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Never has there been a more maligned animal than the donkey. Thought to be stubborn and often ill tempered, in reality it is their treatment by their owners that has a bearing on their temperament. If treated with great kindness they can turn into the most gentle of animals and this, coupled with their natural intelligence and curiosity, makes them an ideal addition to your family.
Originating in Africa, the donkey soon spread to the Middle East and Asia where they became beasts of burden. Generally speaking they come in a limited range of colors such as grey, chocolate and mixed, such as roan and skewbald. Standard donkeys are from 8-11 hands (a hand being 4 inches) high although there are miniature donkeys that are much smaller in size.
Donkeys are extremely sociable animals and should always be kept with another animal, be it a sheep, horse, goat, children's pony or preferably another donkey. If you don't have another animal you should be prepared to give your pet a lot of attention, otherwise it will become depressed, despondent and generally unhappy.
If you have a donkey foal, begin handling it immediately in order to get it used to humans. An animal that hasn't been trained to even wear a halter by the age of six months will generally be unruly and a handful. Grooming their coat is a bonding experience for both donkey and owner. If they're handled on a regular basis they will become quite biddable.
Usually a donkey will require an acre (0.4 hectares) of grazing. They actually thrive better on coarse grass and require hay for roughage. Feeding bread is a no no as it is too energy rich, but there are other treats you can provide such as the ubiquitous carrot. They also enjoy the occasional apple. Donkeys do tend to run fat quite easily (mainly due to their voracious appetite), so keep an eye on their weight so that they don't run the risk of founder or Laminitis (a painful inflammation of the hoof that causes them to stand in a saw horse position).
Due to their African antecedents they prefer a hot dry climate although they should be provided with shade from the sun. In colder areas they will grow a lovely thick coat which will keep them perfectly warm. However, if the weather is wet and they're kept on muddy pasture, they will begin to suffer from a range of foot problems such as seedy toe. An ideal solution to this problem is to have somewhere they can shelter in extremes of weather such as a stable or old barn. If your fields tend to be boggy in winter make sure they occasionally stand in a dry yard or stable to allow their feet to dry properly. Always keep an eye out for any sign of infection in their hooves; often the donkey will begin limping, which indicates a problem. Have a farrier attend your pet every eight weeks in order to trim their feet.
Donkeys are hardy animals apart from the risk of foot problems. However, they do run the risk of parasites such as worms picked up from their pasture. They should be wormed on a regular basis (approximately every eight weeks) with a paste made for horses. Also, lice and fleas can infest their coat. The first sign of any problem will be the animal rubbing itself against fences and trees. There are a range of washes that can be used to treat this readily available from your veterinary surgeon. He should also vaccinate your pet against tetanus, one of the greatest killers of Equus asinus.
It has to be remembered that donkeys live a very long time. They generally average a life span of thirty years although ones of over forty are not unheard of. Therefore it should be remembered when purchasing one as a pet that you're taking on a lifetime of responsibility. However, properly cared for this animal will bring you many hours of enjoyment.
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