Gah, would you just look at those faces. That's sweet Buttercup on the left and Kai llama on the right. Today is Day 5 of having Buttercup with us and everyone seems to be settling in and, finally, settling down.
Beau had some interesting behavioral changes since Buttercup's arrival and I'd been anxiously waiting for these to pass. My normally sweet, docile, slow-moving Beau started pawing and digging:
lunging:
and biting:
Thankfully, today was much, much better. Carrot coins are a universal symbol of peace, did you know this?:
At least they are to these critters:
Have you ever sat on the fence about something, then finally do it, only to wonder why in the world it took you so long to do it? This has happened to me. See this space, here in front of my giant barn door?:
After many weeks of measuring and planning and trying to talk myself out of it, yesterday, I had four 12' round pen panels delivered:
(Only four of those panels on that truck are mine, I swear!) And they are practically perfect in every way. Portable, too, so I can easily move them when we need big barn door access. Tomorrow I'll show you just how perfect a space this is for my critters now, too.
Why in the WORLD did I wait seven years to do this?! :-)
I love your sweet new Buttercup! marsha@tubbslanefarm.com
ReplyDeleteI always hate those first few days of getting everyone acquainted. Glad they are settling down.
ReplyDeletecuteness overload!
ReplyDeleteOh my, the many faces of donkeys! I love the pictures of them when you have carrot coins... who knew they could beg? Thanks for the updates, you really have been missed!
ReplyDeleteCan't stop looking at pictures 5 and 6 - those expressions! You've got that whole roundish pen thing planned perfectly. Buttercup will be able to saunter right in there from her stall. Well done! And now, for the first time, I understand why you had to back the horse trailer all the way up that long driveway. Duh. And here's to world peace in the barnyard. I'm sure the past few days were mighty tense.
ReplyDeleteI can see a perfect burro size pen in that space, I'd like to do something similar at my place.
ReplyDeleteThat Buttercup is so lovely.
P. Buttercup is probably ready to lose that halter when you're not working with her. Clearly contact and getting caught are not a big deal for her. :-)
ReplyDeleteShe looks very happy and well adjusted.
As for Beau, well, he's just going to have to make peace with the fact that he can't control the entire world. He's probably trying to establish himself as Mr. Dominant Donkey - but I suspect you already know that. Now that he's made his statement, he'll probably move on. Whenever we bring a new girl into our herd, there's always a couple of days of fussing and carrying on while Fiona establishes herself as Queen. You gotta love dominance displays! :-)
Good gravy - the faces Buttercup makes are ridiculously cute! She's going to be a great working pet for someone!
Hi Heather, yes, that halter has been off and on. She and I have been working on standing quietly (and holding her head still) while I put in on and take it off. She is such a good girl!!
DeleteHonestly, I was expecting Chester to be the donkey with the attitude, not Beau. These critters sure keep us on our toes, don't they?
Oh Excellent! And yes, they absolutely do. I always tell people that, just about the time I think I have the "Art of Donkeykeeping" under control, they surprise me with something new. :-)
DeleteI LOVE my cattle panels (as we call them in Texas). They stand like statues when chained together and can easily be moved by one person.
ReplyDeleteAre you not allowed to adopt Buttercup at the end of the program? I can imagine how tempting that would be! It's so frustrating when an animal starts acting contrary to their usual personality and you can't just ask them, "What's the deal?" Glad Beau's settled down and Buttercup has taken it all in stride.
ReplyDeleteWe are allowed to adopt our own donks. We just have to bid against everyone else at the event. But, since the extra money goes back to the trainers, we just end up paying the $125 adoption fee. The thing is (at least for me) if I adopt my burro, then I don't have room to train another one next year, which means there's a burro that may not get a home. So, as hard as it is, I suck it up and let me burro get adopted. The good news is that, at least last year, my donkey went to a fabulous home - better than I ever could have hoped for. And now I can take on a new challenge this year. It's hard, but it's worth it when you get the really cool updates from the new home.
DeleteButtercup is such a sweet and pretty donk that, if Danni can let her go, she'll get a great home! People will be fighting to get their hands on that cutie pie! We get show donkey people at the auction and they'll want Princess Buttercup for sure! And, if not the show people, a family will want her. Who wouldn't want to take that beauty hiking?!
Hi Allison, yes, there are "foster fails" (lol) I've heard of, where people adopt their own burros. But my goal is really to help spread the word on how wonderful donkeys are and if I can do this by helping to gentle BLM burros in preparation for them finding a loving new home, I'd like to do this. Unfortunately, my farm doesn't have unlimited space and if I keep her, I won't be able to do this again.
ReplyDeleteIt will be hard though to give her up ...so, so hard...she is really a special girl.
I felt the same way about Daisy last year. But then, because of the training I gave her, she got the most perfect home in the world. That's what I think about when I miss her. The first couple of weeks stink, but then you see how much the new family loves their donk and you feel tons better.
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