Average donkey weight is hard to guesstimate for an individual because even if you have 2 donkeys the same height, they may have different bone structure and different abilities at gaining muscle.
I want everyone to understand that a lean donkey is a good thing. We tend to think of “plumb” animals as cute and healthy, but they are not!
The plumb donkey you may think looks cute is actually on the road to bad health, discomfort and pain. There is nothing cute about that.
Average Donkey Weight
Feeling for your best Average Donkey Weight
- Can you feel the ribs? Is there a fleshy feel over them or thin skin? You want to be able to feel ribs with very little flesh over them. Just feel a thin layer of skin? Add some food. Feel thick fatty tissue? That’s bad.
- Do the shoulders feel small and boney? Or feel hard with muscle? We want plenty of hard muscle around the shoulder area.
- Can you feel the spine sticking up from the body? To thin. Or does it feel like muscle and flesh is built up on both sides of the spine? Thats good! Or do you feel squishy fat? Thats bad.
- Feel the hip bones and hindquarters. Do you feel just bones or hard muscle and flesh? Or do you feel squishy fat over and around the hipbones?
Overweight Donkey
Being overweight isn’t good for any creature. Our desert donkey friends have a multitude of health problems when they get overweight. If you see or feel fat pads and see or feel a cresty fat roll on the top of the neck, this is very bad for your donkey.
Proper diet and exercise are critical for this donkeys health. Please see my article on feeding donkeys here: Feeding Donkeys {6 Things ALL my Donkeys Get}
A vet once told me, “If you keep your equine lean and their toes trimmed short, you’ll eliminate almost all of their health problems.“
Natural Donkey Care
I try to set my donkeys up as natural as possible, provide natural health support and treat the “whole donkey”. Because I rescue donkeys, I rarely get a healthy donkey and it’s up to me to try to get them healthy! This can take a long time for some of the most neglected ones.
I’m writing a series of 3 books on caring for donkeys naturally. Physically, mentally, emotionally and provided natural support in form of herbs, bodywork and essential oils.
This first book will address the donkeys physical needs and ailments. Things like diet, hoof care and wound care, etc.
Table of Contents
- Chapter 1: About Donkeys Physically
- Chapter 2: Natural Donkey Diet
- Chapter 3: Donkey Shelter, Space and Fencing Needs
- Chapter 4: Donkey are Made to Move
- Chapter 5: Ailments and Wounds
- Chapter 6: Hoof Health for Donkeys
- Chapter 7: Donkey Dental Care
- Chapter 8: Parasites That Can Affect Donkeys
- Chapter 9: Vaccinations for Donkeys
- Conclusion
- Recommended Resources
- Donkey Weight Chart
Click the picture for more information and to get your copy!
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