Donkey Care 101! 🐴5 Must-Haves for Happy Herd Guardians

Описание: ⚠️ Donkeys DYING from preventable errors? Most owners miss these non-negotiable basics:

✔️ Guardian Instinct (They KILL coyotes… but fail against THIS predator)
✔️ Hoof Care (Neglect = $500 vet bills – trim every ___ weeks)
✔️ Social Needs (Alone = depressed – they need THIS companion)
✔️ Shelter (Rain kills faster than cold – avoid THIS deadly error)
✔️ Diet (Overfeeding grain = founder death in 48 hrs!)

👇 GRAB OUR FREE DONKEY CARE CHEAT SHEET!

🐴 ULTIMATE DONKEY CARE GUIDE
"Keep Your Guardian Alive & Thriving – Vet-Approved Essentials"

🛡️ GUARDIAN INSTINCT 101
What They Protect Against:
✅ Coyotes
✅ Dogs
✅ Foxes
❌ Won't Protect Against: Bears, Mountain Lions, Humans

Training Tips:

Introduce to livestock at 2-3 years old (mature enough)

Keep only 1 donkey per 5 acres (or they fight over territory)

Use predator urine (coyote/dog) to trigger instinct

✂️ HOOF CARE SCHEDULE
Issue Signs Action
Overgrowth Curled "elf shoes" Trim every 6-8 weeks
Thrush Black smelly gunk Clean with apple cider vinegar
Laminitis Hot hooves + limping EMERGENCY VET NOW
DIY Trim Kit:

Hoof knife ($25)

Rasp ($15)

Stop bleeding (styptic powder)

☔ SHELTER REQUIREMENTS
Must-Have:

3-sided shed (10 sq ft per donkey)

Facing away from prevailing wind/rain

Concrete pad or gravel floor (prevents mud)

Deadly Mistakes:
❌ Closed barns (ammonia buildup)
❌ Metal roofs without insulation (heat stroke risk)

🌵 DESERT-APPROVED DIET
Daily Feed:

90% Grass hay (timothy, orchard)

10% Native browse (twigs, bark)

Minerals: Loose salt + copper mix

Killer Foods:
☠️ Apples
☠️ Carrots
☠️ Grain of any kind
(All cause founder – excruciating death in 48hrs)

🧠 MENTAL HEALTH
Social Needs:

Never keep alone – bonds with:

Other donkeys (best)

Goats/sheep (okay)

Cows/horses (not ideal)

Enrichment Ideas:

Old tires to push

Scratching posts

Weekly trail walks

💉 HEALTH CHECKS
Monthly:

Check teeth (overgrowth causes starvation)

Monitor weight (body scale better than eyeballing)

Inspect for lice (especially under mane)

Vaccines Needed:

Tetanus

West Nile

Rabies (if in endemic area)

🚨 EMERGENCY KIT ($150)
Banamine (pain relief)

Electrolytes (for colic)

Betadine (hoof wounds)

Dewormer (Ivermectin)

Hoof boots (for laminitis cases)

🌦️ SEASONAL GUIDE
Summer:

Provide shade + fan

Apply fly spray (not face)

Winter:

No blankets – their coat self-insulates

Break ice on water 2x daily

Rainy Season:

Mud management (gravel high-traffic areas)

Hoof sealant (prevent thrush)