Instructions
Breed the jennet (female donkey) at 24 months--or three years if the jennet is small. At this point, the jennet is mature enough and full grown enough to be a good mother and carry her foal. The gestation period is from 12 to 13 months.
Feed the foal adult food, such as grain and grass. The foal will get most of its nutrition from its mother's milk. As the foal gets older, it will receive more nutrition from other food.
Wean the foal at nine months. The foal could be weaned at four months, but it is still receiving much of its nutrition from the mother's milk, and isn't quite able to process the other food enough to gain all of the nutritional value.
Begin training at two. Though the bodies may be full grown, the brain has not yet fully developed. The training sessions should be short. The muscles and bones are not completely developed. By three or five, the donkey will be fully developed mentally and physically.
Separate jennets and jacks (male donkeys) when they are weaned. Jacks can become fertile at the age of one, and some have even been fertile at six months.
Have at least three jennets if you intend to breed donkeys. If you have only one jennet, do not get a jack unless you are prepared to house him separately.
Geld (castrate) your jack if you do not intend on breeding your donkeys. The jack's temperament will mellow, and will no longer be dictated by testosterone.
Provide the donkeys with some shelter. This can help provide shade on hot days and relief from the cold in winter.
How to Raise Donkeys
Donkeys are animals that have been with mankind since Biblical times. They are good-natured and hardy, and don't require much beyond basic maintenance such as worming, vaccinations and trimming of their hooves. They don't even require specialized food, and will happily eat weeds that other animals ignore. Read on to learn how to raise donkeys.