Feeding and taking care of a donkey (?)

[chick-among-us]

Well I personally give it to my horses in a large block in the pasture it is For equines not cattle...they make it like this for horses also... It is provided in a holder in each stall also,so they have access all the time so they don't try to hog it...lol if I did notice one of them not leaving the block alone for a long time I would provide it loose. I don't have performance horses like I used to so they dont loose huge quanities of salt during events and such,just trail horses for me now....im old and a heart patient ...rodeo is over for me! lol...ALL horses still need salt in SOME form so free access is a good thing! entertainmet value isn't something I have really used it for. High salt intake can cause dehydration, so a toy would be helpful , I use a jolly ball for entertainment value...Horses do get bored as do donkeys...and take on some distructive and/or unhealthy vices...young donkeys and horses also can use a variety of Large dog toys also like KONG toys,our young filly and our donkey both play with them the donkey grabs it in his mouth and sticks his head in the air and runs around with it trying to bray at the same time! an activity that is quarenteed to make us laugh. Good luck

 

[jencgreen]

Is it ok to leave a bale of hay out for donkey? Can he overfeed himself? He is perfect weight and feeds off land as well as pellets. we have not given him hay yet and he is going to town on it, just wondering if he will stop and leaving it for him isn't harmful.

Thanks

 

[amenfarm]

Yes, a donkey can colic like a horse and Will overeat. We give a flake of hay grass only - no cereal type. In the evening time for added warmth. We bump it up to a flake mornings and evenings if it stays frozen all day or snows. We only supplement hay in the winter, our pasture is such good grazing, our Jack has to wear a grazing muzzle all through the warm months, 24/6 days a week.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

In winter we throw out full grass hay bales to the donkeys and they eat free choice. I've never had a donkey colic, but we never feed any rich food or rations on a regular basis. Grass hay free choice is fine. Don't feed alfalfa.