Donkeys are hardy animals that can thrive in a variety of climates. They’re also intelligent, social creatures that need plenty of space to roam and stimulation to keep them happy and healthy. As such, their housing and bedding requirements are quite different from those of other farm animals, like chickens or goats. Plus, donkeys won’t spend all day, every day, in their enclosure; they require access to pasture whenever possible. That said, they usually prefer to sleep indoors at night and on rainy days. Their living quarters should be clean and comfortable, with plenty of fresh bedding for them to choose from!
But since several types of bedding are available in the market, it can be difficult to know what to choose. That’s why we’ve created this list, to help you find the right one for your animal. Here are reviews of the five best beddings for donkeys in 2022.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2023
Image Product Details
Best Overall
Ametza Compressed Wheat Straw Bale
Dust free
Dries well and is easy to clean
Can be used for both horses and donkeys
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Best Value
American Wood Fiber Pellets Bedding
Less palatable than straw
Budget friendly
Good option for donkeys on a diet or with respiratory issues
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Premium Choice
Summit Clear-Water Barley Straw
Best bedding option for donkeys
100% natural and environmentally friendly
Comfortable to lie on
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Standlee Hay Company Straw Bale
Clean straw
Easy to handle and store
Certified noxious weed free
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Standlee Hay Company Timothy Bale
Affordable
Safe to use as donkey feed
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The 5 Best Bedding Options for Donkeys
Ametza Compressed Wheat Straw Bale is the best overall bedding for donkeys. This wheat straw is compostable and dust free and does not tend to retain odors. In addition, it dries quickly, which makes cleaning the shelter easier. Compared to other options, this one comes with a reusable bag with handles, so you can bring it all the way to your donkey shelter without leaving a trail of straw along the way.
Type of bedding: Wheat straw
Weight: 40 lbs.
However, be aware that while wheat straw can be eaten, it’s quite fibrous, which makes it less suitable for donkeys with poor dentition. So, if your donkey tends to eat breakfast in bed but has dental issues, it’s best to choose another option, such as barley straw.
Pros
Dust free
Dries well and is easy to clean
Can be used for both horses and donkeys
Comes with a handy reusable bag
Affordable
Cons
Wheat straw can be difficult to chew for donkeys with poor dentition
2. America’s Choice Wood Fiber Bedding Pellets — Best Value
American Wood Fiber Pellets are the best bedding for donkeys for the money because they are sold in large quantities, hassle free to use, super absorbent, and completely dust free. They are also not appetizing, so they’re ideal for overweight donkeys.
Dust free
Dries well and is easy to clean
Can be used for both horses and donkeys
Comes with a handy reusable bag
Affordable
- Dust free
- Dries well and is easy to clean
- Can be used for both horses and donkeys
- Comes with a handy reusable bag
- Affordable
Wheat straw can be difficult to chew for donkeys with poor dentition
- Wheat straw can be difficult to chew for donkeys with poor dentition
Type of bedding: Pine pellets
Weight: 40 lbs.
That said, they may not be as comfortable as straw to rest on. In addition, they tend to turn black in contact with urine, which makes cleaning more tedious. However, you can combine wood pellets with another bedding option (like wheat straw) to make your donkey as comfortable as possible while staying within your budget.
Pros
Less palatable than straw
Budget friendly
Good option for donkeys on a diet or with respiratory issues
Cons
Not that comfortable
Wood pellets tend to blacken on contact with urine
Although barley straw is the best straw for bedding and donkey feed (as recommended by The Donkey Sanctuary), it is more readily available for pond treatment in the United States. This makes it extremely expensive when purchased in large quantities. Summit Clear-Water Pond Treatment is actually a micro bale of barley straw that can be used for your donkey’s bedding, and you must be sure to buy enough to cover the floor of their shelter!
Less palatable than straw
Budget friendly
Good option for donkeys on a diet or with respiratory issues
- Less palatable than straw
- Budget friendly
- Good option for donkeys on a diet or with respiratory issues
Not that comfortable
Wood pellets tend to blacken on contact with urine
- Not that comfortable
- Wood pellets tend to blacken on contact with urine
Type of bedding: Barley straw
Weight: 40 lbs.
Among its other advantages, it is natural, pesticide free, eco-friendly, and completely safe for your donkey. However, more cost-effective options may be available, depending on your location.
Pros
Best bedding option for donkeys
100% natural and environmentally friendly
Comfortable to lie on
Cons
Extremely costly
- Standlee Hay Company Straw Bale
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Type of bedding: Straw
Weight: 50 lbs.
