Donkey care tools and calculators
There are 17 tools for donkeys on XpertsPet, sorted into 11 topics such as age, behavior, breeding, cost, grooming and health. The cards above take you straight to each group. Below is a short guide to what they cover and which ones are most useful at different points in your donkey's life.
Donkeys at a glance
Expect a lifespan of roughly 30 to 40 years for a well-kept donkey. Donkeys are herbivores, which shapes what you feed and how much. Most adults weigh around 150-250 kg. They reach maturity at about 2.5 years old.
Donkeys are desert-adapted and get fat and laminitic on rich grass, so they need restricted grazing and straw-based forage. They bond intensely with a companion and can decline sharply when separated.
The health problems vets see most often in donkeys include laminitis from rich grazing, hyperlipaemia after stress or fasting, hoof overgrowth and lungworm.
Gestation in donkeys runs about 340 to 375 days.
Donkey quick facts
| Measure | Donkey |
|---|---|
| Typical lifespan | 30–40 years |
| Adult weight | 331–551 lb (150–250 kg) |
| Diet | Herbivore |
| Mature at | About 2.5 years |
| Pregnancy | 340–375 days |
| Litter size | 1–1 |
| Humidity | 40–70% |
Where to start
- Thinking about getting a donkey? Start with the cost tools to see what you are signing up for.
- Setting up a home? The housing calculators size the space and work out how much bedding or substrate you need.
- Unsure about feeding? The nutrition tools give a daily amount you can adjust as you go.
- Raising a young donkey? Use the weight and growth tools to check it is on track.
- Caring for an older donkey? The age tools show its life stage and what usually changes next.
Other farm & equine
If you keep more than one kind of animal, there are tools for horse, pony, goat and sheep. You can also browse every pet on XpertsPet.