Keep reading as we explain how to know if a donkey is pregnant. She is a mom of three who spends all her free time with her family and friends, her mare Joy, or just sipping her favorite cup of tea. Donkeys are full of character (Fig. 10 years ago. Caring for pregnant animals Nicky has been an editor at Farm & Animals since 2019. Wilmington, NC. Pregnancy can be confirmed by ultrasound after approximately two weeks after the breeding took place. Pregnancy. Carefully compare the bottom of the bag & teats with the other photos and you will see the difference that let us know the baby was arriving very … Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Yes, a donkey can get a horse pregnant. It takes a rather special stallion to even look at a jenny, and as you said, conception rates are low, and the rate of lost pregnancies is high. You should stay out of the way for this as it is an important part of the bonding process between mother and baby. Be sure there are no sharp objects in the foaling stall and/or pasture, and that there is no way a little donkey baby foot can get under anything that could break a leg or injure the donkey. A male horse (stallion) bred to a female donkey (jennet) produces a HINNY. About two weeks before delivery, the jenny may shun other herd mates and want to … Farm & Animals is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Their pregnancy bump will be lower in the belly than normal excess fat and usually lean more to one side. When you can see a clear secretion you … As the baby begins to nurse, the jenny will probably pass the placenta. 1) and are fantastic fun to get to know and care for. If you don’t really need a brand-new baby donkey, it’s always wiser to adopt. Why Does My Dog Have Bright Red Blood in His Stool? In any event, you may soon notice inexplicable weight gain and differences in behavior that have you wondering if your donkey is pregnant. The bulge will be lower in the belly than normal fatness, and will very likely be more on one side than on the other. Farm & Animals She will show an enlarged abdomen during the last 3 months of the pregnancy. Donkeys usually give birth easily and independently, but it's always wise to know the signs of impending delivery and secure her in a safe place prior to the birth. The resulting offspring (a mule if a boy, a hinny if a girl) will be sterile and cannot reproduce. Otherwise, there shouldn’t be much for you to do. This is usually more obvious in older brood mares. Some signs are the donkeys bag will be very hard, the milk will be foamy, and the pelvic area will appear All of these symptoms will take place bit-by-bit over quite a long period of time. This moment is of high importance as the foal needs their mother's milk (otherwise known as colostrum) to fight off diseases in their early stages of life. Mini-donkeys come in various shades of grey, brown, tan, … Do NOT break or cut the cord, it should remain intact for as long as it can. At this stage, it is important to clear the foal's mouth and nose of mucus - if the jenny seems relaxed enough for you to intervene. 0 Comments Add a Comment. (+ and X marks indicate the area of the embryonic fluid.) A few days before the baby is born, you may notice that milk is beginning to drip from the udder. There are not many things that are cuter than a little donkey foal. For most of the gestation period, it is very difficult to know when a donkey is pregnant or not. The gestation period for a horse is 335 to 345 days, so if you're timing the pregnancy, that should give you some idea of when to watch for labor. 6. For the horse, the average length of gestation is 335-345 days while in donkeys it is 360-375 days or more. Even though she may have lost her appetite, you should keep plenty of fresh hay available as well as fresh water. Of course, if your donkey is pregnant, you may notice quite a bit of weight gain in the midsection. Before you make this monumental decision, though, be sure that the little donkey will have an insured future, and there is someone who will care for them. A jenny who has had a few other foals will encourage the baby to nurse. If she doesn’t, you should wipe the area with a soft, clean, damp cloth. Don’t cut the cord or interfere. How to Know if a Donkey is Pregnant. I am currently developing tables for miniature donkeys to relate the diameter of the conceptus to the stage of pregnancy. Farm & Animals is a farm life blog run by two farming enthusiasts helping first time farm owners and beginners. Now watch to see if your donkey’s weight increases or decreases. You may need to help direct the baby to its first meal. We have a young male donkey born seven or eight months ago ,he lives with his mother Clementine and his Tia Juanita. Also in the last two week period the mares udder will begin to enlarge until during the last week the teats fill out. Chicago, IL 60637. Donkeys bred to donkeys produced DONKEYS. Points. Of course, please consult your vet if you have any questions regarding the preparation for the birth. This milk must be taken within two hours after birth if possible. On some occasions, the foal may come out in a different position. Once the baby is clean and on its feet, it will look around for its first meal. This means that she is beginning to produce milk in anticipation of the new arrival. The whole birthing process takes about an hour from the first contractions. 0 Comments Add a Comment. There are different methods to diagnose an early pregnancy in mares so we recommend that you contact your vet for advice. 333. Have a veterinarian use ultrasound to determine whether the mare is pregnant. In preparation for the birth, your jenny will naturally want to seek out a quiet, private place. 