Beta on the Best Snacks for Burro Training

Tried & True Ideas for Feeding Treats to Wild Burros
Donkeys are extremely clever animals. To work with them efficiently, it’s worthwhile to earn their belief. This isn’t a simple factor to do—constructing belief, particularly with a previously wild animal, takes a variety of time and persistence! Treats additionally assist.
Constructive reinforcement is the cornerstone of donkey coaching.
We’ll cowl six of our favourite donkey-approved treats, together with a number of that didn’t go over so effectively.
Supply: Bottomless Backpacks
When contemplating what treats to feed your burro, take into consideration the next:
Security for Equines: Treats needs to be protected to feed to donkeys – typically, issues formulated for equines are OK, however concentrate on sugar content material!
Diet: As donkeys are vulnerable to weight problems, treats needs to be low calorie and low sugar. A great rule of thumb is to feed a donkey as you’d a horse with a metabolic situation.
For more information about donkey vitamin, try this text.
Velocity: You need to have the ability to rapidly present a deal with in response to a selected good conduct to make sure your donkey associates what they did with the reward.
Some treats are extra conducive to quick feeding than others!
Our donkeys particularly began out taking treats with their tooth, not their lips, incomes the nickname “piranhas.” After a number of finger nips, I rapidly realized what treats (and deal with shapes!) had been greatest for our coaching periods.
Comfort: You’ll want one thing to carry your treats so you’ve gotten quick access to a fast reward. Throughout colder months, I’ve an abundance of pockets, however in the course of the summer season a pouch to carry treats was important.
Fanny packs are wonderful donkey deal with dispensers!
Desire: All logic apart, donkeys will like what they like. In the event that they don’t wish to eat it, it’s not going to make for a very good deal with. Actually, trial and error will be enjoyable!

Six Prime Treats for Donkeys
*at all times feed sparsely
#1: Carrots
Carrots* are by far the deal with of alternative for Blue and Moon. As an added bonus, carrots are comparatively cheap and low calorie. Throughout intense coaching weeks, it wasn’t unusual to undergo 8-10 lbs of carrots per week, at a value of about $8.
Security Tip:
There was a studying curve to carrots, although, which sadly took a number of finger accidents to determine!
Rising up round horses “Maintain your hand flat when feeding treats to keep away from getting bitten!” was drilled into my head.
I do NOT counsel this when feeding (wild) donkeys!
I held my hand flat feeding Moon a carrot piece early on in our coaching course of and he took an enormous chunk out of my finger. Our donkeys began taking treats with their tooth; over time, they’ve realized to seize cookies with their lips, which is way gentler, however we nonetheless need to watch out when feeding them.
Blue additionally acquired me as soon as—as an alternative of holding my hand flat, I had a carrot pinched in between my thumb and index finger. He grabbed my fingers together with the carrot.

On account of these two experiences, I’ve modified my carrot-feeding methods. As a substitute of chopping carrots into small chunks, I reduce them into lengthy, skinny items. This permits me to carry the tip and rapidly feed them with out my fingers in the best way.
If I find yourself with a smaller piece, I toss these on the bottom or within the feed pan to maintain my fingers protected.
Did I point out donkeys have VERY sturdy jaws? You undoubtedly wish to maintain fingers clear!
*That is simply what has labored for me!
#2: Steam Rolled Oats
Whereas oats aren’t almost as fascinating as carrots, they nonetheless fall within the “deal with” class. Oats are very shut nutritionally to what a donkey may munch on within the wild. They’re the “fruit” of grasses that these burros usually graze on.
Oats are additionally tremendous tiny, which might make them troublesome to feed. After some painful encounters with carrots, I used to be nervous to attempt to hand-feed my donkeys oats. Nevertheless, I used to be pleasantly shocked.
Their small measurement truly helped train my donkeys the best way to take treats gently. The donkeys have to make use of their lips to understand the oats. After a number of days of treat-training with oats, we had been persistently taking treats extra gently.
The draw back? Hand-feeding oats does make a little bit of a large number.
Count on 25% or extra of what you feed to finish up on the bottom!
#3: Beet Pulp
Shredded beet pulp is one in every of our favourite snacks. Over the winter months, I soak it in sizzling water to make the boys a heat snack. In the summertime, I nonetheless soak it,* however now I exploit it as a coaching software as an alternative of only a snack. It’s an ideal supply of fiber and takes them a bit longer to eat, which supplies me loads of time for coaching!
*ALWAYS soak beet pulp! Beet pulp expands lots because it absorbs moisture. If you happen to feed it dry, you danger it increasing within the donkey’s intestines, which may trigger a blockage. Blockages may cause impaction colic.
I’ve discovered that simply 5-10 minutes is loads of time to soak shredded beet pulp.
Beet pulp can are available shredded or pelleted type. I choose shredded—it requires much less soaking time. Pellets are OK, however make sure you add further time so that they have absolutely absorbed water sufficient water to keep away from any points.
Soaked pellets
Shreds are “fluffier” than pellets, so pellets are seemingly a greater worth. Shreds are available a 25 lb bag, whereas pellets are available a 40 lb bag. The pricing was related ($16.99 / bag) however the pellets have gotten costlier over the past six months. A bag of pellets in March 2023 was $19.49 at Tractor Provide.

