Barn Management Best Practices for Burros

Details for a Healthy, Happy Donkey

Caring for donkeys isn’t rocket science, but it can be challenging, especially in inclement weather.

We’re sharing some of our suggested burro best practices, from bedding a stall to safely storing supplies and supplements.

Stall Bedding Best Practices

This winter, we opened up the first stall in the barn for the donkeys. The stall provides additional shelter from the elements, especially during wet, snowy weather.

The first step to constructing a safe, easy-to-clean stall is adding rubber stall mats. This should be your base bedding layer.

Rubber stall mats add some cushion to the stall, help keep the floor level (mats protect from digging and pacing), and keeps urine from soaking into the ground.

I was able to get by with only adding two 4’x6′ mats in the center of the stall, as the donkeys don’t use the stall that frequently. Since we have male donkeys, any urine is likely to be in the center of the stall. If I had jennies, it would be more important to install mats extending to the edges of the stall.

Speaking of urine…barn air flow is important.

Urine contains urea, which turns into ammonia gas, which can be harmful to breathe over extended periods of time.

To address this buildup, you can take two action items.

1 – Airflow. I keep the door open so the donkeys can come and go as they please. This also provides consistent ventilation.
2 – Barn lime. I sprinkle barn lime on urine spots once a week, and then cover it with a thick layer of bedding. This helps neutralize odors. It’s inexpensive and works wonders!

Best Bedding for Donkeys

Stall mats are a great base layer, but you will also need bedding. 

Shavings are important to help keep the stall floor dry as well as adding some cushion and insulation in colder months. I use a combination of pine shavings and straw, when it is extra cold.

The donkeys can also eat the straw as an extra fiber source!

At first, I used flaked shavings in the stall. Flake pine shavings are fluffy and less dusty, but really aren’t very absorbent. Fine pine shavings are more absorbent.

Feed Storage Staples

If you’re storing feed, you’ll want to be sure it’s stored properly.

Store all feed in an animal-proof container.

This means mice, raccoons, opossums, and nosy donkeys that may be looking for extra snacks.

A metal-sided trash can (with lid!) is reasonably secure and chew-proof. I like to secure the lid with a bungee cord. My feed room also has a door that closes & locks, keeping larger animals out.

Feed should be stored in a cool, dry place.

Don’t keep feed containers outside! Condensation could form on the inside of the lid, dripping down into the product, which could then mold.

Never feed moldy products to equines.

Don’t forget to read your feed tags. You want to ensure you’re feeding appropriately for your animal’s age, size, and body condition score.

Also, beware of feed age. Rotate to feed the oldest first (First In First Out) as long as it is still within the acceptable best-by date.

I add a little grain to the donkey’s diet in the winter to maintain a healthy weight. However, you need to be very careful of what you feed! Donkeys have a much lower tolerance for sugar and protein levels than horses.

I like Safe Choice Special Care for donkeys that need the calories, and Total Equine LNSC for donkey training.

Want to learn more about the differences between donkey and horse nutrition? Check out this article.

Winter Feeding for Burros

Warm Winter Mashes

Hay pellets and shredded beet pulp are both low starch / low sugar / low protein feed options that make for a great warm mash.

Feeding a mash helps ensure your donkeys are staying hydrated in the winter. It is also easy to hide medications, supplements, and wormers in a mash feed!

I usually feed 1/2 – 1 lb of hay pellets with 1/4 – 1/2 lb of shredded beet pulp.

Pour enough boiling water over the mix to cover it and let it sit for 5-10 minutes to soak, expand, and cool off.

Always soak hay pellets and beet pulp shreds–you’ll understand why when you see how much water they absorb! Feeding them straight means they will absorb water in the digestive tract, possibly causing a blockage and subsequent colic episode.

You’ll also want to feed extra forage (hay and straw) when the temperature drops. The digestion process actually helps your donkeys stay warm–it’s like a built-in heater!

For example, I’ve been doubling the amount of hay I feed at night when the temperature drops below 20 degrees. Instead of 2-3 flakes, I’ll feed 4.

Below zero? I’ll increase evening feed to 5 flakes, and morning feed from 2 flakes to 3.

I always make multiple piles of hay–more piles than animals. That way, a dominant animal doesn’t get to bully the others out of feed.

Strategic Supplements for Donkey Health

Last but not least, you may want to consider having a few supplements on hand for donkey health. Our favorite two supplements are electrolytes and Probios for digestive health.

Electrolytes can help encourage drinking, especially in cold winter months. I like to topdress my warm winter mashes with electrolyte powder when it gets extra cold out.

Probios works great as a preventative measure and also to address diarrhea. If I notice loose poop in the pasture, I’ll supplement feed with Probios powder. When the weather is forecasted to change drastically, I’ll feed Probios treats as a preventative measure.

Please note: This is purely an informative article. Please consult your veterinarian or equine/donkey professional with specific questions.

Parting Thoughts

There are a lot of small changes you can make to continuously improve your burro barn management practices. These are just a few that have worked well with our donkeys!

P.S. Enjoy this article? Trot on over to: 

• How to Adopt a Wild Donkey: A Helpful Beginner’s Guide
• Hammocks and HeeHaws: How to Camp with your Donkey
• 5 Simple Steps to Halter Training Your Wild Donkey
• Horse Insurance: What, Why, & How Much
• 13 Best Treats and Toys for Busy-Minded Donkeys
• Equine Preventative Care: How to Head Off Issues, Early
• Safety First: How Much Can a Donkey Carry?

Sources:

Saratoga Stalls: Why is Barn Lime used in Horse Stalls?