Yes, donkeys can have more than one baby, specifically twins, although it is a rare occurrence.
Understanding Donkey Births
Typically, a jenny (female donkey) gives birth to a single foal after a gestation period of about 12 months. This is the standard and most common outcome for donkey pregnancies.
The Rarity of Donkey Twins
While single births are the norm, the possibility of multiple births, such as twins, does exist. However, statistics show that this is highly uncommon and often comes with significant challenges.
Based on available data:
- Only a small fraction of donkey pregnancies result in twins.
- Only 1.7% of donkeys have twins.
- Sadly, the survival rate for donkey twins is very low.
- Of twin births, only 14% survive.
This means that even when twins are conceived and born, the chances of both foals surviving are extremely slim. The reference notes that even with the "joy of twins," there can be "sorrow of losing one, hours after it was born," highlighting the fragility of twin foals.
In summary, while it is possible for a donkey to have more than one baby, twin births are exceptionally rare, and the survival rate for twin foals is unfortunately very poor.
