Miniature Donkeys as Pets (Costs, Size, Lifespan and Facts)

You’ve likely seen how nice pet donkeys act with kids and grownups at zoos. This might make you wonder if cute mini donkeys could be nice pets on your farm.

Mini donkeys make loyal and affectionate animals when trained and well-socialized around humans. At almost half the size of a standard donkey, miniatures are also much easier to care for in terms of food and grooming. Mini donkeys live a long time. Caring for mini donkeys takes as much work as caring for a horse.

While their smaller stature makes aspects of their care simpler, mini donkeys are pack animals and thrive better with a fellow mini mule around. If you can raise mini donkeys, you’ll see how smart and helpful they are.

How Much are Mini Donkeys?

Mini donkeys can cost between $500-$2,000 depending on age and gender. A female ready for breeding will have greater value than a retired male, for example. Mini donkeys must also be officially registered to be recognized as ‘miniature’ donkeys, so those with cheaper price tags may not be official miniatures.

Since there are so many miniature donkeys in need of a good home, you could consider re-homing one or two through a donkey adoption organization. Temporarily sponsoring a donkey while you decide can be a great way to gain insight into their care needs whilst supporting a local sanctuary.

Are Donkeys Expensive to Keep?

Once you factor in their food, accessories, vet bills, bedding and shelter etc., the costs of keeping a miniature donkey can range between $3,000 and $7,000 depending on your location and the age and health of each donkey. This breakdown of costs gives you an idea of the typical donkey expenses.

How Big is a Miniature Donkey?

Mini donkeys normally measure about 32-34 inches from their hooves to their withers (the ridge between their shoulder blades). To be recognized as an official ‘miniature’, mini donkeys can’t be taller than 36 inches. The world’s smallest mini donkey named ‘KneeHi’ measured just over 25 inches in 2011 at his Florida farm.

In contrast, standard-sized donkeys measure around 38-48 inches tall and can weigh between 400-500 lbs – more than double the weight of mini donkeys which weigh as little as 200-400 lbs.

How Long Will a Miniature Donkey Live?

With proper care, domesticated mini donkeys can live to be around 35-40 years old. Wild mini donkeys live around 25 years by comparison.

Do Miniature Donkeys and Dogs Get Along?

If dogs are well-trained to never nip, chase or provoke donkeys, they can learn to tolerate each other, but it will take dedicated training and socialization for mini donkeys to recognize dogs as non-threatening. All donkeys instinctually see dogs as predators like wolves and coyotes, so they will get protective and defensive around them.

Miniature Donkey History

Origins in the Mediterranean

Miniature donkeys trace their ancestry back to the Mediterranean region, where they were used as work animals in civilizations like Greece, Italy, and Egypt. Selective breeding produced smaller donkeys that were well-suited for labor in hot, dry climates.

Birth of the Miniature Donkey

The miniature donkey we know today emerged in the 1920s-30s. American farmers began breeding small donkeys to produce pets and promotional animals, rather than work stock.

Mini Craze Goes Mainstream

In the 1950s-60s, miniature donkeys became popular across the USA, with breeders springing up nationwide. Their cute size and hardy nature made them excellent pets and show animals.

How Smart Are Miniature Donkeys?

Assessing Equine IQ

• Maze tasks – Test navigational skills and spatial reasoning.
• Matching tasks – Assess ability to learn visual pairings.
• Training tests – Evaluate how quickly new training is grasped.
• Memory tests – Determine the duration and accuracy of memory.

Mini donkeys score high on intelligence tests compared to standard donkeys and horses.

• Navigate mazes 15-30% faster than large donkeys.
• Learn new visual associations 20% quicker.
• More rapidly absorb training instructions.
• Remember lessons longer with less repetition.

Researchers believe the mini’s small brain may increase some thinking skills.

Real-World Smarts

Mini donkeys show smarts in daily life beyond just tests:

• Cautious and alert around new environments.
• Able to adeptly navigate rough terrain.
• Learn routines quickly.
• Form close bonds with handlers.
• Comfortable around people.

Miniature donkeys may seem humble, but they reveal their intelligence through practical street smarts.

Register Your Miniature Donkey

Registering your new little equine friend is an important first step.

Why Register?

Registering your miniature donkey with a formal association provides many benefits:

• Proof of ownership – Registration gives you legal documentation that you own the donkey. This is crucial if the animal ever gets lost or stolen.
• Pedigree tracking – Associations maintain pedigree records of registered donkeys. This helps breeders make informed choices about breeding stock.
• Shows and competitions – Most shows require donkeys to be registered to participate. This includes halter classes, driving classes, and more.
• Buying and selling – Registered donkeys often have higher value when selling. Registration papers verify the donkey’s lineage.

Choosing a Registry

There are a few different registries for miniature donkeys in the United States:

• American Donkey and Mule Society (ADMS) – The largest US registry. They register standard, miniature, and mammoth donkeys.
• American Council of Spotted Asses (ACOSA) – Specializes in spotted donkeys. Cross-registers with ADMS.
• National Miniature Donkey Association (NMDA) – Another registry specializing solely in minis.

How Much Land Do Mini Donkeys Need?

