Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Meet Chester


Look who has come to live with me and be my donkey:

This is Chester. He's an eight year old, standard, gelding donkey and an absolutely beautiful boy:

We went on Sunday to pick him up. We borrowed a very large, very beat-up stock trailer from our local dairy farmer:

...and drove about two hours north of us to get him. At the rest stop, we got to park with the big boys:

It was pretty much love at first sight when I met Chester.
He wasted no time impressing me by showing me how good he is at taking his paste wormer:

Trailering him was a bit of a challenge, but things like this are scary for a donkey who hasn't done it in a while:

With patience, hay, a bit of grain and a lot of muscle, Chester finally decided he was ready to get in:

And then we were ready to go:

We stopped a few times along the way home to check on him:

He settled right in like a pro, even eating some hay along the way:

Then we arrived home. Jim's getting to be very good at backing up trailers:

Chester was more than ready to get out of the trailer:

... and he walked into the barn without any hesitation:

There was a bit of staring as we walked by:

Yesterday was very mellow and we spent it just getting to know each other. He is settling in very nicely and is such a good boy:

I would like to send a gigantic THANK YOU to my blogging friend, Tammy, at Wrensong Farm, who forwarded me the information on Chester. I've been looking for so long.

And an especially enormous thank you, along with a big hug, is being sent to Linda, who let Chester come home with me. ♥ ♥ ♥

I've got a donkey!

41 comments:

  1. chester is one lucky donkey. i really look forward to future chester stories! a little tip for loading in the future....take a long lead and gently circle the back legs right behind the knees. gather the lead in front of the face and gently tug. it works most of the time!

    ReplyDelete
  2. OHMYGOSH - Chester is SO handsome!!!! And I just love how you are smiling so big in all those pictures. Congratulations - to you and Chester both.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I think Chester is a very handsome donkey. I can tall how happy you are by the giant smile on your face. You are definitely a donkey person. I didn't know you had llamas. Did I miss a post? I have to look back and see. Have fun with your new addition. I'm so happy for you.
    Kelly

    ReplyDelete
  4. WOOHOO! We're so happy and excited for you! Chester looks fabulous and healthy! George and Alan are sending up their love and good wishes.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Congratulations! I hope he settles in well! He's beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hooray for you, and double hooray for Chester! You will give him a wonderful home. Wow, things have been very exciting what with a road trip with Bubba, three lovely llamas, and now Chester!

    Love the road trip story, BTW. Glad you are fully stocked with critters again! I love reading about all your antics.

    Ali in Maine

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hip Hip Hooray!!! What a fun surprise!!
    Chester is a very handsome boy!
    I'm just full of exclamation points this morning, aren't I?
    Can your husband talk to my husband about a wife and her love of animals and how she really wants more and ...... :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. wow, you really went whole hog on getting some new animals!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Yaaaaaaaaayyy!!!!!!

    I was excited about the llamas, but this makes my whole year! Congratulations to both you and Chester.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Yay! Critter Farm isn't the same without a donkey. I'm so happy for you and for Chester.

    ReplyDelete
  11. YOU have your very own donkey!!! Whooo Hooooo!!!!!! Chester is handsome. And he is YOURS!!!! I am so, so happy for you. Doing the Happy Dance for you. This made my day. Whooooo Hooooooo!!!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  12. OK..now I want one. He looks gorgeous. Man am I a pushover for those incredible ears and donkey looks. They are amazing animals. You will provide the best of homes for him, I am sure of that!! What a lucky boy he is! :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. That is the best news ever! Chester is one lucky donkey! He is very handsome, Danni.
    Thank goodness because with my barn envy I hate to see such a good barn sit empty. It is now filled to the brim.
    Enjoy your critters.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Gosh Danni, how many people would sit here and cry because their blogging friend got a donkey! There must be something wrong with me.
    Tears of joy for you. I'm so happy. The staring is so cute. I knew that I'd see you with a big smile. Me too!
    Hugs and pats to all!!
    Thanks Jim!!! You're a wonderful farm husband!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Oh goodie, I love Chester. Always makes my day to see George and Alan over at the7msn.

