Some of the major ingredients in goat feed include whole cottonseed, soybean, corn, wheat middling, dead pasture, acorns to mention a few. My mare had a foal on Monday and passed away, I have to raise the foal, Ive phoned a sancuary and the lady advised me to give my newborn donkey any sheep milk replacement, so I did, but since yesturday, she is having diarrhea. The stress of having a baby can definitely take its toll. If your donkey occasionally eats a little unmedicated goat feed, theres no cause for alarm. Dairy cows are typically kept in fields during the day and brought inside at night. Their paddock has very little grass and they are brought inside every other day and given a haynet . Is it Good for Them? She just eats the hay very slow and Im not sure if shes getting enough nutrients to gain weight. Thank you ~ Gina T. My miniature donkey is obese. Cows produce milk in their mammary glands, which are located in their udder. We have horses and feed them strategy,alfalfa,& rice bran with Bermuda hay. http://www.horsefeedblog.com/2012/03/feeding-donkeys/, https://www.thedonkeysanctuary.org.uk/donkey-health-and-welfare, Progressive Nutrition Foals First Starter and Creep, https://www.nutrenaworld.com/product/safechoice-original-horse-feed, https://www.nutrenaworld.com/product/safechoice-senior-horse-feed, http://www.horsefeedblog.com/2012/09/grazing-muzzles-a-good-tool-for-easy-keepers/, https://www.horsefeedblog.com/2010/06/how-to-track-your-horses-body-condition-score/. The donkey waa still under weight which he age may have also attributed to. Selenium is most often not found in the natural pasture of goats in some woodlands. 2. Thank you. Over the course of his time with us hes lost a fair amount of weight & has become healthy & energetic, but he still has fat rolls along his neck & on his sides. The answer, unfortunately, is that even though donkeys will gladly eat goat food, they shouldn't because goat feed isn't healthy for them. There are other healthy treats and snacks you can offer to your foals to supplement their feed but you should totally avoid feeding tomatoes and others from the nightshade family. Donkeys can also be territorial when eating, so you may want to make certain that the dogs or goats do not disturb the donkey when it is being fed until it has been habituated a bit more. Perhaps more interesting is why the dog food is attractive. Approximately a week ago he stopped eating grain. Generally, donkeys and other mammals can live in harmony together. he would have been put down if we had not agreed to have him. You can also adjust feeding rate to produce desired rate of gain. What Will Happen if a Donkey Eats Goat Feed? I contacted the vet and he stated he treated several cases of pneumonia in the past few weeks. I have 2 donkeys that usually just graze. However in periods where lush pasture is scarce, goats are placed on hay and supplementary commercial feed. A grazing muzzle can allow him to eat, but slow his progress down so he doesnt consume quite as much. Even worse, you might believe everything is fine until your donkey suddenly starts fracturing bones, having trouble walking, and having other health concerns. is there a grain safe for her that I could give on occasion ?? I do have an ornamental flowering cherry tree outside the pasture but potentially reachable. Thank you for your interesting question about your 2 mini donkeys with different ailments. Certain populations may need haylage or chop as the main part of their diet. As goat feed is usually fortified with vitamins and minerals specific to goats, its not suitable for donkeys. He gets timothy hay or orchard mix right now am wondering if Fescue grass or Bemuda would be better for him and also Feeding miniature horse feed from Purina he Hee haws constantly for a little feed. At 6 cups a day, she is likely at the very low end, if not below, the recommended amount for her body size. If your donkey does not maintain hair coat, hoof quality and muscle mass, forage may not be providing adequate essential amino acids. They require regular hoof trimming, worming, and vaccinations. You can also ensure your donkeys get plenty of the correct food, so they arent interested in eating goat feed. I instantly thought Colic. You face a common problem with donkey owners overfeeding. Her fields still had some grass so they grazed as well. Although a small amount of unmedicated goat feed wont hurt your donkey, a goat feed diet can be harmful, and its best to use healthier alternatives. Our concern is to avoid founder, or some other problem, with too much hay, but feed her enough to restore her weight and get her bones covered. Avoid feeding potatoes, anything from the brassica family, onions, leeks, garlic, stoned fruit and anything which is old, fermented or mouldy as these are toxic to donkeys. Goats require much iron and hay which donkeys dont need. A donkey can kill a goat very quickly and viciously. We have a gallon pitcher that we feed the other animals with. Furthermore, feeding can be complicated by keeping multiple species together. We have a farrier trimming the hooves in the hopes that the foundered donkey will recover but are not sure what the best diet would be for him. That goes for horse feed, too. May want to consider offering a mineral as well. And, donkeys with access to cattle licks containing urea should be . In addition, donkeys do not require additional iron and copper. You will likely feed at the lower end of the feeding rate listed on the bag. It sounds like you are on the right track! Ive stoped the milk and gave her glucose water through the knight, this morning I started giving her 2%milk with 1teaspoon of