FEED
AND NUTRITION
A
Miniature
Donkey requires a good quality hay and should have free access to fresh
clean water, loose trace minerals, and loose salt at all times. A
good
quality low molasses grain should also be fed. The amount you feed
depends on the age and condition of the Miniature Donkey. A
selenium
supplement may be needed if the soil in your area is selenium
deficient.
Check with you Agriculture Extension Agent or Veterinarian.
SHELTER
Provide
your Miniature Donkey with free access to and
from a
pasture with a minimum of a three sided shelter. You must keep your
Miniature Donkey sheltered from the cold, wind,
rain,
hot sun and flies. A good dry bedding such as wood shavings or straw
should
be used at all times and especially to keep your donkey warm in the
winter
months. Manure should be removed from all stalls or shelters
daily.
HOOF CARE
A
farrier
plays a very important role in your Miniature Donkey's welfare.
The
farrier trims and takes care of a donkey's feet. Your farrier should
visit
your farm every 8 weeks to check all donkeys and trim or file as needed.
You
should
make it a habit of picking out your donkey's feet on a regular basis,
especially
when the ground is wet and muddy. Take the time to inspect the
hoof
wall for cracks or chips and inspect the foot for thrush. Thrush
is a anaerobic bacterial infection of the donkey's frog.
Anaerobic
means that it can't live in the presence of oxygen. Thrush is easy to
diagnose.
The tissue of the frog becomes soft and ragged with a black
discharge.
The biggest indicator is a very offensive odor. The best defense
is to keep your donkeys feet clean and dry. There are many thrush
treatment remedies that you can purchase any place you buy equine
supplies.
WORMING
A
Miniature
Donkey should be included in a regular parasite control program.
Regular dewormings (every eight weeks), pasture management and removing
manure
from stalls daily will held to reduce or prevent any parasite
problem. If you are unsure about what wormers to use or how to
rotate wormers, consult with your vet.
VACCINES
While
Miniature
Donkeys are very hardy, healthy animals, they do require annual
preventative
vaccinations for Eastern/Western Encephalomyelitis, Tetanus,
Rhinopneumonitis
and Influenza. It is illegal for a Miniature Donkey to cross a
state
line without a negative Coggins test and health papers.
BREEDING AGE FOR JENNETS
Miniature Donkey jennets should not be bred until they
are mature at 3 years of age.
GESTATION
The
average
gestation time is 11 months, 3 weeks and 5 days, but jennets can carry
a foal from 11 1/2 to 13 months. Any foal born before 11 months
is
considered to be premature.
WEANING
Miniature
Donkey foals are normally weaned between 4 to 6 months of age. A
foal should never be weaned from it's mother under the age of 4 months
unless there are circumstances that might affect the health of either
the
foal or the mother. Foals under the age of 4 months need their
mothers
milk as well as their mother's emotional support and herd socialization.
SOCIAL
HABITS
Miniature
Donkeys are very social animals and they LOVE attention! If you
have
a single Miniature Donkey, you should always have another companion
animal
such as a pony, horse, mule. Often times, Miniature Donkeys
"buddy
up" and develop close relationships with another Miniature Donkey.
