Miniature donkeys are easy keepers and on good pasture tend to eat more than they need. When pastures are grazed down supplemental feeding will be necessary. Good quality hay consisting of timothy, alfalfa, and brome grass makes a good mix but it must be free of dust and mould. At Prairie Brae we feed only as much as they clean up. It is essential they have access to salt and equine mineral at all times.

The most important thing is not to overfeed miniatures. You should be able to feel but not see the donkeys ribs. In the summer months access to grass will probably need to be restricted. In the winter months a diet of barley straw and some meadow hay is likely to be sufficient. Access to a mineral lick, or feeding a good-quality general purpose supplement is advisable. Carrots and apples may be fed as treats. Chop into slices that could not choke the donkey.

Surprisingly, no. Anatolians tend to be "easy keepers", and an adult Anatolian will eat between 40 to 60 pounds of premium quality dog chow a month. As a puppy, an Anatolian should be fed a premium puppy food for the first year. Some breeders will use puppy food for the first 18 months, and then switch to a good adult food.

Yes, we have just bought two new Donkeys: Jake who is 10, dapple grey and a very cool character and Jasper who is white with brown spots and very tall even though he is only 4. He won't be giving rides until next year as he is too young. We will make webpages for them as soon as we have time - this is a busy time for us! Thanks for your question, Emily.

You may have heard the term "Jerusalem donkeys" or "Sicilian" used to indicate a gray-ish donkey with a cross and stripe over the shoulders and back. However, neither of these terms are correct. Sicilian is a bloodline of small donkeys that can trace parentage back to the original animals imported from Sicily. MOST donkeys, regardless of color, and especially non-Mammoths, have a cross and stripe.

Donkeys are feed efficient. It does not mean they eat less than a horse proportional to their size, but they do get more nutrition out of what they eat. Since horses are feed inefficient, most of the high protein, high fat feeds designed for horses are not the best feeds for donkeys.

You are very welcome to visit our stud by prior appointment. If you contact the MMDA (see above) they may be able to give you the name of a breeder or owner near to you who might be happy to show you around their donkeys. You could also try attending a donkey show. The secretary is likely to be able to tell you if miniature donkeys are attending.

Donkeys love the attention of all people, young and old, large and small. Because of this and their gentle nature, they tend to gather around anyone who comes to visit. At Prairie Brae we recommend that children not feed treats to the donkeys out of hand. A small dish will save the tiny fingers from being nibbled. we mentioned in the "About Us" area of the site, it was our first visit to a miniature donkey farm where the toddlers were wandering amongst the herd that most impressed us.

Some donkeys make suitable guard animals but it isn't always guaranteed. Our personal experience was a positive one, but we have had customers whose experiences were not. Ours was a 36" gelding who took the role of guardian very seriously, however there have been occasions where the donkey played too rough or was malicious for whatever reason. I tend to believe that a standard donkey is more appropriate as a guard animal. It may be unfair to expect a miniature to ward off larger predators.

Donkeys need room to run and play for exercise. One or two acres per animal would be adequate for exercise and pasture. It is imperative that donkeys have access to a shelter for protection from weather elements.

Donkeys have a very long life span. A well cared for donkey can live up to 30+ years. Jennets can carry and give birth to a healthy foal well into their twentieth years.

Yes. Weather permitting, there are usually some donkeys on the cobbles for visitors to pat and photograph and one that young children may sit upon. The donkeys still occasionally carry luggage from the New Inn to the top of the cobbles.

No. Donkeys only carry goods UP the cobbles. The sledges are for people to pull their goods down the cobbles. However, most of the donkeys can be driven to the donkey cart so they probably would if asked ! (but not on the cobbles.) Very sadly, our dear old Smokey died in March this year, aged at least 36. He was a friendly and well-mannered old chap and we do miss him.

Thick, soft , fluffy coat designed to keep out both the heat and the cold. Like horses, donkeys moult (loose) their thick winter coats in the Spring and grow a thinner one for summer though they take much longer to moult than horses. Then they grow a new winter coat and by the end of September they are back to looking cuddly and fluffy again. Unlike horses their coats are not greasy because they do not need to keep out the rain.