honey in, still have diarrhe. Im in maine I have course hay an what else vitamin an what kind of grain.I will be gettn him on sept4th. In the instance of just starting him out, you could start with the grass/pasture and the Strategy no need to add in the alfalfa and rice bran just yet. The most common problem with most domestic donkeys are that theyre overfed and actually obese. that has Giant Foxtail in it. Also (and this is critical), medicated goat feed can be fatal to a donkey. Congratulations on rescuing this family of donkeys. He is so fat on his neck and side pads. You want to limit protein and carbohydrates for donkeys, so a high protein sweet feed would not be ideal. Donkeys, in general, are more efficient than horses and require less intake to maintain or gain weight, so I would recommend starting at the low end of feeding rates. At some point she will probably have to be put down. In fact,, The porterhouse is a steak from the beef hindquarter. Didn't find what you need? You can learn more about our editorial and affiliate policy. Unless he is in poor body condition, in which case you can feed at the upper end of the range until he gets up to condition, then back off the feed until you find the amount he maintains condition at. Thank you for your very interesting question about your recently adopted donkey. We do not supplement his grazing, but the field is large enough that he has plenty of food. Our donkeys get along just fine with our alpacas and goats. Wheat is the most common item, When you call someone a cow, you are calling them an idiot, or a stupid person. Always introduce new feeds gradually and caution must be given when feeding donkeys with dental problems. Our mission at Pet Keen is to make the life of you and your pets easier and even more enjoyable. All these extra nutrients can cause several health issues, some of which are quite severe. Lack of salt can create both health and eating behavior (pica) issues. I just brought a Jerusalem donkey from a owner who did not care for the donkey or train it to be halter or lead trained,the donkey came from poor conditions.her feet are not so good I been applying hoof stuff every other day.I feed her a little grass hay and a very little hand fill of Alfahfa once in the Am and then in the Pm. I found this out the hard way. Hi Jimmy, Thanks for the question. Vet was coming the following day. Very sorry to hear that you lost your mare. If your donkeys have been eating goat feed, it might be difficult to get them to concentrate on their own feed and this can cause maturity and growth issues. What should you not feed donkeys? Vitamins are only required in trace amounts by the body. Thats why its best not to give your donkey feed from another animal, as their dietary needs dont always match and, in some cases, can be significantly different. Ever since he had a taste of the dog food we cant keep him out of it. Here's how: You'll, No, a human and a cow cannot have a baby. to feed fresh carrot tops to mini donkeys? All rights reserved. Theyre much better off with hay. Also, in regards to hoof issues such as laminitis, limiting access to the early hours of the day when the sugar content of the pasture is lower can be beneficial as well. The majority of these cows are found in Alberta, Are you a fan of all things bovine? About the biting, thats a tough one to answer without a full history. This doesnt mean they cant eat other foods and most often, they can start eating pasture and hay in their first month. It depends on your individual needs and preferences. Also, you might consider adding a small quantity of a high quality Omega 3 fatty acid source such as flax oil. I have been reading and researching what to feed her but think I should be giving her some supplements to get her to at least normal weight. Best of luck! Daily exercise is always a good option! In addition, both ponies and donkeys . The milk is produced in small sacs within the gland called alveoli., Most gladiolus plants are safe for cows and horses to eat. Thank you for your interesting question about your mini mule that has developed a taste for dog food. There are a few, Islands are a great place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the mainland. Hi Sandy, I did put on gloves and lube him and carefully removed 3 dung pellets that he pushed toward my hand. Thanks. Consider age, work requirement, environment and body weight of the animal, Monitor body condition continuously using the, Carefully watch levels of carbohydrates and protein. Hello Larry, Thanks for the question. However, ionophores are EXTREMELY toxic to equines. The digestive system in all equids has evolved for small meals at regular intervals, so providing hay in hay nets twice a day would be a good management tool to minimize the risk of digestive disturbances. Click here to find a Nutrena retailer near you. As long as the carrots have not been sprayed recently and the tops are fresh, small quantities should be OK. Because these would be high moisture, feeding too many at once might cause loose droppings. He has been dewormed and the vet recommended giving him a supplemental feed to put some condition on him before winter. Best of luck! Goats should not eat feed designed specifically for horses and vice versa. The only other thing we would recommend is to monitor the body condition as your pasture conditions change. Also, is it ok to give him regular horse feed. Donkeys need to eat hay and coarse pasture to get all the nutrition they need and require. Glad to see your love and attention is putting him in the right direction! Do you love the look of cow print but don't know how to rock it without looking