One acre of land (approx 43,560 square feet) will be sufficient space for a pair of miniatures to comfortably play and exercise in. Subdividing each mini into their own padlocks is also advised to prevent overgrazing.

They will also need a field shelter or stable to avoid biting flies in summer and stay dry in damp conditions. Mini donkeys are hardy animals, but persistent wet conditions can lead to them developing weak, infected hoofs.

Are Miniature Donkeys Noisy?

Mini donkeys are not especially loud but can be known to bray or “hee-haw” in communication with another or when they want something. Braying ranges from quiet whimpering to ear-shattering – thankfully keeping a supply of tasty oat or barley straw nearby may help keep noisy donkeys quiet!

Are Miniature Donkeys Easy to Care for?

Generally, mini donkeys are easier to care for compared to horses in terms of feeding requirements and shelter. And while they are stubborn, they don’t startle as easily as their larger equine friends and are highly intelligent, making them easy to train. Their natural desire for companionship makes them a joy to have on a family farm – the only real challenges lie in their compatibility issues with dogs and other small animals.

Are Miniature Donkeys Good Guard Animals?

Yes, since they were traditionally bred to protect livestock, they can be trained to protect the pack from possible intruders, though mini donkeys will not have the vicious strength of a full-sized donkey’s hind kick.

Are Miniature Donkeys Aggressive?

Miniatures rarely bite or kick, only doing so if they feel threatened or afraid, and this is less likely in a domesticated environment when they have become socialized among humans and well-trained pets. Caution should always be taken when they are around small children though due to their strength.

Can a Child Ride a Miniature Donkey?

Since mini donkeys have a weight limit of around 50-100 lbs it is not recommended that a child older than 4 years rides on their back. However, donkeys were bred to pull carts, so a young child could reasonably hitch a lift on a sled pulled by a well-trained mini donkey.

What Age Can a Miniature Donkey Breed?

Female donkeys or ‘jennets’ are fertile once they reach 12 months old, but they should not be encouraged to breed until they reach at least 3 years old. This is so that miniatures are fully developed to prevent injuries during breeding and avoid potential birth defects.

How Often Does a Miniature Donkey Come into Heat?

For miniature donkeys, the average length between heats is 18 to 21 days.

Their heat periods tend to follow a consistent pattern each year. Tracking early cycles helps predict future ones.

Each heat lasts about 1 week. Ovulation is on day 2 or 3. The mini donkey can breed during this time.

Heat Cycle Phases

The miniature donkey’s cycle has four phases:

Proestrus

• Duration: 5-7 days
• Uterus prepares for pregnancy
• Estrogen rises, signaling impending heat

Estrus

• Duration: 5-8 days
• Active heat period
• Estrogen peaks; donkey is sexually receptive

Metestrus

• Duration: 3-5 days
• Estrogen drops, progesterone increases
• Uterus closes if no pregnancy occurs

Diestrus

• Duration: 12-15 days
• Progesterone remains elevated
• Uterus regenerates lining for next cycle

How Long is a Miniature Donkey Pregnant?

For miniature donkeys, the average pregnancy length is 11-14 months. This is longer than horses, which carry foals for approximately 11 months.

Miniature donkeys are pregnant for about 12 months on average.

Why Longer Gestation?

• Small pelvis – Donkeys have narrower pelvis than horses, which takes longer to open for birthing.
• Large fetus head – Proportionally, donkey fetus heads are larger than in horses.
• Placenta differences – Donkey placentas mature slower than horses.

The longer donkey pregnancy allows full preparation for delivery.

Stages of Mini Donkey Pregnancy

Mini donkey pregnancies progress through the same stages as horses:

• 0-40 days: Fertilization and implantation
• 40-120 days: Embryo develops major organs
• 120-210 days: Rapid fetal growth
• 210 days to birth: Fetus matures, prepares for delivery

What to Feed a Miniature Donkey?

You should ensure they have access to fresh, clean water, a salt lick, and some good-quality hay (Meadow and Seed hay are high-fiber options). Donkeys naturally enjoy foraging on pasture grass, and you can occasionally feed them healthy treats such as apples, carrots, and potatoes in bite-sized wedges and chunks.

How Much Hay Does a Miniature Donkey Eat?

You should feed your minis roughly 3-5 lbs of hay daily. For reference, a small 50 lb square bale will fall into sections when you cut the string, and each section or wedge that falls off should be a sufficient amount for one donkey per day.

When Do You Wean a Miniature Donkey?

Baby mini donkeys or ‘foals’ should be weaned at around 4-6 months old. Once foals begin to taste their mother’s milk at around 4 weeks, this is a good time to introduce some feed of its own to help it wean completely (a container of hay with added grain and pasture grass).

How Much Weight Can a Miniature Donkey Carry?

A healthy miniature should be able to carry a load of up to 100 lbs (roughly two average-sized hikers backpacks). They can also pull up to twice their body weight (around 400 lbs), though testing their limits should not be encouraged considering their small height.

You Might Also Like:

• Boer Goats as Pets-Costs, Size, Temperament and Facts
• LaMancha Goats As Pets-Costs, Size, Temperament and Facts
• Mini Nubian Goats as Pets-Costs, Size, Temperament and Facts
• Are Goose Good Pets? Breeds, Cost, Lifespan and Size