Mornings with Donkeys and Chickens

Summer mornings are probably my favorite time with the critters.  The sun is shining, there's a slight breeze, the day is quiet.

 Two flakes thrown for the donkeys and they're softly munching.  

Chicken coop door opened and the girls happily launch out into the green grass.

Everyone is peaceful and happy.

Life is good.

Smitten with Chickens

Before I pull out photos of my sweet girls, with whom I am smitten, let me attend to a couple of "unfinished business" matters.

I've received questions asking about the effectiveness of the Bug Pellent featured in the last post.
I'm giving it a thumbs up at this point.  The flies were fairly thick today around little donkey legs, but as soon as I stepped into the donkey shed -- whoosh, no flies.

And, I need to bring you up-to-speed on the BLM donks.  Local friends have been inquiring.
After I had agreed to take two jennys, some complications arose which were deal breakers for me.  I had had several conversations with Fran at Crossroads Donkey Rescue, here in Michigan, and she said she could take the two I had committed to.  The plan is for me to adopt one of her domestics.  I have my eye on a mini jenny, Alice, but the farm she's residing at is under quarantine for the equine flu.  Right now I'm just waiting for the quarantine period to close.

Now, on to the chickens.

Here are the four girls.

From left to right:  Emmy Lou, Ruby Dee, Golda Meir and Sweet Pea

I'm fascinated with the changes in their physical maturation and their sweet personalities.

Thus far I have learned they don't like lettuce or brussel sprouts, but are enamored with banana and Cashew Clusters from Costco (I had an old, stale, and sticky bag that I tested on chickens and donkeys).  Only small amounts of the sweet stuff -- of course.

I love talking to them and they often will stand right below me and peer up, hanging on every word.
I'm certain Ruby Dee knows her name.

Most people I've met don't want to be burdened with pets when they retire, but I have to tell you, I am loving it.  Going out in the mornings to tend to donks and the girls, and at dusk talking to everyone as I lock the girls up for the night, what a joy.

Testing A New Fly Repellent

I'm always excited to try a non-toxic product for the donkeys and am in the midst of a trial-run with this one.

Take a look at the ingredients.

I checked with the vendor (Dover Saddlery) on range/distance of coverage and based on feedback from other users, we have only one hung in the donkey shed.

It has a citrus odor, which I thought might be a bit overwhelming, but after being hung, I detect only a faint smell in the shed.  Certainly nothing offensive.

We're not in the thick of fly season yet, so the true test can't be determined at this point.

One down side:  The online description and box packaging mentions refills are available, but I couldn't find them on the website.  When I called to inquire and they did a little checking, it turns out the price of the refill at about $20 greatly exceeds the cost of the product ($13.99).  Doesn't make a bit of sense.

I'll let you know the results.

Rapscallion Donkey!

Someone needs a little...no, make that a lot of ... disciplining.  Although his many admirers may not appreciate the criticism, this boy is a rapscallion!

Yes, a little bedraggled following a rain shower, but don't let that innocent face fool you.  He IS the culprit.

I've had the bag of chicken feed in the hay aisle.  And when I pull out the allotment, my hands are generally full.  As soon as I am either at the end of the aisle, or as soon as I've left it, guess who saunters in to see what delights the feed bag holds.  Every day.  He gets reprimanded (and fully knows the words "get out!!") and repeats the process every chance he gets.

Finally we got a self-locking metal garbage can today so the bugger will be in for a big surprise.

Gabby (on the left) and the hellion pose for a quick photo.  Gab's little tongue was doing a dance following her stop at the salt lick.  What a cutie.

More Chickens... More Donkeys ???

Dear Readers,
So much has happened since we spoke last.  In fact, I hesitated to tell you part of the story, fearing you would consider me a bad caretaker.  But I must.

One week (to the day) that three lovely chickens came into our lives, one of our dogs killed Chica.  I was not home to witness it, but Rick tells me Dudley lunged into the coop and very quickly broke Chica's neck.  It was a horrible event.  And, believe me when I say we've learned from it.

A couple of days following, I scooped up two Buff Orpingtons from Highland Feed.   The girls scurry around so much, a less-than-terrific photo will have to do.

Ruby and Emmy are against the left wall while the two Buffs are to their right.

Our next "hurdle" was getting the girls to wander out into the wide open world of the pen.  No one would venture out.  And no, they didn't choose to go out prior to the attack either.

We'd throw them through their little door and back in they'd come 'arunnin.  Once after throwing one of the new girls out, she stayed outside for perhaps a minute, came back in, and the other three clustered around to get the news. Indeed they were all chattering away.

So, this is what the pen has looked like most of the time -- empty.  Then yesterday, when I went out in the evening to tuck everyone in for the night, two of the girls were out and wouldn't come in! Well, how do you like that.  (Do not fear, gentle readers, I hustled them in to spend the night in safety.)  

Now, on to the big donkey news.
Last September I applied to adopt a BLM donkey and never heard a word back.  A couple of days ago I received a call from out of the blue asking if I'd like to adopt two.

Believe me, Rick and I have done a lot of talking, I've made lots of calls trying to decide whether this is do-able.  Just this morning I spoke at length with Fran from Crossroads Donkey Rescue.  Fran was full of suggestions and stories.  A big thanks to her.

There are several hurdles -- our pasture is not big enough to sustain five donks, significant increased outlay for hay, the farrier, vet bills, etc.  However, Fran told me some heart-warming stories about BLM adoptees.  My thoughts are a whirling.

I'm allowing myself a couple of days to take pen to paper to sort out some of the factors (pro and con), but between you and me I'm inching closer to a yes vote.
Will be sure to keep you updated.
By the way, I spoke to Luigi about it and he was pretty taciturn.  Perhaps I'll poll Fran and Gabby.    

The Girls Have Arrived

Last Saturday three little girls joined the crew.  However, they were reluctant to step out into their new digs.  I let them be for a couple of hours and they still didn't want to venture out.  So we slowly angled the cat carrier to force the issue.

They have been enjoying the heat lamp this past week with our unusually chilly temps.

It was a feat to snap all three girls together, but here is the sassy trio:

Names are coming along slowly.  Only one for sure -- Ruby.  She has the darkest red/brown coloring. I'm debating about "Chica" for the other reddish hen but alas, the third is nameless at this point.

Rick did a wonderfully grand job with the coop.

 
He used some saplings that the donks had decimated for the roosts.

The outside pen is 99% complete but it was too chilly to let our 11-week olds out.  Today is the day!  Freedom!

Spring Sings

I don't need a calendar to know spring is here.

Facts:

1.  For about a week the mud has been g-o-n-e.  No boots needed.  This is a good thing.

2.  Donkeys duties have been cut in half.  What took 30-40 minutes just a short while ago, can now be zipped through in 15 minutes.

3.  I wear my jams out in the morning to greet the donks.

4.  Donkeys are bellowing constantly telling the world how mistreated they are to be closed off from the pasture.  (If we want the pasture to sustain them through the summer, we've got to give it a fighting chance through May.  No nibbling allowed at this point.)
If you hear their bellows, don't believe a word.

All is right with the world (knock on wood).