Caring for Miniature Donkeys

An acre of land would probably be a minimum amount of land for grazing a pair of Miniature Mediterranean Donkeys. Much will depend on type of land you have. If the land is poor, then more paddock area will be needed so that you are able to rest part of the pasture, giving the grass time to recover. If you have rather wet pasture, you should ensure you have somewhere dry for your Donkeys to live during wet periods.

Isis and Peony - Miniature Mediterranean Brood Jennies If the grass is very good quality, you will need to restrict the amount of time the Donkeys spend grazing during Spring, when grass is very rich. Lush pasture is not recommended, as Donkeys have low energy requirements and can be prone to obesity and Founder. An electric fence is very useful, and enables you to move your Donkeys around your available pasture, rotate grazing areas, and control how much they eat. Donkeys originate from desert regions of the world, and they are able to maintain themselves on far less than a Horse or Pony. Miniature Donkeys require little, if any feeding during the summer months as grazing will fulfill their nutritional needs at this time. Exceptions to this might be pregnant females, lactating females, working Jacks, and foals.

Donkeys allowed to graze freely on rich pastures may be prone to obesity, laminitis (founder) and hyperlipidemia (excess of fat in the blood). When calculating the energy demands of your Donkey, it is important to know that their body weight cannot be estimated using a girth weight tape intended for Horses. Body condition scoring of Donkeys will also require a different mind set from that used with Horses since Donkeys deposit fat somewhat differently than Horses.

It is an owners responsibility to regularly assess the condition of their Donkeys, and supplement their diet if necessary. Learn how to monitor your Donkey's body condition to be sure they are a healthy weight. Because of their long shaggy winter coats, it can be hard to tell whether your Donkey is getting enough to eat. Make sure to feel through the hair often to check your Donkey's body condition. As with most other animals, Miniature Donkeys love treats. Be sure to feed them only as treats and not a substitute for hay or grain. Bread, biscuits, cakes, sweets, and all animal protein should never be given to Donkeys.

If the summer is particularly dry, and pasture grass is scarce, you may need to supplement with good quality hay, dependent upon how much grass there is left to graze on. As with all other equines, you must ensure that any hay fed to your Donkeys is free of mould and dust.

NEVER give your donkey grass clippings, they can result in colic and death. Ensure your neighbours also know that they must not toss them over the fence.

Check your paddock area and fencing thoroughly to ensure that there are no sharp edges, or places an animal could potentially become caught or injured. Your fencing should be safe for the Donkeys, which means not only appropriate for keeping your little ones in, but also for keeping predators out — either woven wire/mesh/chicken wire, or standard fencing with electric wires as a deterrent.

A Miniature Donkey will not make an appropriate "Guard Donkey". It is generally believed that since Donkeys are not particularly fond of dogs, that they are naturally good guard animals for sheep and goat herds. The truth is that a Miniature Donkey is no match for more than one dog at a time. and sadly there have been too many reports of Miniature Donkeys being mauled and killed by neighborhood dogs. Standard size Donkeys may be able to fill the role as a 'Guardian Donkey', but not Miniature Donkeys.

Donkeys and Mules originated as desert animals, and are well adapted to warmer climates. They can do well in cooler climates, but they do require shelter in the colder and wet weather. Run-in sheds or a treed shelter positioned out of the wind for the cold, wet winter days, and for shade in the summer is a must, especially for Donkey mares and their foals. The coat of a Donkey does not provide the protection needed, and the foals can become chilled easily. Donkeys tend to grow longer, coarser coats that lack the protective undercoat that Horses have in the winter.

Keep your paddock/s and sheds clean to minimise repeated infestation of worms and parasites.

Donkey Body Condition Score Chart

Weight Recommendations

Health Care

Miniature donkeys are usually quite hardy and healthy animals but of course do need routine maintenance.

Your Miniature will require worming every 6 - 8 weeks.This is an important aspect of your Donkeys health care. If internal parasites are not removed by regular deworming, your Donkeys may suffer internal tissue damage, shortening their lives. In addition they can pass on their worms to other equines.

