How to Breed a Horse and a Donkey in Minecraft: A Comprehensive Guide
Breeding horses and donkeys in Minecraft to create mules and donkeys isn't as straightforward as breeding other animals. It requires patience, the right ingredients, and a little understanding of the game's mechanics. This guide will walk you through the entire process, answering common questions along the way.
What do I need to breed a horse and a donkey?
To successfully breed a horse and a donkey, you'll need:
- A horse: Any breed will do, as long as it's an adult. You can tell if a horse is an adult by its size. Foals (baby horses) cannot breed.
- A donkey: Again, any adult donkey will work.
- Golden Apples or Golden Carrots: These are the crucial ingredients. They act as "love potions" for the animals, encouraging them to mate. Golden apples are generally preferred as they are easier to obtain in early game.
How do I make golden apples and golden carrots?
Golden apples and golden carrots are crafted. You need:
- Golden Apple: One apple and eight gold ingots.
- Golden Carrot: One carrot and eight gold ingots.
How do I breed the horse and donkey?
- Gather your supplies: Make sure you have at least one golden apple or golden carrot in your inventory.
- Locate your horse and donkey: Make sure both animals are in the same enclosed area. This helps to keep them together and prevents them from wandering off. A fence is ideal, but walls work too.
- Feed the horse and donkey: Right-click on each animal while holding a golden apple or golden carrot. They will both show hearts above their heads, indicating they are ready to mate.
- Wait for the offspring: After a short time (a few seconds), the horse and donkey will mate, and a mule will appear.
What happens after breeding?
Once the breeding process is complete, you'll have a mule. Mules are sterile and cannot be bred further. They are stronger than horses or donkeys but share the traits of both. They are incredibly useful for carrying large amounts of inventory.
Can I breed two horses?
Yes, you can breed two horses together to get a baby horse (a foal). However, remember that to breed two horses, you'll also need to feed both horses a golden apple or golden carrot.
Can I breed two donkeys?
Yes, similarly to horses, breeding two donkeys together will result in a baby donkey (a foal). They also require golden apples or golden carrots to initiate breeding.
Why won't my horse and donkey breed?
There are a few reasons why your horse and donkey might not be breeding:
- They aren't adults: Ensure both animals are fully grown before attempting to breed them.
- They aren't close enough: Keep them close together in a confined area.
- You haven't fed them: Make sure you've fed both animals a golden apple or golden carrot.
- They are already pregnant/gestating: Animals have a short gestation period, if they are pregnant they won't breed again immediately.
- Server issues (Multiplayer): If you are playing multiplayer, server lag or other issues might prevent breeding.
This guide provides a detailed explanation of breeding horses and donkeys in Minecraft. Remember to be patient, and you'll soon have your very own trusty mule!
