They are smart enough to look after themselves. They will go in if they need shelter, but do not need to be closed in by you. Feeding your donkeys does not need to be complicated or stressful for you and feeding time can be a favorite time of day for both yourself and your donkeys.Ī three sided shelter or run-in barn works well for donkeys. This is what I mean by saying that your donkeys will tell you what they need. I feel their necks and look closely for developing fat pads. When I feed my donkeys I pet and cuddle them. You will need to adjust how much you feed all along the way. If they seem to be gaining weight feed less, if they are losing weight, feed more. This will tell you how much hay is appropriate. Now watch to see if your donkey’s weight increases or decreases. Feed them roughly 3-5 lbs of hay per day each – roughly! This is not absolute due to the factors I stated before. These are signs of an overweight donkey and in this case you need to feed them slightly less than a maintenance amount of hay so that they will lose the extra weight slowly. Do they have large crests? Do they have fat pads on their rumps and along their sides? Many donkeys do. My suggestion is to look closely at your donkeys when they arrive. Every time you feed new hay the nutritional content is different from the last and seasonal differences change how much hay your donkey needs at any given time. I am often asked “How much do I feed my donkeys?”. If they aren’t doing this you are feeding too much. Make sure they clean up the hay you give them before feeding more. Many regional grass or grain hays are appropriate. Do not feed inferior hay, though, such as moldy hay or hay filled with weeds and stickers.

They are happy when they are chewing so feeding them something with moderate nutritional value will allow them to have more of it than if you feed rich hay such as alfalfa. When the grass is growing and rich you will need to limit their access to it. Their weight is completely in your control and it is your responsibility to take their well being seriously. The most common form of abuse of donkeys is allowing them to be overweight. They are browsers like deer and goats and enjoy blackberry bushes, etc. Her weight issues will likely shorten her life and that’s a shame because it was totally preventable.ĭonkeys do best on high fiber – low protein hay. Notice the roll on her neck and the large fat pad on her rump. She’s much older, and has had many foals, but she has also been chronically overweight.

Tell time donkey balls