Donkey Heaven

Last Sunday marked the spring day in May, our donkeys always yearn for.  The day the gate to the pasture swings open and they can graze contentedly -- for a bit of time at least.

Ahhh

You can just hear that contented sigh.  And all is right with the world.  Until they are asked to come in off that luscious greenery after 90 minutes or so.  Balderdash!

The famous crabapple in the corner of the pasture is abloom.

Famous, you say.  Why so?

It's the very tree I mentioned in the last post where those four loosey goosey chickens were "nesting" and would not leave.  And where two years ago a fox caught Golda off guard and she met her demise.  My little rambunctious Golda.  She was always finding trouble.

Now that the donkeys have time to squabble about this and that, instead of concentrating on eating and keeping warm, it's most interesting to observe the dynamics.  There are times Sugar is certain she is the boss.  She'll run off anyone, except her sister, who interferes with her meal.  The next day I'll see Luigi give her the high sign to scram and he means business.  And the next day I'll see Sugar and Luigi sharing a treat in one of their bowls. 

There's just no knowing with those four hooligans.  

A Chicken Scare And A Boo-boo For Fay

A short aside before the post as it was meant...

I normally call "girls" in the chicken voice I've used since day 1 (or maybe it was day 2) when I need to gather everyone and usually they come a'runnin'.  Because they are well aware that they will get treats.  Well, when I called this afternoon, I only got two hens -- Lily and Lulu (whom I now call Lou most of the time).  Checked the barn -- no girls.  Checked the pasture -- no girls.  Now panic was setting in very nicely.  Please don't tell me I've lost four hens. 

Finally I saw one girl under the tree in a corner of the pasture.  I was thinking oh no, is there only one girl left of the four who should be out there??  Walking nearer, I see four little birds sitting quietly under the tree sheltered by branches, simply enjoying a spring afternoon.  And they were darned if they were going to go back to the coop.
But they were safe.
Whew, it was a huge relief.

But now on to the "real" tale for the day.

Two puppies are bonding nicely.  I use the term puppy loosely --  one is 10 and one is four.  But certainly puppies at heart.

 

Little Fay

Faith and Gunner strolling companionably, as they often do

Faith managed an owwie on her foot and some good ole vet wrap secured the bandage.

It's vet wrap normally reserved for donkeys 

and the pink is so much nicer on Faith than Luigi.

But then the girl chewed our clever wrap to bits 

so we started anew and put a sock over the whole thing. 

(it's the bottom leg wrapped in white sock) 

One of those handy juvenile socks from the dollar store 

I started using a year or two ago on donkey legs during fly season.  

So handy to have donkey related first aid goodies around!