Question re weaning

Larwoodgal · 10-27-2009, 07:23 AM

So, my friend's new donkey finally had her baby last weekend, a little girl. Mom and baby are doing well, but owner is very inexperienced

and has a few questions:

1. is it normal for the mother to have a small udder? (I haven't seen it, or have pics yet). The udder does seem soft.

2. The vet reduced the grain, donkey mom got bitchy, owner increased grain, donkey is happier. Is there a recommended/safe grain mix for new mom donkeys?

3. The vet (a horse vet) told the owner to wean the baby at 4 months. Other sources tell the owner to wait to as old as 9 months. Is there a norm?

singing tree · 10-27-2009, 11:54 AM

The only thing I can address in this post is that if the mama donkey's bag is soft, all is well. If it gets hard and full, that means that little donk is not nursing and something is wrong! Little ones nurse about every 45 minutes! So that bag should never be absolutely full. As to the other questions, I'm sure some other folks will have more info. Congrats to the new owners!

Any pics possible??

muttduck · 10-27-2009, 07:29 PM

Watch the excess feed. Some donks are more prone to getting fat, laminitis, or founder than the average horse, so make sure she monitors mom's weight. I kept our Jenny on her normal, prefoaling grain rations and adjusted as needed if she looked fat or thin.

Donkey bags are relatively smaller than horse bags...
At least - our donk's was compared to our horse's.
A soft bag usually means the baby's nursing it well.
Hard bags should be worried about moreso than soft.

I personally am weaning our jennet at 8 months. I would have weaned around 5-6 months typically, pending when I felt she was ready - however, our mess with Lonely had us nursing longer, so we had a 'back up' milk source for Lonely's foal, since we had worries about Lonely not getting her milk.

The big thing is that all babies are individuals, as are all moms. So she should watch hers for signs of when nature says to wean. Be that when baby is becoming independent and eating well... or when mom starts saying enough is enough... or if baby is pulling too much from mom.

Larwoodgal · 10-28-2009, 05:25 PM

Thanks, muttduck. I'll get this info to my friend.

qtrhorse1993 · 10-29-2009, 05:10 AM

where are the pics??? LOL

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10-27-2009, 07:23 AM
Larwoodgal Weanling Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Tweed, Ontario Posts: 299	Question re weaning So, my friend's new donkey finally had her baby last weekend, a little girl. Mom and baby are doing well, but owner is very inexperienced and has a few questions: 1. is it normal for the mother to have a small udder? (I haven't seen it, or have pics yet). The udder does seem soft. 2. The vet reduced the grain, donkey mom got bitchy, owner increased grain, donkey is happier. Is there a recommended/safe grain mix for new mom donkeys? 3. The vet (a horse vet) told the owner to wean the baby at 4 months. Other sources tell the owner to wait to as old as 9 months. Is there a norm?

10-27-2009, 11:54 AM
singing tree Coming two Join Date: May 2009 Location: Hartville, Ohio Posts: 1,996	The only thing I can address in this post is that if the mama donkey's bag is soft, all is well. If it gets hard and full, that means that little donk is not nursing and something is wrong! Little ones nurse about every 45 minutes! So that bag should never be absolutely full. As to the other questions, I'm sure some other folks will have more info. Congrats to the new owners! Any pics possible??

10-27-2009, 07:29 PM
muttduck Kid Safe Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Central Kentucky Posts: 7,067	Watch the excess feed. Some donks are more prone to getting fat, laminitis, or founder than the average horse, so make sure she monitors mom's weight. I kept our Jenny on her normal, prefoaling grain rations and adjusted as needed if she looked fat or thin. Donkey bags are relatively smaller than horse bags... At least - our donk's was compared to our horse's. A soft bag usually means the baby's nursing it well. Hard bags should be worried about moreso than soft. I personally am weaning our jennet at 8 months. I would have weaned around 5-6 months typically, pending when I felt she was ready - however, our mess with Lonely had us nursing longer, so we had a 'back up' milk source for Lonely's foal, since we had worries about Lonely not getting her milk. The big thing is that all babies are individuals, as are all moms. So she should watch hers for signs of when nature says to wean. Be that when baby is becoming independent and eating well... or when mom starts saying enough is enough... or if baby is pulling too much from mom. __________________ sigh

10-28-2009, 05:25 PM
Larwoodgal Weanling Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Tweed, Ontario Posts: 299	Thanks, muttduck. I'll get this info to my friend.

10-29-2009, 05:10 AM
qtrhorse1993 Yearling Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Johnstown, New York Posts: 756	where are the pics??? LOL __________________ The world meets no one half way, but your horse will meet you all the way.