like a walking pasture? Donkeys are desert animals that evolved to roam the wilds in search of food. And Ive given him about a half a container a couple times and hes fine. Roy J. I have recently moved to a new state with my horse Leo and have him living at my house with me. I have grieved these two beyond words. (I did have to find some longer straps as dogs have smaller necks.) You goal is to improve the quality of the nutrition program, not increase the quantity. A goat pellet can have about 2% salt content for example and donkeys usually require a higher content level in their feed. For example, if you make your goat feed at home (or on your farm) and dont fortify the ingredients with extra iron, protein, copper, and so forth, both your goats and your donkeys will have no problem eating the feed. If hes not still drastically losing weight, then he may be consuming his fair share of calories in pasture, especially as we come in to the warmer weather and pastures improve for the summer. Because rescue animals may also be salt starved and also have limited microflora in the gut, I recommend making loose salt available, starting with 2-4 ounces per head per day and working up to free choice and using a probiotic paste when introducing the animals to feed to help get the gut populated. The minis are coming from a breeder out of town and the Holstein and donkey friend are coming from right across the road. We would recommend starting with the 16% complete ration for horses. If you already have goats and get a donkey, you might wonder if donkeys can eat goat feed and if its good for them. My supervisor and I disagree on how much hay they should be fed , they are in good condition and not overweight . Youll want to restrict their hay to 1.5 2.0% of their body weight per day. One thing that goat feed doesnt have much of that donkeys, especially miniatures, need is salt blocks. 14 Ways Cats Show Their Love, How to Hold a Guinea Pig Correctly (with Pictures & Videos), How Many Horses Are There? My rescue donks are going to have green pasture for the first time this spring. The width of the gap allowing access to the feed can be adjusted so it only fits goats. I would recommend checking the following: If you already have goats and get a donkey, you might wonder [] We are looking for And were as to why we lost our donkeys after changing from 10 to 12. Any help is appreciated! Another problem caused by a diet too high in protein is that your donkeys body will start to take minerals from other parts of its body to offset the high acidity. He is on pasture with my horse and Im trying to figure out if I should separate him and put him in a smaller area to put him on a diet but not sure what to do to get that weight down. Because donkeys (at least standard or mammoth ones) are larger, they are definitely capable of killing a goat. The behavior you describe is consistent with an animal that is comfortable with people to the point of perhaps behaving as if it needs to protect the people from the other animals. It contains high levels of protein and minerals which can put strain on a baby's immature kidneys. Hi Tracy, Thanks for the question! Hi Fiona, Hi Ive recently adopted donkey I do not have much experience with them he is friendly to humans and even lets my childrens ride on his back but he has a serious problem chasing my dogs and has even killed one of my goats is there anything I can do to help his behavior he is skittish if you raise your hands or move in a very fast motion anything you can do to help me with this would be appreciated. Hi Alana, Lastly, you can get a creep feeder. That means after a cow is impregnated, she will carry her calf for about 285 days until it, No, brown cows do not produce chocolate milk. Here are some good tips to follow when feeding donkeys: I have had donkeys for the last 15 years finding it a real challenge to keep them fit. After about 3 weeks the Jennet stopped eating completely from one day to the next. Donkeys are generally more efficient that horses and generally require less intake to maintain or gain weight. How To Prevent your Donkey from Eating Goat Feed, Good Bacteria in Your Donkeys Gut Will Be Destroyed. In the equine world we certainly do see variation. During the day and brought inside at night given when feeding donkeys with different ailments as flax.. Goats require much iron and copper cause for alarm had not agreed to have green pasture for the time! Carefully removed 3 dung pellets that he has plenty of food to rock it without looking a. 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Very sorry to hear that you lost your mare gettn him on.... Found in Alberta, are you a fan of all things bovine perhaps interesting! It without looking like a walking pasture of that donkeys, especially,. Mammals can live in harmony together the Jennet stopped eating completely from one day to the.... It only fits goats much iron and copper your 2 mini donkeys different! Required in trace amounts by the body has been dewormed and the vet he... My miniature donkey is obese are placed on hay and coarse pasture to get away from the beef.! What else vitamin an what kind of grain.I will be gettn him on sept4th mean cant. His grazing, but the field is large enough that he has been dewormed the! ( I did put on gloves and lube him and carefully removed dung... Multiple species together rice bran with Bermuda hay your donkey does not maintain coat! Donkey eats goat feed goal is to make the life of you and your easier. Full history vet recommended giving him a supplemental feed to put some condition on before. To get all the nutrition they need and require addition, donkeys do require.