I created a calculator to help estimate feed needs and costs.  This calculator is set up for 50/50 feeding of hay and barley straw.  You can adjust individual animal's intake percentage as well. 

Keeping water troughs open in Montana is a very difficult task. If you don't have electricity nearby you're left with little options. Most people just use an ax to cut a snoot size hole for drinking. I did not have luck with that, the entire trough froze.

Being that I have a plastic trough some options are not great, such as the propane heater. My tank is far too small for that as well. While we have electricity some what close to the shelters the trough heater I have is too small to keep it open. A larger more powerful heater is an option but we have other devices on the circuit so that was a limitation. Most tank heaters are 1500w, nothing is really available between 300w to 800w.

After a bit of research, ok it wasn't a bit, it was late nights of frantically trying to come up with a solution so I didn't have to hand bucket water twice a day like I did last year. (Very much missing our BarBar-A auto waterer at our old property). I have heard of bubblers, but some of the examples I saw online didn't seem like it would work. Until I found user Around the Country on youtube using a commercial bubbler. At only 20w it was worth a shot.

I ordered it from Amazon and it arrived pretty quickly for Montana. We set it up with our small 250w trough heater and hoped for the best. We're about a month in and so far it's doing the thing! We have gotten to -10° and the water stayed open! This is a huge burden off of me as we don't get home until dark (aka cold) and hauling water by hand is pretty much my least favorite thing to do. If you're looking to lighten that electrical bill for your equines, give this a try.
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For those who are unaware, keeping water available to your equines at all time is even more important in winter.  They tend to drink less which increases the chances of colic.

The colics most associated with the cold weather months are impaction-related. When ingested feed stops moving through the horse's gut efficiently, the material can accumulate and form a blockage. Feed and gas then back up behind the blockage, causing distention of the intestine and associated pain. - Equus Magazine

Other ways we help to combat the possibility of colic is providing the donkeys with a mash made from timothy pellets, flaxseed meal, vitamins/Minerals, replenimash, and some salt.  Soaked in hot water the pellets become light and fluffy.  The donkeys love it and the salt helps encourage them to drink.

My husband picked up this Pelican sled from the local farm start winter of 20/21.  

Not the most amazing setup for the shafts, but they work very well, the can move up and down, and are strong enough for Daisy to turn the sled. The most important part of this is the shafts give you brakes! Sledding won't be fun for your donkey if the sled bonks them in the legs when you stop. The shafts are from Kingston Saddlery, they are the 7 Piece heavy duty curved shafts. You can purchase them here.  So far the length works for walking, I may have to extend the shafts if I plan to trot her.  Daisy is wearing her farm work harness, I love this set up, she is very comfortable in it, and it has the proper line of draught. Surprisingly it's quick to put on, even though it doesn't look like it.  You can check out the  harnesses here..

Hoping to build a little seat soon, for now it's piled up blankets and a sheepskin, so cozy!

This was one of my  absolute favorite days, getting to take friends on a little donkey sled ride all dressed up for Christmas. Yes, the rein is looped under the shaft, but Daisy is actually being led by my husband.  We snowplowed a trail through the property to sled on, so it would be easy for Daisy to pull.

This shelter is 10'x12', 8' tall on the back wall and 12' tall on the front wall.  The door opening will be 8' as well.

We used T & G for the lower 4', to double as a kick wall.

Most of our building was on Christmas day and we had some good weather!

Almost ready to the metal sides and roof.

A nice shot of the Bridger mountain range with some Alpenglow.

Now that we live in a different area with no HOA...that means we can buy round bales!  We used to have to buy our hay and it HAD to fit in the barn, it could not be left out and tarped....you know 'eyesores' and all.  This created alot of anxiety feeding through the winter - did we have a enough hay to make it through....will I be able to find more....all that jazz...(fyi for those that don't know, in MT there isn't 'feed' stores like in other states where you can go down and buy some hay, you need to find a farmer to buy from directly.

No HOA also means I can buy large rounds of barely straw for the donkeys to have access to 24/7.  
why straw?

"As donkeys have a very high fibre, low sugar dietary requirement, straw makes a good basic feeding product. Donkeys are generally able to eat as much straw as they like to fill their bellies and keep their digestive systems moving without consuming too much energy (although testing straw before feeding is recommended as some modern strains can be higher in energy than expected). Consuming too much moderate to high energy food (particularly products containing cereal grains) causes weight gain and has been associated with development of gastric ulcers and laminitis among other things" - Donkey Sanctuary UK.

​I can tell you this so far, mine have been LOVING it....I love watching the timelapse off the camera and seeing how often they go and visit the bale....er....pile (it didn't' really stay bale shaped!) to snack on between feedings. 

I will be doing a review on this camera soon. So far it's great! 

If you want to learn more about feeding donkeys....go to the Donkey Sanctuary UK

For my Burro Walk people, I have see people joining and leaving, I see you! I haven't forgotten about you all!  We did not anticipate moving...Once we get settled and wedding season is over, we're going to set something up.  Maybe we need a donkey Haus building meeting!?! eh?

We finally were able to find a new home! Our previous home became unwelcomed for the donks (HOA's sheesh!) After a ton of hard work, showings, house hunting we finally found a house that had no HOA.  We are still settling in and building a new house for the donkeys, hopefully before winter!!  The new property has no donkey amenities and we're starting from scratch again - donkey houses, water infrastructure, fencing, everything!

If you'd like to help contribute to our rebuild, please click the link below, we will be posting our progress here and on social media. The donks thank you!