ORDER Miniature Donkey Blanket from the Donkey Whisperer Farm ®

Order Mammoth donkey blanket

Donkeys have no oil in their coats; wet, thick fur acts like a sponge, holds water, and contributes to hypothermia, frostbite, and rain rot. A shivering, shaking donkey needs a well-fitting blanket of the right weight immediately. A blanket is like a fire extinguisher; we hope we do not need to use it.

How do I measure my donkey for a blanket?  Pull the cloth tape measure from the center of the chest to the center of the tail.

The Donkey Whisperer Farm ® keeps two blankets for each of our six donkeys and two horses: medium-weight and heavy-weight. We keep the blankets clean and ready; our donkey are desensitized to wearing them before the emergency hits. Please be prepared. Please train your donkey to accept the blanket before the emergency hits. As soon as we hit the upper 20s, I blanket all six of our donkeys and two horses, and remove the blankets when it returns above freezing, as all of our equine love their barn. 

What happens if we don’t care for our beloved donkeys in the winter? We risk hypothermia, frostbite, laminitis, colic, and death, which“ are common in donkeys. Donkeys are stoic; they hide pain and rarely show it until, in most cases, it is too late. Please plan ahead for your donkey, or you will risk burying your donkey.  

Rain:

I don’t blanket my donkeys in the rain. I provide shelter for my donkeys, with all their meals, salt, bedding, and water inside. Many donkeys fear the shelter if you feed and water them outside.  Make sure a donkey bully doesn’t kick your donkey out of the shelter. If so, you may need to build another shelter. If you use a raincoat for your donkey, I highly recommend keeping two, since no blanket is waterproof for the entire season; you will need to dry it and replace it with a warm, dry blanket.

What signs show a donkey needs a blanket?

Shivering, shaking, blowing diarrhea, standing frozen, and not moving with a glazed, dull look in the eyes. Donkeys can get hypothermia and frostbite, so watch the wind chill and the weather. Provide shelter, warm, clean water, loose mineral salt, and a slow feeder to help keep the donkey warm. In high winds, you may have to lock your donkey(s) in for a few hours at night, and let them out in the sunshine the next day if temperatures are below 0.  Never keep a wet blanket on any equine; check your donkey for warmth, and make sure they aren’t sweating under the blanket or rubbing sores. Have two blankets for each donkey, ready to go, as no blanket can last the entire season and stay waterproof.  

How to help our donkeys in the winter:

 * Donkeys, horses, and mules drink more water when it’s warm and clean in the winter. Heat the bucket, hide the cord, or bring warm, clean water within 2 hours of feeding at least three times a day during freezing temperatures.

* A little extra hay helps keep them warm. Use a slow feeder; we use the Hay Pillow for all of our donkeys and horses.

God bless you and your family, two-and four-legged!

Melody Johnson

Donkey Whisperer Farm ®