Donkeys!

They’re like horses, but smaller and not as much color, and bigger ears. Can you guess what it is? It’s a donkey. The donkey is a herbivorous animal and the smallest member of the horse family.

 The correct term for the animal known as the donkey, is a burro, or jack stock. The young of a donkey is called a foal. A young male is a colt and a young female a filly. The correct name for a female donkey is jenny and the correct name for a male donkey is jack.

A mule is the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse. A hinny is the offspring of a male horse and a female donkey.

There are three categories of donkeys. Miniatures are 36 inches and under. Standards are between 36 and 54 inches. Mammoths are over 54 inches. All measured to the shoulder. (Meaning not including the head)

Donkeys can live for 25 to 35 years of age. However, donkeys in third world countries live over 10 years.

Jennies are pregnant for one full year and usually give birth one foal. Twins are very rare for a donkey.

Donkeys are used as guard animals for goats and sheep against the threat of coyote attack. They are also used to protect cows while calving. The coyote is the only natural threat to donkeys. Donkeys therefore do not like any canines.

Donkeys can easily carry 30% of their body weight in live load and 20% in dead weight.