    ReplyDelete
  16. He is soooooo cute.
    I loved the "perp walk" with the llamas just checking him out.

    Lucky Chester!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Yahoo! Critter Farm is so much happier with a donkey on board. Now, with Chester and Dolly and Kai and Toni. . . things can settle down for the winter and all is well!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Now that's what I'm talkin' about. Pete and Reggie will be the bravest goats on the block now.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hooray!!!! I am SO VERY happy for you and for Chester. I love the way that the two of you found each other...it was totally meant to be. I know this was a very special day for you. And now you have a donkey to call your own. Sigh. This makes me smile really big!

    And look at him. What a handsome boy. And he has so many friends to make there on Critter Farm. Hes gonna fit right in, I do believe. I just wanna pat his belly. And rub his ears. And okay, yeah, give him a good butt scratch.

    ReplyDelete
  20. I LOVE Chester!! I am so excited for you!! When Can I come out and see all the new guys?!?! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  21. Congratulations on Chester! He is cute.

    ReplyDelete
  22. I'm so glad that Chester found such a wonderful new home. Here's wishing you many years of happiness together :-)

    ReplyDelete
  23. oh yeaaaa.... I missed the donks. I'm so happy for you Danni. Enjoy your new friends.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Oh Dani, llamas and a donkey I am so jealous, but so happy for you!

    ReplyDelete
  25. I knew it! I knew it! I KNEW IT!!!!

    I'm so happy for you...., and Chester and your wonderful decision.

    Congratulations!!!

    ReplyDelete
  26. WhoooHooo! I'm so happy for you...that is one very lucky donkey! Drive a couple hours farther north and there is a camel that might like your house...at least for a visit!!!

    ReplyDelete
  27. I am so happy you have a donkey that is your own to love and care for and keep. He is a beauty! And you do look so happy in those photos. You beam happiness! Looking forward to your photos and videos of donkeys and llamas and goats and chickens and Roxy and...and the rest of the adventures at Critter Farm.

    ReplyDelete
  28. AWWWW! YEY, YEY, YEY! Chester is SUCH a handsome boy, and BIG! Sooooo pretty! Lucky duck, congratulations on your very own, adorable donkey!!

    ReplyDelete
  29. He is a handsome fellow!I know he is going to love it on your farm!

    ReplyDelete
  30. He's a cutie, no question. I'll bet we all get to see a great personality too, once he gets settled in.

    Hey...did I miss something? When did you get llamas...?

    ReplyDelete
  31. YAY for Chester and HORRAY for you!!! So glad you have a donkey of your own now. He's quite handsome and I know you are giddy with delight!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Congratulations! You are making me desperate to strat on getting the critters onto my farm! He is gorgeous!

    (By the way, hope you don't mind but, I nominated you for an award, if you are interested you can stop by the blog to collect it!)

    ReplyDelete
  33. Congrats an getting your new animals, especially Chester, you have been too long without your beloved donks.
    And I thorouly enjoyed Bubba's adventures. What are his plans for the future?

    ReplyDelete
  34. I read your comments about the 10,000 acres story, thank you so much. You know all we can do is help as much as we can and adopting one donkey is a such a huge help.

    I am sooo happy for you, but even more happy for Chester. I know he will be a treasured and loved part of your family.

    Love the llamas too!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Hooray! Glad you found a donkey. Chester is one lucky guy, and quite good looking too.

    ReplyDelete
  36. What a cutie!! I wish I had room for a donkey. I just found your blog today. Love it! You sound like me, a city girl in the country... except I'm a California girl and I never thought I'd be in the country living this life! But here I am, and I'm learning a lot as we go, striving towards self sufficiency.

    ReplyDelete
  37. Chester is a handsome boy! It did my heart good to help two friends meet and find a great home for a donkey too!! Congratulations (and on the llamas too!!) Tammy

    ReplyDelete
  38. Hello and goat kisses to Chester and those beautiful llamas! I like the handsome goaties too, naturally, since I am one!

    ReplyDelete
  39. Congrats! Your barn is filling up fast-donkeys and llamas!! yay for you!! :-)

    ReplyDelete

I ♥ it when you leave a comment.