Donkey and Chicken Fraternization

During the day when four chickens are allowed to roam with four donkeys, comraderie reigns.  I actually continue to be a little surprised.  Donkeys don't mind chickens underfoot (and I do mean underfoot) and chickens don't mind big ole 300 pound beasts looming above.

The four girls are in heaven when they get to the straw before the donkeys.  Those little feet get to work immediately to separate the pile so they can gobble up the chaff.  Which, of course, is exactly what the donkeys are after too.

And when I give donkey Alice her oats mixed with a little oil, ooh-la-la, if the chickens are out, they fight her for it in the bowl.  Alice, being so passive, just stares at them eating her oats.  Some mornings I have to stand guard.

Here the girls are scrounging the remains; not only what was in the feed bowl but also what stuck to the kitchen bowl I mixed the oats and oil in (rats, ending in a preposition!).

There is no doubt that they are treat terrorists.

Remembering a Friend

One year ago yesterday, I lost a good friend.  The 4-legged kind.
Natural will be in my heart forever.

We were together 24 of his 30 years.  He was my first equine love.

He was low man in the small herd of our second barn.  But when we moved to our last barn of 98 acres and 50+ herd he came into his own.  And was the head honcho for many years.  June, the barn owner, would tell me, "I don't know how he does it.  He doesn't need to nip or kick.  He just pins those ears back and the waters part."

One of my wonderfully vivid memories.  Natural was in his prime.  I owned another horse at the time too, Friea.  I had taken my son out with me, who was maybe 8-ish. Freia, my son Zach and I were standing in one of the pastures. From the back 40 you could see the whole damn herd coming toward us at a gallop, up over the hill, with Natural flying in the lead.  I yelled at my son to "Go to the fence -- NOW!!"  I was holding Friea's lead line wondering what she's going to do as the herd is almost upon us.  Thankfully, Friea was nonplussed about the whole situation and just let the herd whiz by without batting an eye.
But to see my boy out in front of the herd, mane a flyin' in the wind -- what a sight.

And then there was the time when he and I were first a team and my son was 1-ish.  I was pushing the stroller with one hand while I had Natural's lead line in the other.  Natural bent his head down to take in the smell of that little human in the stroller.  And my son took in the smell of that big face in front of him.  Melted my heart.

He'd gleam like a copper penny with his chestnut coat against the snow.

And when I'd lunge him and ask for a canter, he'd kick out one of his hind legs as though to give me the finger.  Each and every time.  

He sure wasn't perfect.  Before he came into his own, Natural would jump at his own shadow, with me in the saddle, and just quiver if I used a stern tone of voice while atop him.  And I got dumped on more than a few occasions.  But I surely did love that horse.

* * *

Cheers to you my wonderful companion.  May your hay be sweet, your mares lovely to see and the sun warm on your back.  Thank you for sharing your life with me.

Chickens Veto Snow

In Michigan, we are accustomed to quick changes in weather, but yesterday's changeroo was abrupt even for us.  Balmy temps had been hanging around... until yesterday when we were walloped with a foot of snow in about 12 hours.

This is the chickens' first snow and, they are politely saying "no thank you".  Even in the early morning when there was only a dusting, they refused to step foot outside.  I've seen them in the rain (while the donkeys hunkered in the barn), but this snow business was an entirely different matter.

They're bored and whiny.

 Particularly Ruby Dee.  But Ruby does have a little pathetic whine in her normal conversation.  So maybe she's not as dismayed as she's leading me to believe.

In the afternoon hens were allowed in the donkey barn while I cleaned up.  They were so relieved to be out of the coop.  And when they found the remains of Alice's oats, they acted like they had hit the jackpot.  All four were in the bowl, excitedly diving for gems.

The donkeys took it in stride.  This morning when they had to trudge through the deep stuff, my original three were at the gate as usual, while Alice just bellowed from the shelter of the barn.  Have I told you she sounds like a foghorn?

A Little Compulsive

Stronger than normal winds have been blowing through southeast Michigan for the past week.  And when I hear the forecast I get a little compulsive.  Or maybe you could say realistically thorough.  Yea, that's it.

We've lived in this house for over 29 years. Semi-rural.  Ten acres.  Well water.  Let me repeat that last part.  Well water.  When you don't got no electricity, you don't got no water.  Only five years ago or so a portable generator made it's way to our home.  In spite of that, when I hear the windy forecast, I start filling up water receptacles.

Dog water dish, my two drinking glasses, donkey water, teakettle.  Got the picture?

 

I'm only too well aware of that sinking feeling when the lights go out and, oh yes, you have no drinking water.  In my defense, I ask you, what if the generator fails?  Best to be prepared!

Fuzzy Faces

I'm sure you can guess that the sleek summer donkey look is long gone.  That look I love the most and is so short-lived.  Sigh.  When they finally shed their winter coats about mid-summer, that sleek sexy look is utterly alluring.

And there is an in between time when winter hair begins growing but is not at its lushest.  And that's where we are now.

Franny bananie
(Francesca)

Blabby Gabby, also known as Gabba or Gabs

(Gabariella)

And yes, she is known as Blabby for a good reason -- the biggest donkey voice on the place

Weegie peegie -- always the ham

(Luigi)

Alice Badallas

(Alice)

with Ruby Dee

Donkey Hole #2 -- You've Got To Be Kidding

Please read previous post.
Then view this photo.  No smirking or laughing or tee-heeing allowed.  Not even a little bit.

Yes, hole number two.  
Mistake number one -- leave town for the weekend.

Upon our return Sunday we find this doozy.  About one week after hole #1.

All donkey barn sides have now been covered in fencing.

No pardners, there'd better be no more chewing in this town.  Or Rick'll have yer hides.

Alice Through the Donkey Hole

A couple of days ago I went out for the morning donkey and chicken ritual (which has gotten a lot more complicated by the way with the arrival of sweet Alice) and what did I see.

A nice big hole in the back of the donkey shed.  I do think I stood there transfixed for a few minutes, not quite processing this sight.

The view from the back side

And a nice big fat close-up.

What in the world!  Never before have I encountered this with the donks.  I returned to the house and told carpenter Rick about it. I postulated either the donkeys had done some heavy partying in the shed overnight (with adult beverages), a non-donkey critter had gotten in and they had gone after it or there had been a major dispute and someone had taken out their displeasure on the wall.  After he had viewed the hole with a professional eye, Rick said, no, that hole was eaten.  EATEN!

Let me repeat, in the six years I've had the donks this has never occurred.

On the morning of Day 2 I reported to Rick that the hole was now yet bigger.
That afternoon it was repaired.

Oh yes, with fencing covering it this time.
I do need to add that before the hole was repaired, the chickens were delighting in hopping through on their daily walkabout.

Now, the really funny part was Alice's reaction to the repair.  (And, yes, I think we may have found the vandal.)  I found her standing in the shed just staring at the patch.  Next I saw her outside staring at the patch, then she walked back in.  Luigi joined her and perhaps they were conferencing about this new development.  I didn't stay long enough to check it out.

I took advantage of one of the many Facebook donkey groups to inquire if others had experienced the same thing.  Whoa, you betcha!  There were a few solid suggestions involving supplements, covering the shed with metal, and providing tree branches for chewing.

We may eventually try them all.

One final note.  We now have a blue shed, yellow coop door and big green patch.  Definitely a kaleidoscope of colors.