Have you ever seen a donkey eating a banana? Maybe you have, eating them from the food scrap. Has it ever led you to think whether it’s safe for them or not? Well, you are about to find out. Bananas are not just extremely healthy and delicious they are the most convenient snack food as well. Being rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, bananas can be eaten to improve overall health.
Generally speaking, donkeys rarely get sick and usually do fine on less nutritional food as well but as a keeper, you have to be careful about their food, health, and wellness.
Like humans and other domestic animals, donkeys also appreciate receiving odd treats occasionally.
Adding a variety to their diet can help in encouraging a healthy appetite. It should be kept in mind that obesity is just as severely harmful to donkeys as it is to humans. It can lead to hyperlipidemia, a condition that is deadly for this poor creature. So, make sure you choose the low-calorie treat options.
The donkey’s feeding plan should have a regular feed and a small number of treats to keep them safe and healthy. There is a long list of fruits and vegetables that are safe and healthy for their well-being.
Bananas are considered one of the most healthy and delicious treats for donkey pets. Whether it’s safe for the pet donkey or not? It’s still a mystery to a lot of my readers. Enough beating about the bush, let’s get you enlightened.
Can donkeys eat bananas?
Yes, donkeys can eat bananas. Bananas are safe to feed them occasionally as a treat. This mushy soft fruit is easy to digest and has a high nutritional value; so it would make a healthy treat for donkeys.
Do they like bananas?
Yes, why would they not like this heavenly fruit? They love it to the point that they would ask more. Bananas are safe, nutritional, and adored by the donkeys. Are these points not valid enough to add bananas to the donkey’s diet?
Can donkeys eat banana peels?
Yes, donkeys can eat banana peels just as they ingest the flesh. As donkeys have a habit of eating food scrap, most of the donkey population might already be consuming banana peels for years. Banana peels should be thoroughly washed as no one want their pet to ingest the chemicals.
Bananas and peels can be safe, but banana bread is not
Just because banana flesh and the peels are entirely safe and healthy it doesn’t mean that any commercial-made banana bread would be as well.
Bread is not necessarily harmful but it’s not recommended because it would fill them up for any nutritional food. Bread, whether it’s plain or flavored, has zero nutrients so, there is no valid reason for feeding it.
Bananas can not be offered as a meal
Bananas alone can’t fulfill all the nutritional requirements of the body. A handful of medium-sized bananas along with peels are the healthiest periodic treat. Donkeys should be consuming hay or grass as a regular meal, the fruits, and veggies as an occasional treat.
Feed them chopped
Even though, bananas do not need chewing it is still recommended to feed them chopped. You can mix bananas with other fruits and vegetables or choose to feed them alone. The other fruits and vegetables should also be thoroughly washed and chopped.
Why should you add a banana or any other fruit treat?
Gone are the days when the animals used to eat the same food, as the awareness is being spread more livestock keeper are adding fruit and veggies to the animal’s diet for a variety of reasons but the three major ones are;
For nutritional purposes
Hay or green grass may not provide all the essential nutrients. Treats are often added to animals’ diets for the sake of nutrients and to avoid adding medical supplements to their diet.
Party to taste buds
Usually, animals eat the same food every day. Eating the same food every day is just as hard for them as it is for us. An occasional treat can be a game-changer.
Encourage them to eat more
Just like humans, sometimes donkeys are way too full for the regular feed. Feeding treats on such days would save a poor animal from starving. Moreover, having a variety of food available would encourage them to eat more.
What type of vitamins and minerals bananas have and how are they beneficial to donkeys?
This heavenly fruit has all the essential nutrients donkeys need for their health and wellness. One medium-sized banana contains the following nutrients;
- Potassium
- Vitamin B6
- Vitamin C
- Magnesium
- Copper
- Manganese
- Fiber
- Protein
(Source)
Potassium is needed for the regulation of fluid balance and healthy muscle functioning, the vitamin B6 develops new blood cells, vitamin C strengthens the health of bones and the immune system, magnesium improves growth and bone stability, cooper is needed for healthier bones, healthy nerve fiber, and white blood function, whereas protein enhances the quality of meat and milk.
Besides that, bananas contain a small number of carbs as well. Donkeys do not necessarily need a noticeable amount of carbs to function, feeding one or two bananas once or twice a week would not supply carbs more than the demand. Bananas contain 75%water, which is the need of every living thing. (Source)So, even if the donkey is not drinking enough water, the need is somehow being fulfilled pleasantly.
Other Treats for donkeys
Donkeys eat carrots, apples, grapes and other treats.
Putting it all together
Yes, donkeys can eat bananas but in moderation, just like all fruit or veggies treat. Bananas are extremely healthy as it contains all the essential nutrients every living thing need to live a healthy balanced life. Bananas and other fruits should be added to encourage eating, satisfying tastebuds, and more importantly to supply nutrients organically.
Bananas contain Potassium, Vitamin B, Vitamin C, Magnesium, Copper, Manganese, Fiber, and Protein, etc. Bananas contain a noticeable amount of carbs as well. The carbs in bananas would not be harmful if the said fruit is being fed in moderation.
