All equines will drink more water when it is clean and warm, even in freezing temperatures:
Donkeys are stoic, meaning they hide pain; when our donkey shows signs of colic, sadly, in way too many cases, it is time to dig a hole and bury our precious donkey. For this reason, it is a life-or-death matter to be proactive with the diet of the majestic desert equine, a donkey.
One of the most important things we can do for our equine is provide clean drinking water. We scrub and clean our buckets every other day and bleach them once a month. Warm, clean drinking water is essential during freezing temperatures, as all equines slow down their drinking in cold weather. Free-lose salt with minerals encourages drinking using a slow feeder at ground level, which helps prevent colic. Salt blocks are made for cows, and equines do not have a cow’s tongue, so they have to bite the block. Biting the block can chip or break teeth, resulting in additional veterinary care costs.
Resources:
Heated water buckets work fantastically; hide the cord behind the bucket to prevent electrocution, as donkeys love to bite the cords. If you do not have an electrical outlet, carry warm, clean water for each meal within two hours of feeding your equine.
