If you’ve been thinking of adding a mini donkey to your farm, you may want to give this a read. We have been breeding miniature donkeys for several years now, and we absolutely love learning and teaching about these beautiful animals. This article will let you know what a day is like in the life of a mini donkey, what you should know before owning a mini donkey, and how hard it is to care for them.

What do I need to know about owning a mini donkey?

The first thing you should know when considering owning a mini donkey is that they are extremely social. They are best kept in pairs or with other livestock. Mini donkeys can live with pretty much any other animal, and are even known to protect smaller livestock from predators! While they have the ability to protect themselves and others, it is still important to keep your mini donkey fenced in.

Another thing to note about mini donkeys is that they are totally trainable. In fact, they are very smart and take to training easily. The old rumor about donkeys being stubborn doesn’t actually have anything to do with their temperament, and you should find that your mini donkeys are some of the friendliest animals on your farm! Mini donkeys are incredibly affectionate and prone to separation anxiety. As their owner, you will want to make sure you pop in to say hi to them at least once a day!

Donkeys will need a pasture to graze and run around in. The rule of thumb is a half-acre per mini donkey, so if you plan to keep more than one you will want to make sure that you have plenty of space. Mini donkeys actually love frolicking around with the other animals, and they have also been known to love toys! These are such special animals, they truly are a part of our family.

How hard is it to take care of a miniature donkey?

As with any animal, there is a level of care required for mini donkeys. They do not require as much care as a horse, however, they do require daily maintenance as well as regular checkups. If you love taking care of your mini donkeys, you may not have any issues with what needs to be done.

Mini donkeys will need to be fed daily. Mini donkeys are actually considered easy-to-keep animals because they can thrive on a diet of high-quality hay alone. However, it is still helpful to provide a pasture for them to graze. You will also need to make sure that your mini donkey has access to clean water on a daily basis, especially during the summer.

Mini donkeys will need to be housed inside at night and during any extreme weather. While they have the ability to protect themselves, it is still dangerous to leave them open to predators at night. They will be happy and healthy if they have a safe, warm place to sleep at night.

Your mini donkey will also need to be groomed regularly, to prevent their mane and coat from getting tangled and matted. This can cause skin irritation and even infection for your beloved donkey, so it’s best to keep them brushed to avoid any potential issues. They will also require periodic deworming medication, as well as hoof cleaning. Find out more about Mini Donkey Care here.

A Day in the Life of a Mini Donkey

As mentioned previously, mini donkeys are to be housed inside the barn or stables at night. This means their morning starts by being let out of their stable. Once let out, they are fed, and have a chance to say hello to all of their other animal friends.

A little later in the morning, we return to check on the animals after we have finished breakfast in the house. We go out to give each of the mini donkeys a good brushing, and some individual love. Mini donkeys are highly intelligent animals and become very attached to their owners, so this is a great way for us to continue bonding and making sure our animals are all thriving.

Throughout the day, the mini donkeys will hee-haw at us as we move throughout the farm taking care of chores. This is their way of saying hello, and if we get the chance we always take time to stop and say hi back. Sometimes, if we are working close to their pasture, they will begin braying at us until we come over to say hi, they are so adorable and we love to love them!

During the evening, we may take them out of their stables with a harness and lead, and walk with them around the farm. You can truly walk a mini donkey like you would a dog, and they love taking family strolls around the homestead. Their evenings end with another meal, depending on each mini donkey’s diet, and they return to their stables for the night.

If you are wondering where you can get a mini donkey, let us know in the comments, friends!

Hugs,

Christina & Trevor