How to Breed Donkeys in Minecraft

Guide Java Bedrock

Quick answer: Feed a golden apple, enchanted golden apple or golden carrot to each of two tamed donkeys. A foal spawns right away, the parents need 5 minutes before breeding again (1 minute in Bedrock), and you get 1-7 XP. Breed a horse with a donkey to get a mule.

What you need

2 golden carrots or golden apples
2 tamed donkeys (or a horse and a donkey for a mule)
A fenced pen

Step by step

Tame both donkeys first by mounting them repeatedly until hearts appear - untamed donkeys cannot breed.
Craft golden carrots (a carrot surrounded by 8 gold nuggets) - far cheaper than golden apples for routine breeding.
Find donkeys in plains, savannas and meadows, and lead two tamed ones into a pen.
Feed a golden carrot or golden apple to each donkey: hearts appear and a foal spawns, plus 1-7 XP.
The parents can breed again after 5 minutes (1 minute in Bedrock). Foals grow up in 20 minutes; golden food, apples, wheat or hay bales cut the remaining time. For a mule, feed one parent horse and one parent donkey instead.

Java vs Bedrock

Breeding works the same in Java and Bedrock except the parents' cooldown: 5 minutes in Java, 1 minute in Bedrock. Sugar, wheat, apples, carrots and hay bales feed, heal and grow donkeys in both editions but cannot be used for leading or breeding.

Versions: Donkeys were added in the Horse Update (1.6.1, July 2013) alongside horses and mules. Their breeding rules have been stable since: golden food to breed, horse plus donkey makes a mule, and mules are always sterile.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get a mule?

Breed a tamed horse with a tamed donkey using golden carrots or golden apples. The mule foal combines a donkey's chest-carrying ability with horse-like speed, but mules can never breed.

Why breed donkeys at all?

Donkeys carry a chest with up to 15 inventory slots that stays accessible while you ride them, making them the best early pack animal before you have shulker boxes.

Can I breed donkeys with wheat or apples?

No. Wheat, sugar, apples, carrots and hay bales only feed, heal and speed up foal growth. Love mode needs golden food: golden apples, enchanted golden apples or golden carrots.