The Miniature Mediterranean Donkey is by nature one of the friendliest and most affectionate animals of its type. They are very tame and gentle. They are also easier to manage in everyday life than some donkeys simply because they are smaller. They love their owners and seek attention. They do this with friendly nudges and brays and funny little sounds designed to get you to pay attention to them.
The miniature donkey is extremely intelligent and docile and is easily trained. Geldings or jennets make the best pets. Jacks enjoy braying and may become excited in the presence of the females. The size of these donkeys varies from 26 inches, which is considered extraordinarily small, to 36 inches at the withers. An average height would be about inches. Throughout history, donkeys have been used as "beasts of burden. George has a white coat with gray spots and a floppy mane.
Giuseppe has a brown coat and a white muzzle. Skip to main content. Entry passes are required for all guests, including infants. All visitors ages 2 and older are required to wear a mask in all indoor spaces at the Zoo, regardless of their vaccination status. Fully vaccinated visitors do not need to wear a mask in outdoor areas. Kids' Farm. Miniature donkey. Animals Animals A-Z Miniature donkey. Share this page:. Fact sheet Conservation Meet the Animals Physical Description Donkeys differ from horses in shape and are characterized by their large head, long ears and cow-like tail.
Size Unlike many other miniature breeds such as toy poodles , the miniature donkey is not a bred-down version of a larger donkey. Communication Donkeys communicate by braying, a sound also known as a "hee-haw. Social Structure The major attraction to miniature donkeys, for humans, is their docile personalities. Reproduction and Development Jennets females can become fertile at one year of age, but should not be bred until they are 2. Lifespan With lifelong proper care, donkeys can live well into their 30s with the average life span being 33 years.
Help this Species Share the story of this animal with others. Simply raising awareness about this species can contribute to its overall protection. Less is more. Cut down on the demand for resources by consuming less. Buy only what you need, and look for pre-owned or repurposed items before purchasing something brand new.
More animals at Kids' Farm. Colors are gray, brown, black, red or sorrel , spotted and a more rare solid white color called frosted spotted white. Most donkeys have white around their eyes and muzzles. Almost all donkeys will have a "cross". The cross is a darker brown or black dorsal stripe running from the top of the donkey's back from the withers where the neck connects to the back and extending to the rear and down the tail.
There is also a shoulder stripe that intersects the dorsal stripe at the withers running down each shoulder. It states that Jesus rewarded the donkey for his loyalty to Him when he carried Jesus into Jerusalem and staying with Him at the crucifixion by placing the shadow of the cross across the donkeys back for all to remember the importance of God's humblest of creatures. Miniature donkeys have relatively few health problems.
They are hardy animals used to most anything the environment can throw at them. Responsible breeders should always breed for excellent conformation in their foals. That is necessary for the health of the donkey and the welfare and future of the breed. Although perfect conformation is impossible to achieve and subject to breeder preference, the following should be included in any discussion of good conformation.
Proportion — This means that each body part is proportionate to every other body part, i. A longer back is acceptable in the brood jennet in order to give her more room for gestation and delivery of the foal. You can't always define proportion but you can certainly tell a well-balanced donkey when you see it because it has great eye appeal.
Body Type — There are two body types in the miniature donkey. One is called drafty or stocky and the other is called refined. A drafty body type is seen when the donkey is thicker, legs are larger, rump is wider, and neck is thicker.
The overall look is one of heavier bone. A refined body type is seen when the body parts are thinner and not as heavy looking. Both body types are acceptable although breeders today tend to like a more drafty look in their breeding stock. Head — A shorter head and wider forehead is preferred over a long and narrow one. On the other hand, dwarf donkeys are a lot smaller than regular donkeys. They might not be able to defend livestock with the same ferocity as their bigger, heavier cousins.
Female donkeys are called jennies or jennets, and they can come into heat at any time of year. It usually lasts for 3 — 4 weeks or until the jennet becomes pregnant.
Donkeys have one of the longest gestation cycles in the world, and this includes miniature donkeys. Their pregnant for anywhere between months. They usually have a single foal, but the occasional donkey will give birth to twins. Baby donkeys are very cute animals, and the baby mini-donkey is extra cute. This happens very quickly after birth; jennets will begin nursing their foals just a few minutes after delivering them. Moms will also stick close to their babies for several months after that.
Donkeys and horses are entirely separate species. They can be bred together to create hybrids, but they have their own distinct colors, sizes, diets, temperaments, and habits. They even have their own chromosome counts: Donkeys possess 62 chromosomes while horses boast Dwarf donkeys are quite intelligent.
When properly motivated by treats and training, they can be real crowd-pleasers. Their ultimate price tag will depend on things like age, gender, and size. A healthy female who is ready to breed will be more expensive than a retired, gelded male. Registration also matters. They have to meet certain qualifications to be registered that way. Want more cute animals? Check out this post about kangaroo diets. Did you learn anything from these miniature donkey facts? As they expand in both population and popularity, mini-donkeys are being studied more and more, so expect this list of trivia to keep growing!
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