Food is an important part of Christmas time for many people, so we get a lot of questions this time of year about what our donkeys will be enjoying over the festive period.

The short answer is that they will be getting the same food that they get every other day of the year. This is not because we are being scrooges but because donkeys do not adjust well to sudden dietary changes and, as such, are best fed a consistent and appropriate diet.

Here we answer a few of the common feeding questions that we get asked over the festive period including whether donkeys can be fed treats and whether it’s safe to give donkeys left-over Christmas trees.

Are left-over Christmas trees safe to be used as enrichment? 

We would exercise caution with regards to giving donkeys left-over Christmas trees.

Several different species are used as Christmas trees, with the majority falling under evergreen conifers. This class of tree includes species such as pines, firs, spruces and yew, the latter being highly poisonous to all equine species.

Conifer trees are not generally regarded as palatable due to the complex biochemical defence systems these trees have, but this is not to say that donkeys won’t eat them.

With some species, there can be a slight risk of accumulation of toxic substances if consumed in large amounts and, as with the sudden introduction of any novel food source, ingestion in large amounts could also pose a risk for colic.

We would always recommend ensuring you know what species the tree is and checking whether it’s safe before considering whether to let your donkey have access to it.

You should also consider whether artificial substances such as pesticides, fire retardants, additional colouring or products to slow/prevent needle drop have been applied to the tree as these may be harmful to your donkey.

What do donkeys eat?

Donkeys have evolved to survive on highly fibrous forages. They will naturally graze on grasses and other low vegetation as well as browse on woody shrubs and trees. In their natural semi-arid habitat, donkeys will walk many miles a day over challenging terrain eating little and often.

Domesticated donkeys rarely get the opportunity to express the same kind of natural behaviours and it can sometimes be hard to replicate the natural, fibre-rich diet that donkeys have evolved to thrive on.

The diet of domesticated donkeys should be focused around low energy, low sugar/starch, high fibre forages which should be provided on a fairly ad libitum basis. Regular assessments of the donkey’s body condition should be made to ensure that their diet is not under or oversupplying energy leading to weight loss or gain.

What do donkeys eat at The Donkey Sanctuary?

Most of our donkeys are fed predominantly on straw (the stalks of cereal plants such as barley, wheat or oats, left after the grain has been harvested). This helps to mimic the donkeys natural feeding behaviour of eating little and often and to ensure we meet, but not exceed their daily energy (calorie) requirements.

Straw is high in fibre but low in energy, satisfying the donkey’s natural appetite without promoting too much weight gain. For donkeys to chew the fibrous stalks sufficiently well, they must have good teeth. All our donkeys are seen by our equine dentists at least once a year to ensure they can manage the given diet.

In addition to straw, our donkeys have access to grazing, which provides a top-up to their diet and allows them plenty of opportunities to exercise and socialise. We use different grazing management systems according to the terrain, species of grasses/plants present and the herd’s requirements.

The winter months may limit their access to grazing due to the ground/weather conditions. If they don’t have access to grass, they may be fed small amounts of hay or haylage if they need a little extra energy to help them maintain weight.

Some of our donkeys cannot chew long fibre forages like straw, hay and haylage well enough due to having dental problems. To reduce the risk of choking or developing impactions within their digestive tract, they are fed fibre in a short chopped form instead. The shorter fibre lengths are much more manageable for these donkeys and ensure they still receive plenty of fibre in their diet.

Feeding donkeys plenty of fibre helps satisfy their psychological and physiological need to chew and helps keep their digestive system functioning optimally, helping to reduce the risk of health and behavioural problems. Without sufficient provision of fibre in their diet, donkeys will be liable to seek alternative sources, such as wooden fencing or their stable/shelter.

For further information on feeding donkeys, please see our information on feeding donkeys or contact our nutrition team

Can donkeys have treats?

We do not advocate the regular giving of food-related treats. However, if a donkey is a fussy eater, feeling under the weather, needs training or encouragement to eat and drink, you can use safe treats to tempt them. Please see our information on safe treats and tempters for suggestions on what can be used in these situations.

There are many other ways to demonstrate love for our donkeys, aside from feeding them treats. Donkeys love our attention better than anything else, so making time to spend with them can often be the best gift. You could take them for a walk, give them a groom, or simply stand in their field or shelter and see how they would like to interact with you.

What shouldn’t donkeys eat?

We would not recommend feeding potatoes, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, sprouts, onions, garlic, leeks, chocolate, sugar lumps, sweets, cakes, or drinks containing caffeine or alcohol to donkeys. We would also suggest avoiding equine treats or licks, which are likely to be very high in sugar, such as (but not limited to) those containing molasses. Mouldy food or food containing animal products are also highly undesirable.

Can I feed the donkeys at The Donkey Sanctuary?

You can visit our Sidmouth donkeys for free all year round, however we ask that you do not feed the donkeys. It is very important that we keep track of everything the donkeys are eating to ensure we are giving them a balanced and healthy diet. However, if you ask a member of staff we will be happy to show you where you can leave some recommended treats for your donkey. The donkeys would love to receive a bag of carrots or similar from you. Please just check your item is on the safe treats list. 

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