2. After her waters break (i.e. How can i tell if my donkey is pregnant? If you notice more weight gain on one side than the other, this probably means that there’s a baby on board. If they seem to be gaining … 0. Colostrum is only produced within the first twelve hours after the jenny gives birth, so it’s vital that the foal feed well during this time. Location. Furthermore, she may even exude some milk a few days before the birth. If she trusts you, she will have no issue with you doing that. A typical donkey pregnancy lasts between 11 and 14 months. Learn how your comment data is processed. I have two questions concerning the statement, "At this stage, it is important to clear the foal's mouth and nose of mucus - if the jenny seems relaxed enough for you to intervene." Donkey Fact Sheet There is a tendency to treat donkeys as if they are small horses, but donkeys are different! If your jenny seems to be having trouble, and/or too much time is passing, call your vet. What Happens After The Baby Donkey Is Born. Alternately, you may have a nice quiet jenny in your pasture who slips away for a day or has a visit from a jack or a stallion. Did you have your jenny bred, or have you just acquired a jenny through gift, purchase or rescue? Jennies can be very difficult to get pregnant, without holding her and giving the jack some assistance. Donkey, Burro, Ass, jackass, jennet, Miniature Donkey, Mammoth, Jackstock, standard, Mexican Burro - they are all terms for Donkeys. This is to ensure the front hoofs and head are pointing in the right direction - i.e. Farm animals have been in her life from her earliest memories, and she learned to ride a horse when she was 5. Fingernails must be cut to prevent scratching. Normal donkey foals have reportedly been born at 10 ½ months up to 14 months of gestation. A male donkey (Jack) bred to a female horse produces a MULE. If this doesn’t happen within an hour of the baby’s birth, you should call your vet. Learning good farmership is a lifelong pursuit, so please get in touch if you have a query, story or any comment to share. The foal will of course struggle to stand at first, and keep on falling. In the last 3 months a more nutrient rich balancer such as Top Spec Comprehensive Balancer As well as what to do and what not to do during the exciting birth. Transrectal examination can detect pregnancy as early as 16 days after breeding. For more information, please read our PRIVACY POLICY. In another weeks time the muscles on either side of the tail head become very soft somewhat like Jell-o. Alternatively, a veterinarian may be able to manually feel the small embryo in the mare's uterus approximately six weeks into the pregnancy via rectal palpation. Donkeys Are the Philosophers of the Equine World. Posted How can i tell if my donkey is pregnant? Read on to find out why… Why Get a Donkey? An ultrasound requires the vet to insert a probe into the mare's rectum to take pictures that can confirm pregnancy. Within a few hours of the birth, the lips of the jenny’s vulva will begin to swell. My Dog Had a Miscarriage - Signs and Symptoms, Phantom Pregnancy in Dogs - Everything about False Pregnancy. The pregnant donkey (or jenny) may just look a little fatter for a long time and this fatness may only resemble pregnancy in the last month or so. Once the baby is cleaned and walking around, it should be breathing normally, and it should be hungry. There are not many things that are cuter than a little donkey foal. Click to attach a photo related to your comment. 2,886. If you notice that the weight gain is very low in the belly and not anywhere else, you can reasonably suspect pregnancy. What do you use to clear it with, anything specific, like a towel? What signs are there to tell if donkey is pregnant? The only reliable way that I know is to get your vet to do an ultrasound scan. Your jenny will probably lie down to deliver her baby, but if she does deliver standing up, it’s a good idea for you to be close by to catch the baby so it doesn’t fall to the ground. specially if the donkey is viewed from the front or back. Her pelvic muscles will slacken and the bones around the top of her tail will become moveable. If you want to read similar articles to How to Know if a Donkey is Pregnant, we recommend you visit our Pregnancy problems category. Weight gain in a pregnant donkey may be a little bit lopsided. April 26, 2017 Donkey Other - Pets Pets pregnant. It is quite difficult to spot pregnancy in a donkey during the early stages. It is important to state that if the foal is born at 10 months, they are not deemed premature. If mother will let you handle the baby, look it over carefully to make sure that its eyes are open, bright and clear. Figure 1: Equipment for Donkey Reproductive Ultrasounds. Feed them roughly 3-5 lbs of hay per day each – roughly! Pregnancy lasts for 11 months in the mare. Hi there, I have a female donkey and am not sure if she is pregnant she has run with a jack before we got her.She has been passing urine and smelling it after and making funny noices with her mouth could you please tell me why she is doing this she has only just started this and we have had her for 4 months, I am unsure of her age thank you for your time Kind regards Sandra. AnimalWised Sorry this photo was taken at the wrong angle but you can see she is fully engorged, round bottom bag, and teats pointing East/West. Your donkey will frequently urinates and mucous is discharged from the vagina, she will show a strong desire to mate. Usually, the jenny will clean and dry the baby right away. The udder will develop in the last month of pregnancy. If your donkey is healthy and happy, you may miss the whole show. The estrous cycle of jennets ranges from 23-30 days, whereas the mare has a slightly shorter cycle of 21-25 days. Your vet is the only way. If your jenny is strong and healthy, and the baby is healthy too, the cord should break naturally on its own as the two of the move about. Copyright © 2019-2021. Shortly before birth, she will also exhibit the following signs and symptoms: A jenny is pregnant for anything between 10 and 14 months. This first milk imparts essential antibodies to the baby which help protect it from diseases. Bring your jenny into a clean, dry stall with plenty of clean straw for bedding. This could just mean that your donkey is eating more grass and hay and has gained some weight. If this is your jenny’s first baby, she may not know what to do. A = 5 MHz linear probe; B = PVC extension for transrectal exams in smaller donkeys. What to Do if My Dog has Something Stuck in his Throat? But, AnimalWised have a comprehensive guide for you to spot those signs and symptoms. 6022 S Drexel Ave If you are lucky enough to get first hand experience with a donkey's pregnancy and the birthing process, you must be informed. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Thanks for your advice. 1. what if the jenny will not let you intervene, will the foal be ok? In any of these situations, you have good reason to wonder if your new donkey is pregnant. Donkeys are versatile animals and can have many uses including for children to ride, for If/when you notice thick, waxy milk dripping from your donkey’s teats, you can be pretty sure that your new baby donkey will arrive within the next day or two. The donkey is pregnant for 12 months. There are lots of nice donkeys in need of good homes available through a number of qualified adoption agencies. They're stoical, pragmatic, intelligent, and they …