Donkeys do best on mostly low-sugar grass hay or straw, with a ration balancer or donkey-specific feed only when they need extra nutrition. Purina makes feeds for donkeys and equines, but most donkeys do not need much concentrate. They are desert animals that gain weight easily, and too much grain, sweet feed or rich pasture can cause obesity, laminitis and other problems.
What donkeys should eat every day
- Forage first. Donkeys should eat roughly 1.5 to 2 percent of their body weight in dry forage per day, and overweight donkeys often need less (around 1 to 1.5 percent). A 400-pound mini donkey eats about 6 to 8 pounds of forage a day.
- Grass hay or barley straw. Mature grass hay with low sugar and starch is ideal. Many owners mix in clean barley or wheat straw to keep calories down while keeping the gut busy.
- Clean water at all times, and a salt block or loose salt plus a donkey-safe mineral.
Where Purina donkey feed fits
A concentrate such as a Purina equine ration balancer or a feed made for donkeys can help in specific cases: older donkeys, pregnant or nursing jennies, thin donkeys, or donkeys working hard. Choose a low-sugar, low-starch product with controlled calories, and feed the amount on the label for the donkey’s weight. A ration balancer, which provides vitamins and minerals in a small serving, suits many easy keepers on hay.
What to avoid
- Sweet feed and molasses-heavy mixes are too high in sugar for most donkeys.
- Lush, spring or fertilized pasture, which can trigger laminitis. Use a grazing muzzle or dry lot if your donkey is overweight.
- Rich alfalfa hay in large amounts.
- Moldy hay or feed, and clippings from the lawn.
- Feeds made for ruminants that contain additives toxic to equines.
Feed little and often
Donkeys are trickle feeders, grazing for many hours. Offer small meals through the day, or use a slow-feeder hay net so the hay lasts. Weigh or tape-measure your donkey regularly and check body condition. A cresty neck, fat pads over the rump and a hard time seeing ribs mean the donkey is gaining too much.
Special cases
- Senior donkeys with poor teeth may need soaked, complete pellets.
- Pregnant and nursing jennies need extra energy and protein in late gestation and lactation.
- Donkeys with a history of laminitis or hyperlipemia need a vet-guided plan.
Call your vet if your donkey stops eating for even a day, since donkeys can develop a life-threatening fat metabolism problem when they go off feed.
See also: beet pulp for donkeys, donkey feed from Tractor Supply and choosing mini donkey feed.
Bottom Line
Build your donkey’s diet on low-sugar hay or straw and clean water, and add a donkey-appropriate Purina feed or ration balancer only if your donkey needs it. Watch weight closely and avoid sweet feed.