Moreover, it’s worthwhile to search for beet pulp with out added molasses. Keep in mind, donkeys are vulnerable to weight problems—you don’t wish to feed something with added sugar.
Do you know beets are grown for his or her sugar? Then how can they make a very good donkey deal with?
Beets are processed to take away the sugar, which is then used for different issues. What’s left is a low sugar, excessive fiber product that’s nice for donkeys.
Some producers will add molasses again to the beet pulp to make it extra interesting to horses. Whereas that is nice for horses, beet pulp with added molasses will probably be too candy for donkeys.
Blue and Einstein having fun with a heat beet pulp mash within the winter
#3: Grain
Grain is usually a nice high-value reward or incentive to get your donkey to do one thing. We use grain for the onerous stuff—like choosing up toes for the primary time or loading within the trailer.
Grain needs to be used sparingly. Many donkeys don’t require any grain in any respect of their diets.
It’s a concentrated supply of energy, so feed properly!
I’ve discovered two grains that work very effectively with our donkeys:
SafeChoice Particular Care: This product is formulated for horses with metabolic situations, so it’s low in sugar and decrease calorie than a traditional equine grain. That mentioned, it’s pelleted, so it’s a denser supply of energy than feeding one thing “fluffier” like beet pulp.
I solely feed about 0.5 lbs per day per donkey, or half a scoop.
An added bonus to this feature? It has pre-and-probiotics added for intestine well being, together with added biotin for his or her hooves and nutritional vitamins and minerals formulated for equine wants. It additionally has important amino acids, balanced for equines, which may help develop higher muscle alongside the topline.
Secure Selection Particular Care is extra concentrated than the second possibility, so if you happen to choose to feed it, make sure you persist with very low quantities.
Complete Equine LNSC: This feed can also be formulated for insulin-resistant horses, making it low-sugar and low-calorie.
(LNSC=Decrease non-structural carbohydrate) Not like SafeChoice Particular Care, which is pelleted, Complete Equine is extruded (a unique manufacturing course of) which makes it “fluffier.”
Extruded merchandise are good as a result of you may feed a better quantity of it (for context, I can feed one full scoop per donkey per day of this product vs. 0.5 scoops of the pellets listed above). Nevertheless, that does make it costlier than alternate options.
This product doesn’t have added biotin or pre/probiotics.
Whereas we love this, it’s costly! As of October 2024, a 40# bag is between $32-41, in comparison with SafeChoice Particular Care (50 lbs) at $25.
#4: Animal Crackers
The non-frosted number of animal crackers could make for a very good horse deal with. They’re shelf steady and comparatively cheap.

Watch out when feeding, because the smaller measurement could also be a little bit of a security hazard in the case of fingers.
Our donkeys like these, but when given the selection, would in all probability select a carrot.
One other plus? I don’t thoughts snacking on them, both!
Relying on the place you purchase them, they arrive in a reusable, mouse-proof container.
Mouse-proof container (NOT raccoon-proof) from Sam’s Membership
#5: Watermelon
Watermelon is a superb summer season snack for each individuals and donkeys!
You possibly can feed your donkeys the rinds—they’re an ideal supply of fiber and (not shockingly) water. Our donkeys are slightly spoiled and received’t eat simply the rind—they just like the pink half, too. I reduce up bite-size items and embody these in our deal with rotation.
They do max out on watermelon, so we feed it sparsely to combine issues up after which swap again to carrots.
Tried it, Didn’t Love It Listing
#1: Zucchini
Zucchini and squash are protected to feed to donkeys. Sadly, ours aren’t actually massive followers. Moon ate a number of items after which refused it. Blue will eat it however nonetheless prefers carrots. It was a enjoyable option to combine issues up and value a strive!
#2: Strawberries
Strawberries had been enjoyable, however once more, not a fan favourite. We ate a number of, then switched again to carrots.
Warning: By no means feed moldy or rotting fruit to your donkeys
#3: Applesauce
I attempted some no-sugar-added applesauce, considering it might be a great way to get meds in our boys later if wanted.
Sadly, we thought applesauce was bizarre and weren’t very keen about it.
I did go away it in a feed pan in a single day, and by morning the subsequent day, it was gone. So finally, somebody ate it! However I don’t suppose they favored it sufficient to sneak any drugs into it within the close to future.
Parting Ideas
There are a variety of completely different treats on the market to strive. Watching the donkeys strive one thing new and consider it may be very entertaining! Simply ensure you’re providing treats which are protected to your burro. If you happen to’re undecided, examine along with your vet!