The donkey or ass, whose scientific name is Equus africanus asinus, belongs to the equine family and is considered a domestic animal that, although it has been used to move loads since ancient times, in the Currently it is also used for mounting therapy, which is favorable for children with affective disorders and people with different degrees of disability.
It is a very long-lived animal whose life expectancy ranges between 30 and 40 years, therefore, its adoption is synonymous with acquiring a great responsibility, however, it has a kind and sweet character and is capable of forming strong bonds with other animals.
If you are curious about this equine, in this article on our site we show you the basic donkey care.
Donkey behavior and sociability
The donkey has an undeserved reputation for being stubborn which does not correspond to reality at all, since it is a very intelligent animal At the same time kind and contemplative, it only requires patience and affection to learn certain basic commands, such as letting yourself be walked on a leash or being ridden.
A very important aspect in the care of this animal is its high sociability, if a donkey is not in the company of another animal of the same species can make you feel sad and dejected, directly affecting your he alth.
It is not recommended to have one donkey, but two, being able to choose the following combinations:
- 2 female donkeys
- 2 sterilized male donkeys
- 1 female donkey and 1 male donkey, always sterilizing the male if we don't want to reproduce them
We must bear in mind that the decision to keep more than one donkey must be sustained over time, since these animals create very deep ties, and subsequently depriving him of the presence of a partner would also backfire.
If you live with dogs, you should know that the donkey is not especially predisposed to have a good coexistence with dogs, except in those cases where both animals are raised together from the first stages of life.
The donkey barn
Donkeys are very resistant animals but they always have a predilection for warm weather, among other reasons, because their fur is not waterproof and the water therefore produces a general cooling that can trigger the development of pneumonia and bronchitis.
Therefore the donkey must have a shed or barn perfectly covered and large enough so that it can exercise during the winter without need to be exposed to adverse climates.
The floors must be hard and made of wood and later they must be covered with straw to provide greater warmth.
The donkey and daily physical exercise
The donkey needs to exercise daily and this is very positive for him, especially to maintain his body weight, which, as we will see later, increases very easily in case of overfeeding.
It will be the donkey itself that exercises on its own if it has a grazing area large enough, on the other hand, during In winter, we must be the one to take him out to an area where he can exercise, but in the event that the weather is very cold or rainy, we must have an alternative area planned, which, as we mentioned before, is supplemented with a storage shed. large dimensions.
Feeding the donkey
The donkey's diet should be rich in fiber and low in sugar, always paying special attention not to overfeed it, since we could easily place your body in a state of obesity and therefore reduce your he alth.
The donkey needs to eat a small amount of food, but to do so frequently enough, the best option is basing its diet on barley straw and that grass is an additional complement but without constituting the majority of their diet.
If it is winter or if for various reasons the donkey does not have enough grass, then it is possible to supplement its diet with meadow hay, always avoiding alfalfa, except in the case of a pregnant or lactating donkey.
We must prevent the donkey from eating cereals or grains, as they are obviously very rich in starches and sugars, Under no circumstances can we give him meat or fishsince it is a herbivorous animal.
You can reward your donkey sporadically with the following treats: carrot, apple, banana (with peel included) or mint leaves.
It is important that you monitor your donkey so that it does not ingest certain plants that would be toxic, the following being the most dangerous: yew, ragwort, acorns, oak leaves, and red maple leaves.
Obviously the donkey must always have clean and fresh water, which in winter we must periodically supervise so that it does not freeze.
Donkey veterinary care
It is important that the donkey undergo regular veterinary check-ups, because although it is a strong and resistant animal, it will need the following care:
- You should be vaccinated against tetanus, influenza and distemper annually. Depending on the geographical area, other vaccines may be necessary.
- The donkey's faeces should be analyzed periodically to rule out the presence of intestinal parasites.
- The veterinarian should periodically check the donkey's teeth to rule out any alteration in growth.
Before adopting a donkey, you should first find out about the place and the professionals who can provide you with the veterinary care that this animal needs.
Other donkey care
To keep a donkey in perfect he alth and well-being, you must also take into account the following considerations:
- You must keep the area intended for feeding in perfect hygienic conditions.
- The donkey barn needs to be cleaned every other day.
- Every 8 weeks or so the donkey needs to have its hooves clipped, as they are similar to nails and grow.
- The donkey is not a friend of water, to maintain its hygiene there is nothing better than daily brushing.
In addition to these cares, finally we must emphasize again that affection and kindness are a priority for a donkey.