Standlee Hay Company Straw Bale is a good bedding option for your donkey. The company doesn’t mention the type of straw used in this bale, but it’s likely wheat straw, which healthy donkeys can safely chew on. It is certified noxious weed free, which will save you from ending up with weeds in your barn. Many buyers have also noted that this straw is quite clean, with no mold or moisture. It is also well-packaged, which makes it easy to store. However, it tends to be dusty and expensive.
Best bedding option for donkeys
100% natural and environmentally friendly
Comfortable to lie on
- Best bedding option for donkeys
- 100% natural and environmentally friendly
- Comfortable to lie on
Extremely costly
- Extremely costly
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Type of bedding: Straw
Weight: 50 lbs.
Pros
Clean straw
Easy to handle and store
Certified noxious weed free
Cons
Dusty
Quite expensive
- Standlee Hay Company Timothy Bale
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Type of bedding: Timothy hay
Weight: 50 lbs.
Donkeys tend to nibble on their bedding, so timothy hay is a good alternative to barley straw for your pet’s bedding, as it has a low protein content and a high percentage of indigestible fiber. It is also easier to find in the United States. The 50-pound Standlee Hay Company’s Timothy Bale is good value and won’t give your donkey any trouble if they eat some of it. This hay will normally arrive at your doorstep green and fresh, but keep in mind that since it is sold in large quantities, the quality may not be consistent. Additionally, some buyers have reported that the hay is dusty, making it less suitable for donkeys with respiratory problems.
Clean straw
Easy to handle and store
Certified noxious weed free
- Clean straw
- Easy to handle and store
- Certified noxious weed free
Dusty
Quite expensive
- Dusty
- Quite expensive
Type of bedding: Timothy hay
Weight: 50 lbs.
Pros
Affordable
Safe to use as donkey feed
Cons
Dusty
Inconsistent hay quality
Affordable
Safe to use as donkey feed
- Affordable
- Safe to use as donkey feed
Dusty
Inconsistent hay quality
- Dusty
- Inconsistent hay quality
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Bedding for Donkeys
Why Do Donkeys Need Bedding?
Although donkeys don’t spend as much time in their shelter as horses do, they still need clean, comfortable, and dry bedding, especially during the cold winter months. Even though these animals are particularly hardy and stoic in nature, the cold, hard, and slippery barn floor is not a suitable place to rest.
What Is the Best Bedding for Your Donkey?
Barley Straw
Barley straw is the bedding of choice for healthy donkeys. Since these animals tend to nibble their bedding, barley straw is preferable because it is rich in fiber but low in calories. It is also comfortable and absorbent, which makes cleaning easier.
However, barley straw is hard to find in the United States. Micro bales sold online or in pet stores are primarily intended for use as a pond treatment. Considering that you need to purchase enough to cover the ground with at least 8 inches of straw, the total cost may be too high. Therefore, you might need to find other alternatives.
Wheat Straw
Wheat straw is an acceptable alternative to barley straw because it is safe to eat, sold in large quantities, is easy to find, and is less expensive. However, it is less comfortable and can be quite dusty, depending on the quality of the straw.
Other Problems With Straw
Donkeys with respiratory problems should preferably not sleep on straw, as dust and straw particles can aggravate their symptoms. In addition, these animals tend to gain weight easily, so a donkey on a diet should not sleep on edible litter.
Other Types of Donkey Bedding
Other materials can be used as bedding for donkeys, such as wood pellets or wood shavings. These are non-dusty, economical, insulating, and inedible. However, they are less comfortable than straw and tend to darken in contact with pee, requiring more frequent cleaning.
Basically, the perfect donkey bedding doesn’t exist. What is suitable for one donkey may not be suitable for another, hence the importance of experimenting to find the best bedding for your animal.
However, you can use a combination of several types of donkey bedding. For example, you can put a layer of wood pellets on the floor, followed by a layer of straw, which will improve water drainage and make the bed more comfortable.
Conclusion
In short, the best bedding for donkeys is simply clean, dry straw. Donkeys can use different types of straw, but barley straw is the best premium choice, especially if you opt for Summit Clear-Water Straw. For a more affordable option, American Wood Fiber Pellets Bedding will do just fine.
If you are unsure which type of donkey bedding to choose, we highly recommend Ametza Compressed Wheat Straw Bale or a combination of this bedding and wood pellets.
We hope that these reviews will help you find what’s best for your hoofed pet! However, remember to monitor your donkey’s behavior once you have chosen suitable bedding to ensure that it is comfortable, warm, and dry all year round.
Featured Image Credit: cottonbro studio, Pexels
