Why do donkeys need to live with another donkey? Donkeys diet is serious so its important the donkey is living in an environment set up for donkeys. Donkeys are emotional and bond deeply to their own species in many cases they bond for life. They become book ends.  Donkeys play different than other animals, grab the neck, play tug with a toy, sleep together, eat, drink and play leap frog.  Making a donkey live in isolation without another donkey is cruel as donkeys are highly intelligent and get bored quickly. Many donkeys stop eating and drinking when forced to live in isolation or become agitated easily due to the isolation and boredom. Can a donkey live with a horse. Yes and no. All animals want to live and can survive with most animals but here is the reason to think about not adding a donkey in with a horse. The Diet. Donkeys cannot over eat it will slowly kill them, causing laminitis, white line, insulin resistance, fat pockets, and and finally death.

Do you ever find yourself thinking about donkeys? We have had donkeys in our life for fifteen years now and well it’s hard to remember life without a horse and a couple of donkeys, they are indeed part of our family.  

Why Donkeys? Perhaps GOD understood before I did the importance of donkeys in our life as our donkeys are part of our family now.  I have always been a human that likes to learn, digs for information, steps out of the box to try new things and I am naturally creative.   Thank you, Jesus!  The human brain is indeed one of the most important organs GOD gave us.

Why are donkeys so special?   Donkeys have a cross on their back, this is special.

Well, they are usually not always but usually more relaxed than the horse and well kinda like a black lab they just want to be loved on, they want to eat, they want to snuggle with their human.  The donkey loves to play tug with their four-legged donkey buddy.  Donkeys love to jump up and grab the neck of their donkey buddy.  Donkeys are donkeys!

What Do Donkeys Need To Stay Healthy?

1. Clean water fresh water, diet, low sugar and low protein  hay portion control is a must. Never feed donkeys alfalfa hay ever. Hay must be tested to come in no higher than 10% Sugar to keep the exotic desert equine healthy. Exercise is key. 

2. Taming – Donkeys need their hooves picked out daily and their feet trimmed at least every 7 weeks

3.  Donkeys need the vet to come and see them at least once a year

4.  Donkeys need their teeth checked at least once a year

5.  Donkeys need us, humans, to check for sores, lice, or a limp – Watch your donkey learn how they move so you can catch problems quickly

6.  Donkeys need clean fresh water every day and in the winter warm water, Donkeys need to lose salt in a dry place. A salt lick will do but will not be as effective to prevent colic.

7. Donkeys need their human to be on time with meals – My donkeys hardly ever bray as they can depend on us to bring their meals, they do not need to remind us ever

8. It is a myth to believe all donkeys bray all day long they don’t bray unless they are calling out to a donkey or they are upset about meals or something else like a predator coming into their pasture. Jacks bray more. Very few jacks (stallion horse world) are worthy of reproduction. Owning a Jack is not for the beginner donkey owner or even the novice. Owning a Jack takes having people to help you manage your farm correctly it is not for the beginner.

9. Donkeys do not enjoy a bath, donkeys seem to not enjoy the water even on the warmest weather.  Our donkeys get one bath a year and I hand wash their face just like my horse, never spray a donkey with a hose in the face

10.  Donkeys ears can be broken and not stand up so be careful when touching them

11.  Donkeys can grow lot’s of thick donkey fur for the winter

Rio our Mammoth donkey age 9 months with my hubby Scott.

12.  Donkeys are looking for a great human leader who will take the time it takes, donkeys are visual learners

13. Donkeys can hear things way sooner than the horse

14. Pick up the poop every day and compost. Do not drag across your pasture until the poop has composted and killed parasites for at least one year.

15. Last but final tip about donkeys; never ever drill a donkey, less is more and remember Donkeys never forget anything – Be careful what and how you train your donkey 🙂 SELECT E-TRAINING DONKEY 101 VIDEO ON DEMAND. 

GOD bless you and your family two and four-legged!

Melody Johnson

Donkey Whisperer Farm ®