Guardian Donkeys
City folk need alarms and security cameras everywhere. Homesteaders? We have donkeys!
Our donkeys are livestock guardians that protect the cows, goats, and sheep from coyotes, lions, bobcats, stray dogs, and other predators that may be looking for a quick meal in the middle of the night. They are fiercely brave and won’t retreat from danger while protecting THEIR livestock. And don’t think for a minute that someone can sneak onto the farm. The moment they see a stranger they start braying louder than almost any alarm could do. And they will bray at, chase off, and even attack anything they think poses a threat to their herd. But, to their herd, including us humans, they are also just about the sweetest and kindest animals on the farm.
Buster Brown
Buster is about 18 years old. That may sound old, but did you know that donkeys can live up to 50 years? He wasn’t cared for very well in the past and has some special needs that we’re working on, but he is still a pretty cool dude to have around. When I walk by him there are times when I could swear I hear him say in a low, slow drawl, “Thanks for noticing me!”
Buster is a “Shaggy Donkey”. The proper name of his breed is Poitou Donkey (“Baudet du Poitou”) originating from western France. They are known for their distinctive shaggy, corded coat called a “cadenette” that can grow into dreadlocks. This rare French breed was historically used to produce large, strong mules but became critically endangered with the rise of modern machinery in the early 20th century. Intensive conservation efforts have helped bring the breed back from the brink of extinction. The long hair is caused by a genetic mutation and is a prized feature for those who allow it to grow, though it is often shorn for hygiene.
Dawn Kee
Dawn Kee (Dawn for short) is a miniature donkey who stands about 4 hands high (32 inches). She is an amazing protector and gladly takes on the role of babysitter for the new born calves and goats. And any time one of the calves starts wandering a little too far away, Dawn runs after them and herds them back to mama.
Dawn is also a “Jerusalem donkey”. In Biblical times, Donkeys were used to transport kings during times of peace, rather than war. Jesus’s choice to ride into Jerusalem on a donkey demonstrated his kingship and the peaceful nature of his kingdom.
The legend states that after carrying Jesus, the donkey, heartbroken by Jesus’s suffering and death, wished it could have carried the cross. The donkey couldn’t bear the sight of the crucifixion and turned away, but God caused the shadow of the cross to fall on its back as a symbol of God’s love and the donkey’s sacrifice. Each Jerusalem donkey bears a unique cross on its back as a reminder of its service to Jesus.
Dawn may be too small to carry a cross, but you might just find her playing basketball with Jacob! She looked away to pose for the camera and Jacob made a basket… that wasn’t very fair, haha.
Sweet Pea
Sweet Pea is also a miniature donkey and we just love her gray and white coat. You can see that she has the cross shadow too! Her coat isn’t always shinny though, because Sweet Pea loves to take dust baths. She’ll flop down and roll all around on the ground until her entire body is covered in dirt. Donkeys take dust baths to help control parasites like flies, to help maintain their coat by distributing natural oils and removing loose hair, and to regulate their body temperature. She also thinks it makes her pretty, haha.
Sweet Pea LOVES dog food! We really have to watch her when we feed the dogs. If we’re not careful she’ll chase them off and eat their vittles. Not only does she steal food, she’ll manage to take pretty much anything that’s not put away… including gloves and tools.
The other day I was building a fence and sat my pliers down for just a minute. When I turned back to pick them up they were gone. I saw Sweet Peas running off so I chased her down and sure enough, there were my pliers in her mouth. I guess she thought she needed them more than I did!
Of course she and Dawn came back over and tried to help clear out the limbs I had cut. Donkeys are the best!
Goats on the Farmstead!