An adult donkey eats about 1.3% to 1.8% of its body weight in dry forage each day, and 1.5% is a good everyday target. For a 400-pound donkey that works out to roughly 6 to 7 pounds of hay and straw a day, spread across the whole day instead of served in one big meal.
That is less than most people expect, because donkeys need less energy than a horse or pony of the same size. Below you will find a daily amount by weight, how the mix of hay and straw should look, and how to adjust for winter, weight gain and older donkeys.
Daily Hay Amounts by Donkey Weight
Veterinary sources put a donkey’s natural forage intake at 1.3% to 1.8% of body weight in dry matter, with about 1.5% suggested for maintenance. Hay and straw are not 100% dry matter, so the “as-fed” column below assumes forage that is about 90% dry matter, which is typical for straw.
| Donkey weight | Dry matter per day (1.3% to 1.8%) | Forage as fed, about | Middle target (1.5%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 200 lb | 2.6 to 3.6 lb | 2.9 to 4.0 lb | 3.3 lb |
| 300 lb | 3.9 to 5.4 lb | 4.3 to 6.0 lb | 5.0 lb |
| 400 lb | 5.2 to 7.2 lb | 5.8 to 8.0 lb | 6.7 lb |
| 500 lb | 6.5 to 9.0 lb | 7.2 to 10.0 lb | 8.3 lb |
| 600 lb | 7.8 to 10.8 lb | 8.7 to 12.0 lb | 10.0 lb |
Use the row closest to your donkey’s actual weight. Miniature donkeys sit at the low end of the table, while large standards and mammoths fall at the top of it or above it. Pasture counts toward the total, so a donkey out on grass for part of the day needs less from the hay rack.
You may also see a simpler rule of thumb from U.S. donkey rescues: about 2% of body weight in dry forage, or 10 pounds of grass hay a day for a 500-pound standard donkey. Treat that as an upper limit for a donkey that is holding a healthy weight, not a starting point for an easy keeper.
Hay, Straw or Both?
Donkeys evolved on sparse, fibrous plants. Most horse hay is too rich for them, so the best daily ration is high in fiber and low in sugar.
- Straw as the base. The Donkey Sanctuary and veterinary references suggest straw make up the majority of the diet, with barley straw as the best all-round choice. One published ration is about 70% to 75% barley straw and 25% to 30% moderate-quality grass hay or pasture.
- Grass hay as the rest. Late-cut, high-fiber, low-sugar grass hay works well. Clean, dust-free and mold-free hay matters more than the type. U.S. rescues commonly use timothy, orchard grass, Bermuda or coarse coastal hay.
- Skip legume hay. Alfalfa and clover are too rich for most healthy adult donkeys and make weight gain more likely.
- Test if you can. Sugar and energy levels in hay and haylage can be high, so a forage test is worth doing before you buy a large load.
If straw is new to your donkey, introduce it gradually. A sudden switch raises the risk of colic, especially in donkeys with dental problems or poor access to water. If good straw is hard to find where you live, late-cut, stemmy, low-sugar grass hay fed in a slow feeder is a reasonable fallback; ask your vet how to balance it.
How to Feed It Through the Day
Donkeys are built to browse for many hours a day. Long gaps without forage are hard on their gut and their behavior. A few habits help:
- Keep straw available most of the day, ideally in a small-hole net or slow feeder, and refresh it daily.
- If you feed measured hay, split it into at least two feedings. More, smaller feedings are better.
- Weigh your forage. Flakes vary a lot by bale, so put a few on a scale once and you will know roughly how many flakes make up your daily amount.
- Always provide clean water and a donkey-safe mineral or ration balancer, since straw and grass hay alone may not cover every vitamin and mineral.
Adjusting for Winter
Donkeys burn more energy keeping warm in cold weather, and many lose weight over winter. With less grazing available, hay usually makes up a bigger share of the ration then. The Donkey Sanctuary suggests hay or haylage can range from about 25% of the diet in summer up to 50% in winter or for donkeys in poor condition.
In summer the opposite happens. Growing grass carries more sugar and calories, and donkeys can put on weight fast. That is when grazing needs the most control and the straw share should go back up.
Overweight Donkeys
Donkeys gain weight easily, and obesity raises the risk of laminitis and other health problems. If your donkey is too heavy:
- Base the diet on clean barley or wheat straw, with limited hay and very limited grazing.
- Cut grain, sweet feed and sugary treats.
- Lose weight slowly. The Merck Veterinary Manual suggests about 5 kg (11 lb) a month for an average donkey.
- Never starve a donkey to slim it down. Over-restricting food puts donkeys at risk of hyperlipemia, a serious and sometimes fatal fat-metabolism disease.
Weight tapes made for horses are not accurate for donkeys. Use a livestock scale, a donkey-specific weight chart or your vet’s estimate, and condition score your donkey regularly so you catch changes early.
Miniature donkeys are especially prone to weight gain on grass. Some rescues require miniature adopters to keep them on a dry lot. Our guide to choosing the best mini donkey feed covers what to add when a mini does need more than forage.
Older and Underweight Donkeys
Donkeys with worn or missing teeth often cannot chew long straw or hay. Chopped forage (chaff) or soaked high-fiber feeds are easier for them. Soaked, unmolassed beet pulp for donkeys is a common way to add fiber and calories without much sugar.
Pregnant jennies in late pregnancy, nursing jennies and growing youngsters also need more than the maintenance amounts above, and are often fed hay or haylage freely during those stages. If you are thinking about a bagged feed, see our notes on donkeys and Purina donkey feed, and check with your vet or an equine nutritionist first.
When to Call the Vet
A donkey that stops eating completely should be treated as an emergency, because hyperlipemia can develop quickly. Call your vet right away if your donkey refuses food, seems dull, or shows signs of colic or foot pain. Also ask for help if your donkey keeps losing weight on a reasonable ration, since dental disease and other problems are common causes.
Bottom Line
Plan on about 1.5% of your donkey’s body weight in dry forage each day, roughly 6 to 7 pounds for a 400-pound donkey, and stay within the 1.3% to 1.8% range. Make straw the base, add clean grass hay, skip alfalfa, feed little and often, and adjust with the seasons. Weigh both the hay and the donkey so you are working from real numbers.
FAQ
How many flakes of hay does a donkey eat a day?
It depends on the bale, because flake weight varies a lot. Weigh a few flakes from your current bales, then divide your donkey’s daily amount by that weight.
Can a donkey eat as much hay as it wants?
Most donkeys will overeat rich hay and gain weight. Free-choice straw is usually fine for a donkey with good teeth, but grass hay and pasture should be measured for most adults.
How much hay does a miniature donkey eat?
The same percentage applies: about 1.3% to 1.8% of body weight in dry forage. Weigh your mini or get a vet estimate, then use the matching row in the table above. Minis are easy keepers, so most do best near the low end.
Can donkeys eat alfalfa hay?
Alfalfa and clover are generally too rich for healthy adult donkeys. Some donkeys with special needs are fed small amounts under a vet’s guidance.
Do donkeys need grain?
Healthy adult donkeys on good forage usually do not need grain or sweet feed. A ration balancer can fill vitamin and mineral gaps without the extra calories.
Sources
- Merck Veterinary Manual: Feeding Practices in Horses and Other Equids
- The Donkey Sanctuary: Straw for donkeys
- WikiVet: Feeding Donkeys
- Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue: The Importance of a Donkey’s Diet
This article is general information, not veterinary advice. Talk with your vet or an equine nutritionist about your donkey’s diet, especially if it is overweight, underweight, pregnant or has dental problems.
