Donkey Feed Recommendations
from Carousel Gardens

We feed Grass hay, Wheat hay, and Bermuda grass or Oat hay only. We never feed Alfalfa because it is to hot for the donkeys.

The donkeys are very energy efficient with their food therefore it doesn't take much to keep them healthy and sound. Just 1/4th flake of hay in the morning and 1/4th flake of hay at night should be sufficient for 1 adult donkey but of course keep an eye on them because one may need a little more and also if they are on pasture as long as it isn't irrigated you should be in the ball park of how much to feed.

We do give treats a couple of times a week such as carrots, apples, horse wafers and or Alfalfa meal. But we are very careful not to feed treats by hand because this will teach your donkey to nip or bite to find food. Also they will learn this and possibly bite a visitor or child.

Supplements:
We free feed Selenium and mineral trace salt blocks and a loose Selenium mineral trace salt developed by a Veterinarian who put together a good recipe for donkeys. If you think you are Selenium deficient then you can have your Veterinarian give Selenium shots to your donkeys.

Water:
Donkeys need water in front of them at all times, they should never run out of fresh water. Also when free feeding any type of salt they need water to keep from overdosing. As long as there is fresh water your donkey cannot overdose on salt.

Vaccines:
Contact your Veterinarian as to what vaccines you need every year to keep your donkey healthy and sound. We use a 4/way shot to every year to protect our herd. There are other shots for pregnant Jennies so be sure and consult your Veterinarian as when these shots are to be given. Also we give our donkeys Rabies vaccines every other year but this is an option depending on your area and recommendation from your Veterinarian.

Hoof Care:
We try and trim our donkey’s hooves every 2 months but sometimes depending on the donkey they need trimming more often or less often, therefore each donkey needs to be trimmed to their specific needs. The average is every 2 months.

Floating teeth:
It is easy to check your donkey’s teeth to see if they need to be floated. If the teeth have sharp hooks it can interfere with their chewing and cause weight loss. If you are not sure then have your Veterinarian examine their teeth for you. Most Veterinarians will float teeth.

Worming:
We worm all our donkeys every two months with a wormer that is safe for pregnant Jennies. You can find these wormers at a regular feed store, be sure and read the directions because the wormer goes by weight and an average adult donkey weighs between 250 pounds to 350 pounds.

These are just a few suggestions and hopefully they will help with the care and welfare of your donkey.

carouselgardens@theskybeam.com

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