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Foal Food
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Like other mammals, mother's milk is best. Foals will feed from their mother until about 4 to 6 months of age. During the weaning process, it can be given small amounts of alfalfa for protein, though try to keep the mother from having too much alfalfa.
Normal Food
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Indulging your donkey with additional grass can lead to weight problems. You will want to monitor how much grass your mini donkey eats and adjust the rest of its diet accordingly. Give the donkey about 2 lbs of barley, grass and timothy or orchard hay, two times each day. Never give them wheat or oat straw. The hay should be free from mold, dust and poisonous weeds.
Food for Extremes
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Remember to clean where the donkey eats. Feel free to give a thin mini donkey one cup of grain or pellet food 2 or 3 times a week to increase its vitamin and mineral intake. If you live in colder climates, give the donkey a simple pasture mix, such as Dengie Hi Fi Lite.
Water
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Remember to provide clean, fresh water for your mini donkey at all times. Keep the water bucket in the shade during hot weather. Using a heated bucket in the winter will keep the water from freezing.
Additional Food Information
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Spoil your mini donkey with attention more than treats. It's fine to give the donkey a rare treat, such as a carrot or apple, but never feed it pony nuts, rich horse feeds, grain, or any bread and biscuits. It will also appreciate a salt or mineral block to supplement its diet, especially in hot weather.
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What Can Mini Donkeys Eat?
When caring for a miniature donkey, you must keep in mind, both what to feed and how much. Though they appear similar to horses, mini donkey's require less food. While a mini donkey should not be underweight, you will find greater difficulty in getting one to lose weight if it gets too heavy.