Donkeys evolved from the desert; donkeys need low-sugar/protein hay. Portion control is essential for donkeys as they love to eat and can become obese quickly, leading to serious health issues. Donkey health issues are caused by obesity, laminitis, hoof abscesses, white line disease, hoof crumbling, fat in the blood, and insulin resistance. American donkeys are overfed or, sadly, fed the wrong foods, causing obesity and life-threatening health issues. Donkeys living internationally are overworked and do not receive enough food and medical attention.
Body Scoring Donkeys Chart
What do I feed A Donkey?
A healthy donkey with all of his/her teeth should be fed hay twice daily with portion control. During extreme freezing weather, the donkey should be fed three meals a day and have shelter with a door to close when the wind chill is horrific. We have been using The Hay Pillow for ten years. Feeding low-sugar and protein hay at 10% or lower is the best way to feed a donkey like a laminitis horse. Straw testing low in sugar can be supplemented with hay, and making bedding in the cold helps prevent boredom. Straw cannot be fed to geriatric donkeys with dental and gum issues as the donkey will choke and can cause colic. Finding straw low in sugar can be difficult as straw can test high in sugar and low in protein. Test hay and straw at Equi Analytical Lab before purchasing enough hay for the year.
Clean water, warm in the freezing and cool during the hot, is a must. We have donkeys that will poop in the water if the bucket is not cleaned every day with fresh water.
Salt: The best method is to provide lost salt with minerals. Salt blocks are made for cows. Equines have softer tongues than cows, making it difficult to get enough salt off the block, causing the equine to bite the block. Lose salt helps prevent colic.
What should I not feed my donkey?
Round bales free feeding, alfalfa, moldy hay, oats, sweet feed, vitamins, green brush, free grazing on pasture, bread, cookies, grass clippings, beet pulp, corn, and chicken food. Chicken food is toxic to equine.
Create a track, no grazing muzzle needed. Paddock Paradise book, Jaimie Jackson.
Here is a video showing the miniature donkey track just built. This track is dirt now.
[…] Watch our donkeys racing and playing on one of our four paddock paradise tracks. Read our blog post Donkey Diet Consider A Donkey Track. […]
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[…] grass or green brush. Yes, even green brush can be high in sugar. Donkeys love to dig for roots. The donkey’s diet is tested hay low sugar and protein, testing at 10% or lower in sugar and protein with portion […]