Move for adoption donkey Cocoa

Why has Cocoa moved?

The team at Slade House Farm continuously review our donkeys’ living arrangements, ensuring that every donkey’s location best meets their current health and lifestyle needs and allows them to live their lives to the fullest.

At nearly 30 years old, Cocoa is one of the older donkeys we have in our care. As donkeys get older they can have issues with their teeth which can cause them to function less effectively than younger donkeys.

During his annual dental examination, our equine dental technician Katie Read and Veterinary Surgeon Jamie Forrest identified Cocoa’s teeth are ageing. This means he’s not able to grind long fibres of straw as well as younger donkeys and is at risk of suffering from colic.

Cocoa needed to be placed on a special diet and the team decided he would be better moving to Shelter 2 to join some of the other older donkeys who have similar age-related health issues.

Short chop was slowly introduced into Cocoa’s diet while he was still at Shelter 1 to encourage slower chewing and aid digestion. It’s important to make any changes to donkeys’ diets gradually so it doesn’t upset their stomachs. 

Cocoa has taken the change in his stride. He’s moved to Shelter 2 with another donkey called Jonathon, who like Cocoa is getting older and requires a quieter life and diet change due to his teeth. The pair are keeping each other company during this transition and have quickly become friends.

What happens when donkeys move to a new shelter?

At first, it may take a few days to establish the herd’s new dynamics. This is perfectly normal and expected, and our dedicated team are on hand to monitor and support the movers in settling into their new surroundings.

During the initial phase, donkeys are introduced as slowly and gently as possible. Cocoa first got to know his new companions by interacting over a fence for a short period, before being fully introduced in a shared space.

Speaking about Cocoa’s move, Laura Attwood, Slade House Farm Supervisor, said: “We slowly introduced Cocoa and Jonathon to their new group through the fence.

“Once we knew they were settled, Cocoa and Jonathon moved into Shelter 2 and have settled in well with the rest of the group, they seem to be becoming the best of friends!”