Keep the hay barn full and burro bellies happy!

Join the hay supper club

The key to Healthy donkeys?
It’s in the Hay!

We’re always striving to give our donkeys the healthiest, happiest lives possible. That means learning, listening to our veterinarians, and adjusting their care as needed.

Hay is one of the most important and essential ongoing expenses in our budget. Investing in higher quality hay saves money on medical needs by keeping our donkeys healthier from the inside out.

In the wild, donkeys are able to graze a variety of forage sources, giving them a balanced nutrition. They also get plenty of exercise, typically roaming up to 10 miles a day! At our sanctuary, we strive to give them a similar balanced diet and lifestyle.

One important thing we’ve learned is that donkeys are especially sensitive to sugars in their diet. In the wild, they eat very fibrous, low-sugar plants. In captivity, certain common feeds can cause weight gain, metabolic issues, and painful conditions like laminitis.

That’s why we’ve been carefully reevaluating what we feed our donkeys to protect their health, prevent illness, and keep them comfortable for years to come.

Our food budget has increased to provide better quality hay called Teff, and we expect many healthier, long term benefits, including:

💛 Fewer donkeys struggling with weight gain
💛 Lower risk of metabolic issues
💛 Healthier hooves and less risk of painful laminitis
💛 Fewer vet visits and less discomfort overall

We want our donkeys feeling better in their bodies and aging more gracefully; That means everything to us — and hopefully to you, our donkey-loving supporters, too!

JOIN THE HAY SUPPER CLUB

Contribute anywhere from $5 to $50 a month and help build a “hay reserve.” With enough members, we can eventually secure hay for an entire year at a much lower price.

The Goal:
Build a savings for the next hay order or to purchase annually at a cheaper price.

How You Can Help:
Contribute monthly; Choose anywhere from $5 to $50.

The Result:
Full hay barns, healthy, pain-free donkeys, and peace of mind!