Head ‘Em Up, Move ‘Em Out

Aug
24

Morgan had a friend (note, I refuse to use the word boyfriend even though she does) over on Sunday, which happened to coincide with the determination to move some animals around on the farm. Jack and Poky have been enjoying Lovers Meadow in the bottom pasture for the past few months, interrupted only by Beulah Petunia (who pays no attention to them as donkeys are beneath her, literally). Since we moved the sheep over to their new pasture, the three regular fields have grown up some with just Jack, Poky, and BP on them, but they could still use a bit more rest from larger animals.

Meanwhile, in a contrary situation, up in the goat yard, our little goats can’t keep up with their yard. I’ve been starting to think we need to MOW it! Which is ridiculous. You don’t mow your free food. To start the round of moving, we took da boys (Eclipse and Rhett) out of the pen by the goat yard. I told Morgan’s friend, “You take the big one with the horns.”

No matter what type of farming circumstance you may find yourself involved in, “You take the big one with the horns,” is always the right thing to say to whoever is next to you.

Actually, Eclipse isn’t that big, but he’s bigger than Rhett. Rhett’s like a little dog. I handed Rhett off to Morgan and put her friend in charge of Eclipse and everybody loaded up in the truck to make the short ride down to the meadow bottom.

Mr. Pibb, for now, is staying up in the goat yard. (He’s having too much fun to leave.)

Once we had Eclipse and Rhett installed in their new quarters, it was time to take Jack and Poky up to the goat yard to do some chomping before it turns into a forest. Donkeys don’t really like to do anything on command. We got a halter on Jack pretty quick and Morgan took control of him while Poky ran like the wind around the meadow.

Morgan with Jack.

Nobody with Poky.

We spent about 10 minutes getting a rope on her and getting her under control.

Jack was upset about leaving his beloved behind, but Morgan walked him right up while “the boy” and I pushed, pulled, and begged Poky to move.

We got her about a quarter of the way up the driveway when she dug her hooves in and refused to budge another inch. 52 was still in the pasture making sure everything was tight along the fenceline so Eclipse and Rhett couldn’t escape, so we were on our own. Morgan had already disappeared up the driveway with Jack.

With Jack safely put away in the goat yard, down came Morgan, wanting to know what our problem was, didn’t we know anything, was she the only one who knew how to handle horses, in a very do I have to do everything tone. She took Poky’s rope, clicked her tongue a few times, and off Poky went with her.

Which explains why she will never be able allowed to leave home. She’s the donkey whisperer.

Jack was in the midst of a desperate panic attack by then.

WHERE WAS HIS BELOVED?! She was gone! Life was not worth living!

Then Morgan put Poky in the goat yard. Jack chased her all over the yard, clambering on top of her and telling everybody this was HIS DONKEY and they better not be separated ever again. Not even for five minutes. Because that was the longest five minutes of his life.

Then Clover and the kids moved from the goat house to the goat pen, which is roomier and more interesting for them since they can see out.

Clover got excited right away to see her old friends and started doing her dancing on two feet routine.

And Mr. Pibb got excited to see another woman.

Mr. Pibb (in his best “Joey from Friends” voice: “How you doin’?”

Then I was concerned that the babies might slip out the fence on the side where Eclipse and Rhett had stretched the fence in their attempts to reach the girls, so I put together some barricades with logs to prop up some boards until 52 could come put some new fence wire on there. This is what it always looks like when you try to work in the company of goats–they are always in the middle of whatever you’re trying to do:

And then I decided that was enough farming for one day!





Comments

  1. Melissa says:

    I love your animal stories. Always very entertaining. That Jack is an adorable donkey! Thanks!

  2. Suzanne says:

    Reading your posts while drinking my first cup of coffee is my favorite part of the morning!! I always laugh and I always say, “awwww.” :sun:

  3. Barbee' says:

    Well! That was a fun post!

  4. Carmen C. says:

    LOL, looks like *boyfriends*…oops, I mean FRIENDS can come in handy on the farm;)

  5. Eyes to See says:

    It is true that you can’t make a donkey do anything (unless you outweigh them 2 to 1.) You have to persuade them that that they want to do it. I’d have kept Jack in view, but I’m glad that Morgan had the donkey command understood between them. Did Beulah mind losing her friends?

  6. Patrice says:

    A rousing game of musical animals! :moo: :woof: :sheepjump: :sheep: :cowsleep: Never a dull moment on a farm!

  7. Carol says:

    I just love seeing pictures of your animals. Jack is a handsome fellow.

    But Clover will always be my favorite!

  8. BrendaE says:

    Oh how funny – I wish I could have been there to see the herding up of the goat parade. You are absolutely my favorite blog.

  9. claudia w says:

    I’m exhausted! All that moving, but it was fun! I love your adventures on the farm.

  10. Teri says:

    I just love your goats!! I reaaallly want some of my own next year!

  11. catslady says:

    My favorite kind of post :yes:

  12. Nancy in Iowa says:

    Wow! Looks like that was enough farming for 2 days. Poor Jack, what a terrifying short separation! But did you tell him it was Pokey’s fault? Playing the reluctant bride after all this time?

    It was good of Morgan’s “friend” to help out – a good way to spend the day together!!! :cowsleep: :chicken: :sheep: :moo:

  13. Tovah says:

    Morgan has a “friend?!” Wasn’t she just getting American girl dolls? Growing up so fast. But at least he is helping out:) That was a lot of animal moving. Hope the goat pasture gets under control with Pokey and Jack’s help.

  14. jan~n~tn says:

    The last picture in this post, reminds me of the friends and family all gathered round the nursery window at the hospital.
    Just gotta love it!

  15. Valerie says:

    Such an adorable post. Love the goat and donkey stories. Also looking forwarrd to more stories about Morgan and her “friend”. :snuggle:

  16. Runningtrails says:

    I’m totally confulsed now 🙂
    Wonderfully interesting and beautiful critters you have there! I love hearing about all of them!

    Coco is still my favourite. (That’s probably because I have a great pyr too.) Where was Coco in all of this?

    I especially like Poky too.

  17. Tammie says:

    Oh my this brings back such memories. My daughter’s horse trainer raised goats in case they needed milk for the foals. I was chief milker, bottle washer, and nurse maid to the kids. Baby goats that is.

Add Your Thoughts