One of the most common donkey questions that we get asked is are mini donkeys good pets? Today, we are going to answer that question and many more as we tell you what we know about mini donkeys, what type of space they need, and how to care for them.

Are miniature donkeys good pets?

The short answer to this is YES! Firstly, they are absolutely adorable and make great companions. Mini donkeys can be very affectionate, and they know who their owners are. We love having our mini donkeys around the farm because they truly bring so much personality.

In addition to being super cute, they can also be great protectors. A lot of people don’t know this, but if you have smaller livestock on your homestead as we do, you may want to look into a mini donkey. Our mini donkeys will protect our smaller animals like chickens and goats from any predators that may try to sneak through the fence. It’s so endearing to watch the animals all take care of each other and this is a great reason to keep a mini donkey around.

While you can trust your mini donkey to do its best to protect the herd, you must never leave the job of protection solely up to the donkey. You will still want to protect your yard from coyotes and foxes, so that the mini donkeys can enjoy their pasture without stress. You can rest assured though, if any sneaky fox were to get through, the mini donkey would be there to chase it off.

Can I keep a mini donkey in my backyard?

While there are no laws prohibiting you from keeping a mini donkey in your backyard, you may want to consider how much space the donkey will be able to have in a fenced yard. According to recent studies, you should have at least half an acre of land per donkey. If you have a lot of space like we do, fitting a few mini donkeys on the farm is no trouble at all. However, if you are lacking a lot of space, you may want to consider holding off on the mini donkeys until you are able to provide them with enough space to thrive.

If your space has grass, that is perfect for a mini donkey. Chomping on grass throughout the day keeps these guys healthy by aiding with digestion. Unfortunately, if you do not have a lot of grass around for your donkey to munch on, you may find them chewing on your furniture! If not able to graze, mini donkeys will pretty much chew through anything they can find including your fence or your barn!

If you have other pets in your yard, you may want to make sure that they are friendly with other animals before introducing them to your mini donkey. While most animals are fairly agreeable, donkeys are known for being stubborn! If there are any other aggressive animals, the donkey may feel the need to defend itself and you want to prevent any bad situations from happening on your farm. The best way to go would be to introduce your other animals to your mini donkey slowly. We consider ourselves lucky that, on our farm, all of our mini donkeys get along great with all of the other animals!

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Mini Donkey Care

You may be surprised to learn that mini donkeys are actually pretty easy to take care of! As long as you have space as mentioned before as well as grass, you have most of what a mini donkey would need to be able to thrive on your farm. If you have other animals, even better!

Mini donkeys can live well being fed good quality hay and a steady grass supply. They will also need fresh water, which may go without saying. While mini donkeys are not picky eaters, they do have a tendency to gain too much weight, so you will want to make sure that you keep your mini donkey on a consistent diet. If for some reason your mini donkey isn’t getting enough grass or hay, you can always pick up some feed at your local feed store.

Mini donkeys also need to be groomed which includes brushing, combing, shedding, and shampooing. Maintaining their coat goes a long way when it comes to their overall health and well-being. The good thing is, there’s no need to get them into the tub, they can be groomed easily in the barn with the help of our DIY Dog Wash station!

Mini donkeys are definitely the kind of animal that needs friends. If you have dogs, cats, goats, chickens, horses, ponies, or more mini donkeys, you will see just how social these creatures are. We always make sure to give our mini donkeys plenty of attention because it contributes to their overall quality of life. Any time we are working in the barn or in the yard where they can see us, we will always hear them shouting at us from their pasture, waiting for some pets!

If you’re still on the fence about adding a mini donkey to your homestead, read 5 reasons to own a mini donkey! If you already have a mini donkey or two that you love, we would love to see. Share some photos in the comments, friends!