Look, we've all been there. You're miles away from your Minecraft base, your inventory is absolutely stuffed with deepslate, raw gold, and maybe a stray enchanted book you found in a desert temple, and you realize you have zero room left. You see a donkey wandering around the plains. It's the perfect solution, right? A mobile storage unit. But then you realize you can't just throw the chest at it and hope for the best.
Learning how to put chests on a donkey is one of those Minecraft milestones that feels like a massive level-up for your survival game. It transforms a slow, somewhat stubborn mob into a vital logistical asset for any long-distance expedition. Honestly, it's way better than a horse for exploration because, let's face it, horses might be fast, but they can't carry your extra stacks of cobble.
The Taming Phase: First Things First
You can't just walk up to a wild animal and expect it to carry your luggage. That’s just not how the game works. Before you even think about the chest, you have to tame the beast. It’s a process of trial and error—mostly error.
Basically, you need to right-click the donkey with an empty hand. You’ll mount it, it’ll probably buck you off, and you’ll do it again. And again. And maybe five more times. You’ll know you’ve won its heart when those little red particles pop up. If you want to speed things up, feed it some wheat, apples, or even golden carrots if you’re feeling fancy. Once it's tamed, you can finally start thinking about the actual storage part.
Actually, taming is the easy bit. The real trick is making sure you have the right equipment ready before you head out into the wild.
What You’ll Need in Your Hotbar
Don’t go out there unprepared. You need a few specific items.
- The Donkey: Obviously. You can usually find them in Plains or Savanna biomes, often hanging out with horses.
- A Saddle: You can't actually control where the donkey goes without one. Remember, you can't craft these. You’ve got to find them in chests—think dungeons, nether fortresses, or fishing if you have the patience of a saint.
- A Chest: Just a standard wooden chest. Nothing fancy like a Trapped Chest or an Ender Chest (those won't work, unfortunately).
Putting Chests on a Donkey: The Actual Steps
Now for the part you’re here for. It’s surprisingly simple, yet so many players fumble with the controls.
To put chests on a donkey, hold a standard wooden chest in your hand. Approach your tamed donkey. Instead of mounting it, you’re going to right-click (or use the "interact" button on your controller) specifically on the donkey’s rear or flanks while holding that chest.
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Boom. You’ll see the chest appear on the donkey’s sides. It looks like a little pannier. It’s satisfying.
But wait. There’s a catch.
You can’t take the chest back off without, well, killing the donkey. Or at least, that’s the "traditional" way. Once that chest is on there, it is a permanent fixture of that specific mob. If you decide later you want a different donkey, that chest is staying with the old one. Choose your donkey wisely. Pick one with decent health and maybe a bit of speed, though donkeys aren't exactly known for winning races.
How to Actually Use the Storage
So the chest is on. Great. Now what?
You might notice that if you just right-click the donkey now, you’ll just hop on its back. To see what’s inside the chest, you have a couple of options.
If you are riding the donkey, open your inventory (usually 'E' on PC). You’ll see the donkey’s equipment slots—where the saddle goes—and a dedicated grid for the chest's contents. If you aren't riding it, hold down the sneak/crouch key and then right-click the donkey. This opens the donkey's inventory directly without you having to climb on.
Storage Capacity Realities
Donkeys provide 15 slots of extra space. It’s not a full double-chest, and it’s not even a full single-chest (which usually has 27 slots). It’s a specialized, smaller inventory.
- Pro Tip: Use Shulker Boxes inside the donkey's chest slots. If you’re late-game, this is how you move entire mountains. 15 slots of Shulker Boxes means you’re carrying 405 stacks of items. That’s enough to relocate an entire base in one trip.
Why Donkeys Over Mules?
This is a common debate among Minecraft veterans. Mules are actually the "premium" version of a donkey. You get a mule by breeding a horse and a donkey together using golden apples or golden carrots.
Mules can also carry chests. They are often faster and jump higher than donkeys because they inherit some stats from the horse parent. However, donkeys are much easier to find. You donkeys are "natural," whereas mules require a bit of genetic engineering and gold. If you’re in a hurry and just found a donkey in a field, just use the donkey. Don’t overthink it.
Common Mistakes and Weird Glitches
I’ve seen people try to put two chests on a donkey to get more space. It doesn't work. One chest is the limit.
Another thing: don’t forget the lead. Even if your donkey has a chest full of diamonds, it’s still an animal with its own AI. If you hop off to mine some coal, that donkey might wander into a ravine or a lava pool. Always tie it to a fence post or keep it on a lead while you're working.
There's also a weird thing where players try to put chests on horses. You can't. Horses are for speed; donkeys and mules are for utility. If you try to right-click a horse with a chest, you’ll just get frustrated.
Maintenance and Safety
Donkeys have hit points. If a creeper gets too close, you don't just lose your ride; you potentially scatter 15 slots of items all over the ground. If you’re traveling through a dark forest or a swamp at night, maybe keep the donkey in a "parked" position inside a dirt hut you quickly build.
Protect your investment.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Trip
Ready to head out? Follow this quick checklist to make sure your donkey logistics are airtight:
- Locate a Donkey: Check Plains biomes. Look for the grey, long-eared guys.
- Secure a Saddle: Raid a nearby village or desert temple first.
- Craft the Chest: Standard wood. Any type of wood works.
- Tame and Equip: Mount until hearts appear, then slap that chest on the back.
- Bring Leads: Never leave your mobile storage untethered in dangerous territory.
- Organize Your Slots: Keep food and spare tools in the donkey's inventory so your personal inventory stays clear for loot.
If you follow this, you won't be that player crying in the chat because your items despawned five thousand blocks away from home. Use the donkey. Respect the donkey. It’s the unsung hero of the Minecraft mid-game.