Donkeys need their hooves trimmed and rasped about every 6 - 8 weeks depending on the weather and time of the year. Donkey hooves are very elastic and do not wear down like those of other equines, and if left to grow they will become very long. This will lead to permanent and painful damage to the hoof. Try to find a Farrier who is familiar with trimming Donkeys hooves and understands the correct shape..

Your Miniature will require annual Vaccinations against Tetanus/Strangles. If you purchase a foal, the breeder will supply you with the dates of the initial vaccinations and you should keep in mind when the booster is due.

His/Her coat should be groomed regularly using a stiff brush on the body hair and a soft brush around the face and belly areas. It is essential to brush out the thick winter coat to make room for the new short, shiny summer coat. Grooming will establish trust between you and your Donkey. It will also provide you with quality time to check for cuts, grazes or injuries.

Miniature Donkeys should have their teeth checked on a regular basis. Horse/Donkey owners local to your area will usually be able to recommend an Equine Dentist.

Companionship

Isis and Peony A single Miniature Donkey would be most unhappy and distressed. They are herd animals and will not thrive well on their own. Miniature Donkeys love to play, and pair up for life. A single Miniature Donkey will pine without a companion, often braying and pacing when alone, no matter how much time you spend with him/her. The best companion is another Donkey, or Horse/Pony. They are also known to bond well with Alpaca's and Llama's. Please be aware of the potential for harm to your Miniature should it be paddocked with a larger Horse.

Sheep and/or goats are not appropriate companions for a single Donkey. Miniature Donkeys love to play, and one-on-one Donkey/small livestock play could turn rough. The equation may change if you have two Miniature Donkeys co-existing with smaller livestock. Gradual introductions will let everyone get to know one another and ease transition times.

You will also need to properly introduce dogs as well as other family pets when you bring your new Miniature Donkey/s home. Donkeys tend to have a natural suspicion of dogs (as predators), but with time will get to know family dogs. Be sure your dogs are not chasing after the Donkeys.

Training

Miniature Donkeys are very trainable, regardless of age, and can be taught many different things. However, it is very important to give him/her time, and not to force or physically punish. Your Mini Donkey will learn better when given time, patience and love. A Donkey will not forget punishment, and if beaten or physically abused, will never learn to trust. The traditional 'horse breaking' techniques will never work with a Donkey. Please don't try. If in doubt, consult someone who is experienced in the art of training Donkeys.

Training the Donkey is different from training a Horse. You will learn patience and the art of positive thinking. The key to successfully training a Donkey is to look for small attempts to comply with your wishes and to reward them. There is no room for hesitation. Your Donkey must be able to equate what he/she has done to some form of praise.

Brief, but frequent lessons are better than long drills. The wait time for a response from a Donkey is longer than that with a Horse. Do not give up too soon. Your Donkey is processing what you want before acting upon it. Remember to keep your voice and body language non intimidating. Also, when beginning a training period, always go over what has been previously learned before going on to something new.

Tasks must be broken down into small steps that can be taught one step at a time. Remember, reward often. Reward does not necessarily mean spoiling your Donkey with excess tit bits. An effective reward is to cease asking for anything, and to allow your Donkey to just relax for a few moments. To take the pressure off, verbally praise, and to stroke your Donkey is a reward which will be understood. I have actually found that my Donkeys will opt for a cuddle and a scratch in preference to a food reward, this definitely would not be a horse's choice! Never reward unless your Donkey has successfully completed a step or task. He or she will quickly learn some very bad habits. A Donkey will remember what has been done to/with it for a life time.

Males tend to learn more quickly, however, they tend to become frustrated more easily. Females take longer to train, but are more tolerant with inconsistencies.

Teaching your Miniature Donkey to tie up at a young age helps them immensely. From this they learn obedience and patience, and the concept of giving to pressure is reinforced.

Donkeys associate how they have been treated to the person. If you are good to them, they will forever remember and love you. However, if you treat them harshly, they will remember you for that as well. They remember everything.

TIME AND ATTENTION. Miniature Donkeys are extremely friendly, sociable animals, and love to please. They are playful and affectionate... Shown love and kindness you will have a life long, best friend.

Here is an excellent article which should help in giving you great insight into the training of your Donkey:

Training Donkeys by Meredith Hodges

...or you can always have one of your more experienced Donkeys train your Donkey for you!

Isis leading Peony