many times the vet is stumped about why the donkey is not eating. After all, the surgery went beautiful and everything looks outstanding.
What does the Donkey Whisperer Farm ® do when a donkey needs surgery that requires more than 24 hours in the vet’s hospital?
I explain to my vet that my donkey needs to go to the vet’s office with his buddy, wake up after surgery and see his donkey buddy in the stall next to his recovery stall. Why? Donkeys will go into surgery less stressed with their buddy in the stall next to them and donkeys will start eating faster and heal faster making the surgery a success. I prepare my farm to have a place for the sick donkey recovering from surgery to be able to see his herd buddies when he arrives home from the vet’s office. Why? Donkeys get depressed when they can’t see their herd buddies and have their life back to the way it was, in fact, they will stop eating and in some cases drinking. It’s truly a form of suicide for the donkey as they simply do not want to live their life like this in insolation. I always put my donkey back into the herd asap as isolation is truly depression for donkeys.
Please feel free to browse in my store Donkey Whisperer Farm ® I sell premium adjustable soft yacht rope halters made to fit a miniature or standard/burro size donkey with a matching lead line, brass, or stainless steel twist-on snap, and a real black leather end. I teach the owner or caretaker worldwide how to tame and train donkeys using words, timing, voice, energy, never pain via my donkey exercises videos and E-book.
Call the vet asap as your donkey, horse or mule can die from colic!
What happens if my donkey eats chicken feed?
Intestinal upset, diarrhea, colic and laminitis, lung, liver and heart health issues. Feed intended for chickens may be filled with additives that are very toxic for donkeys, mules and horses.
Create excellent storage lockers, gates, fences to keep all food, drugs, donkeys, other animals safe.
Donkeys are visual learners, meaning a donkey can watch you do something and repeat it. Excellent gates, fences and locks are needed when owning donkeys or they will get lose.
Can my donkey kill my chickens?
Yes. Donkeys can grab the neck of the chicken and snap it or stomp, kick the chicken in the head. Please create a place separate from the donkeys for your chickens and donkeys to live.
Can chickens make donkeys sick?
Chickens that roam the pastures can also cause health issues for your equine partner. Lice is a huge problem for donkeys due to their thick fur coat. Sanitation issues from chicken droppings can pose health problems for horses such as infection from Salmonella, botulism, candidiasis and histoplasmosis (fungal infections) and even streptococcus.
What are symptoms of salmonella?
Salmonella usually affects the gut and may cause severe diarrhea in donkeys, horses and mules :
Fever.
Severe watery, foul smelling diarrhea, which can be bloody.
Weakness.
Tiredness.
Loss of appetite.
Can Salmonella cause colic in donkeys?
The clinical signs of Salmonellosis in adult donkeys include diarrhea, lethargy, fever, anorexia, and colic. Affected donkeys, horses and mules will be susceptible to infection. Once recovered, these horses may continue to shed the bacteria in their feces, potentially transmitting it to other equine.
Sadly I have received too many e-mails of people who did not call the vet or waited too long and the equine died. If you love your equine call the vet asap!
GOD bless you and your family two and four-legged!
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