Donkeys are the exotic desert equine. Donkeys evolved from the desert. Their metabolism is built to survive on desert forage sticks, sagebrush, roots, and green-rich grass. Please do your homework before committing to bring two donkeys into your life. Donkeys will always do best when living with another donkey, same-sex geldings with geldings, and jennies with jennies. Read The Clinical Companion Of The Donkey Book.
Spring Donkey Care
Donkeys evolved from the desert. One of their gifts is the ability to survive and thrive on low-sugar and protein forage that grows in the desert. Spring showers make mud, green high-sugar weeds, and grass. Yes, weeds and fescue grass are incredibly high in sugar. Create a dry paddock connected to a paddock paradise track for exercise, not overeating or eating the wrong foods.
Feed your donkeys tested low-sugar and protein hay two meals a day during spring and summer in a slow feeder. We use the Hay Pillow locked inside of the high-country plastic slow feeder.
Schedule Veterinarian Appointment: Five-way shots, dental and gum check, and fecal samples before worming.
Testing hay: How do I test my hay before purchasing enough for a year? Send a sample off to Equi-Analytical Lab. The goal for the desert equine is 10% or lower in sugar and protein. Learn how to read hay analysis reports.
Provide lose salt with minerals, never sweet feed, oats, or vitamins. Donkey metabolism is nothing like that of a horse, so giving extra will cause obesity and serious health issues.
Donkeys standing in mud and feces will have hoof problems and abscesses. The white line prevents these issues by creating a dry paddock. Pick out the hooves at least three times a week to check for thrush. Farrier trimming should be done every seven weeks at a minimum.
Donkeys do not shed out like horses. Donkeys hold onto their thick fur coats for a long time; living in the PNW, our donkeys are shed out by the end of July and start growing their fur coat by the end of August. I highly recommend never body clipping your donkey as the fur prevents sunburn and insects from making the donkey bleed. Provide shelter with fans up high and pointed down. If your donkey has a vet-ordered health issue such as Cushing’s and you live where it is in the 100s, you can body clip. Please understand body clipping creates more work for you as you must provide fly sheets and blankets when the weather drops.
Melody Johnson
