1st time donkey owners
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Feeding a donkey on grass and hay without providing any straw will end up over-supplying them with calories and energy, causing them to store the excess calories as fat. Straw should make up the majority of most donkeys’ diets, with grazing and hay or haylage being considered a top-up only. During the summer there are more nutrients in the grass and without monitoring your donkeys' weight can often end up putting on a bit of weight. Donkeys burn more energy trying to stay warm in the winter and often end up losing a bit of weight. The amount can be adjusted according to the time of year. It isn’t necessary to get too hung up on the numbers and start making complicated calculations as providing an ad-lib fiber-based diet will ensure your donkeys are getting enough to eat in terms of bulk. For most average-sized donkeys this equates to roughly 2-3 kg of fiber per day. Straw contains very little water and is approximately 90% dry matter. We know, from research conducted here at The Donkey Sanctuary, that donkeys need to eat approximately 1.5% of their own bodyweight per day in dry food. In which case, a raised feeder should be supplied where they can reach the straw easily enough without compressing the windpipe to get to the bottom of the trough. The exception to this would be some older donkeys who have trouble bending their necks and reaching the floor. Most donkeys need to eat at floor level as this is healthier for their digestion, respiratory system and eyes. Put yesterday’s feeding straw into today’s bed. This straw needs to be replaced every day as they only like to eat fresh straw. So that means having a straw feeder available at all times, be that in the shelter, stable, barn, paddock, turn out yard or wherever your donkeys spend time.
#1st time donkey owners free
Donkeys need to be free to pick at fiber, usually barley straw, ad-lib (or 24 hours per day). In terms of how much to feed, there is no single answer to this question.