Dingbat Donkeys

What an odd sight awaited me yesterday morning when I approached the gate for morning feed.
Three dingbat donkeys were napping -- before breakfast!

I'm actually not sure I've ever seen them do that before.  It was odd.

And then we have the episode where I thought little donkey feet were going to step all over me.  No, I was not happy.  Let's not forget they're 300# or so.

I have always thought Gabby to be my beauty girl.  To my eyes, her looks are striking.

 The shape of her face, her coloring, her markings.  I've thought all the donkeys -- Luigi, Francesca, Alice, Sugar, Spice were/are winning in their own way.  But Gabariella is my beauty girl. 

I Am Smitten!

 On July 5, little Pippi joined the wonderful(?) world of our teeny tiny farm.

She was picked up by the Michigan Humane Society, apparently wandering the side of the road.  They estimate her age to be two months and she's such a little thing we're wondering if she's a bantam.  They named her Pippi because she's a pipsqueak.

When I picked her up from MHS the staff person put his hand out, as you would for a parakeet and she climbed on, after which he took his hand to his shoulder and she hopped off.  I tried it too. 

She chatters all the time in a soft voice.  Except when she's provoked by one of the big girls.

She's been with us over a week and she's been kept segregated with the usual screened division in the coop so the big girls (+Sharone) and she can see, smell and talk with each other.  When the big girls went out for free range there was some fresh air visiting.

Last weekend I let her out to free range for an hour each day.

 Oh my, what a grand time she had.  And how hard to get her back in!  It can be difficult to sneak in, grab her and get her back to her side of the coop without having the thundering herd come running to investigate.  And I'm not referring to the donkeys!