How Long Do Donkeys Live On A Farm? (How To Help Them Live Longer)

A lot of new farm owners, when researching care and the things that can help keep their animals in great condition, will want know how long they can live.

Donkeys can live between 30 to 40 human years on a farm (some even older). Compared to their average life span in the wild or in poorer countries, that’s at least 10 years more. The exact age they can reach on a farm depends on a bunch of factors.

So if that sounds complicated, don’t worry. This article plans to break some of those factors down.

We’ll cover:

  • Why some donkeys live longer on farms than others
  • How you can help prolong your donkeys life on a farm
  • How long they live in the wild
  • What donkey breeds live longest

Ready to learn more? Let’s get going.

Why Do Some Donkeys Live Longer Than Others On Farms?

Age aside, the reasons can include:

  • Farm conditions: diet, shelter, protection from predators etc.
  • Genetic predispositions: breeding problems and heritable diseases
  • Working conditions: stressors from riding, cart work, any other agricultural work etc.

Obviously there’s no definitive way of knowing exactly how long your donkey is going to live. Just like humans, life can be unpredictable and things can happen that are outside of your control.

But there are a couple of things you can do to ensure they have as best chance as possible of living long, healthy lives.

How Can I Help My Donkey Live Longer?

Here are four good tips:

1. Ensure you buy (or adopt) your donkey from reputable breeders: make sure they are vaccinated and registered at the point of purchase.

2. Research the herdsires and jennies of a donkey you plan on getting: look for underlying health issues and what kind of condition they are in.

3. Take excellent care of your donkeys: call out vets at the first sign of injury or disease. Call out farriers if they have hoove problems.

4. Keep learning: find out as much as you can about keeping donkeys, the challenges involved and how you can best face them.

The main thing is to do whatever is in your power to help. And try to tackle anything outside your power with compassion and empathy.

At the end of the day donkeys need love just as much as any animal. Providing that can go a long way to prolonging their lives.

How Long Do Donkeys Live As Pets?

Keeping a donkey as a pet, you can expect them to live about the same time they would on a farm (around 30 years). Depending on the conditions you raise them, that number could vary.

There are a couple of factors that could impact how long a donkey could live as a pet however. Space is one of them. Donkeys need at least 40 square feet – that’s a lot for a pet! [1]

It’s definitely not recommended to keep a donkey if you have less space than that. Cramped conditions can accelerate health issues, cause them to become depressed and ultimately cut their lives short.

How Long Do Donkeys Live In Captivity?

A donkey living in captivity, again, usually lives between 30-40 years. The conditions in captivity are essentially the same as that of a farm.

One thing that could differ is closer observation or monitoring (especially if living on a big zoo). That’s something that could help lengthen their lifespan.

Usually petting zoos are very commercially aware. They want to keep their animals in the absolute best condition and even have on-site vets and farriers to provide round-the-clock care.

An inexperienced farmer might not be as aware of the initial signs of disease (or outside threats) that could impact a donkey’s life. So there’s a small chance they might not live as long.

How Long Do Donkeys Live In The Wild?

The lifespan of a donkey in the wild can vary. In the northern African and Arabian deserts (where they live) there are generally more threats to a donkey than there would be on a farm or in captivity. Because of that, they tend to live less than 25 years.

This number is dependent of course on a few things:

  • Available resources: adequate food and drink
  • Protection: safety in numbers
  • Predator populations: fewer the better

Although donkeys are pretty capable of fending off other animals (like snakes and coyotes), they’re not completely resilient.

Do Miniature Donkeys Live Longer Than Mammoth Donkeys?

Miniature donkeys have been argued to live longer than mammoth or normal-sized donkeys. With good nutrition and care they can live well. But there isn’t too much difference in terms of life span (the maximum most live is around 35 years).

The same factors apply to helping a miniature donkey live longer as it would a normal sized one.

What Donkey Breeds Live The Longest?

There is no one breed of donkey that’s known to live longer than others. The figures given in this article are average numbers for the species as a whole.

Breeds popular to richer countries however – such as the Poitou (France) – tend to live longer. But that’s because the level of care they recieve is generally better than that given in poorer places.


Interested In Learning More About Donkeys?

Our guides can really help you keep your donkeys in great condition and help them live long and happy lives.

[1] https://opensanctuary.org/article/building-a-good-home-for-donkeys/

Image Credit: @umanoide at Unsplash

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