Do you have a donkey?

[gritsar]

If you do, I have a few questions for you.

A lady in town is giving up her pet donkey due to her poor health, she is no longer able to care for it.

DH says this is the wrong time of year to be thinking about getting a donkey because we are in a drought and hay is going to be in very short supply this winter. The neighbor that leases our pastures and cuts hay from them told us that he is short 480 round bales right now.

Anyhow, can you give me an idea of what you feed your donkey through the winter and an estimate of the cost?

Also, how do donkeys do with free range chickens? Other than the chickens, the donkey would have cows as his pasture buddies most of the year.

At any other time of the year the donkey will have 80 acres of good forage to live on, sharing with the cows.

 

[michickenwrangler]

Donkeys don't eat as much as horses do. They are very easy keepers and can *survive* on scrub, hence their popularity in desert regions: northern Mexico, SW USA, the Middle East.

With cattle, they should be fine. Donkeys also enjoy thistles if you have those.

How much does hay sell for in your area? You might want to look into it.

Is it a mini or standard donkey?

 

[gritsar]

It's a standard donkey.

Hay is going for $6 a square bale, $35-40 a round bale right now, but those prices will probably be going thru the roof soon, with the drought and winter coming on.

 

[michickenwrangler]

A standard donkey could probably eat 2-3 flakes a day depending on condition of donkey, quality of hay, etc...

Standard donkeys are big enough to be ridden or driven should your thoughts ever drift in that direction.

 

[verity]

if it is a 'jack' be sure it is gelded --

we have a small mule and she eats a flake of hay a day in the winter -- we also supplement with a bit of grain --- she stays fat and sassy --

 

[Bunnylady]

A donkey may or may not be OK with chickens. My mule leaves the chickens alone, but every once in a while will go after one of the ducks. As far as I know, she has never actually stomped on one, but she has deprived one of a mouthful of feathers on more than one occasion. Some mules and donkeys are not so kind!

 

[arabianequine]

I give my arab a flake in am and in pm. Just bumped it up like a flake in a half each feeding cause getting colder. I give a bit of alfalfa in really cold weather. I don't know if donkeys can have alfalfa. It is a hotter food which gives more energy and protein to keep warm. I have never owned a donkey but I would not think it would need much more hay then 2 flakes a day. Arabs are pretty small. She does great on just 2 flakes a day.

 

[spish]

can i ask what a 'flake' of hay is please? is that maybe what we call a slice of hay (the hay is pressed in slices which are then squished together to make a bale)

i have a donkey (barney)
this will be our first 'offical' winter with him (he moved in with us in april) though we did look after him through last winter at the abandoned house he was living rough at.

we gave him plenty of straw to cosy down in but he decided it was better to eat it than lie in it...he wouldnt touch hay! (dozy donkey!)

we have here a food that is formulated for retired/inactive horses..its called diet horse food...but is fed to donkeys also. keeps them nice and podgy for the winter...i dont give it in the summer as he has enough grass to graze..but in the winter theres not so much so he needs that extra boost.

he lives out in the field with the chickens and would occasionally chase them off so he could pinch their food, he flipped a young pullet once in the air, breaking her wing and leg and she was put to sleep shortly after as she was in a very sorry state (we've now put the chicken food inside the hen houses so he cant see it anymore, and to this day he's never botered a chicken since)

he also gets fresh veggy scraps from the neighbours and old HARD bread (it has to be old and hard, you cant give a donkey fresh bread you should also not give them potatoes or potato skins)

 

[gritsar]

Thanks y'all

 

[joedie]

Kat, I raise and train donkeys. I have 3 mammoths and 17 minis right now. They do well on grass hay, do not feed them alfalfa! It is too much protein for them. They also do not need any grain unless they are nursing a baby, the last 3 months of pregnancy or a breeding jack. If you do give grain it should really not be horse type grain. I feed 1/2 cup of whole oats and 1/2 cup soaked beet pulp mixed per day to the minis. If overfed, they can develop Hyperlipidemia which affects the liver and can kill them. As stated previously they were originally in arid dry areas so do well on just a little. The only thing I would caution you about is there is an old saying, An only donkey is a lonely donkey. They are very social creatures and do okay with horses but given a choice they prefer another donkey. I have both and they just don't speak the same language. A reputable breeder will not sell a donkey if they will be the only one at you place or if you have no other equine. My donkeys share pastures with the cows but generally avoid them. PM me if you have any questions. I love to "talk Donkey".