Snowy Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 Think of the manure!! Don't think you need to do a donk's feet every day, that's more for shod horses. They will probably need their feet trimming every 6 - 8 weeks by a farrier though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted March 9, 2009 Author Share Posted March 9, 2009 Carl would rather have a couple of Shire horses Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 Would he now! Better put him in touch with Dolly then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 Donkeys!! Whatever next . They are cute though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aunty e Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 Oooh, you could get a suffolk punch and preserve a rare breed And just think of all the stuff it could do about the farm for you, and they're jolly nice beasties too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 Probably wouildn't churn up the ground as much as Matthews big red tractor either! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom123 Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 Donkeys don't need their feet doing everyday but atleast once a week. My horse is terrible for getting the biggest, muddiest stones in his shoes Go on, you know you want to. There is a couple of 'normal sized' donkeys at my yard and they just follow you around Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 Carl would rather have a couple of Shire horses Actually, I agree with that! I have a fetish for horses and have always loved shires since I was a kid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 Lesley ive just caught up with this thread!!!! Do it, get the mini donkeys! Do it now!!! You just have to they are too cute!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClaireG Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 My sister has got a donkey. He's called Ottie, Donkey Ottie He is lovely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 Sooooooooo cute. if you get them can we have the omlet jamboree at Lesleys so we can all pet them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted March 12, 2009 Author Share Posted March 12, 2009 My sister has got a donkey. He's called Ottie, Donkey Ottie He is lovely. Em - you send the money and we'll buy a couple! - they are about £2,500 each! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 Is that all? I realise that I muddled up the husbands earlier - apologies for the unintended wife-swapping! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HENthusiastic Posted March 13, 2009 Share Posted March 13, 2009 Cool thread lesley. Ive only just found it. I havent ventured in here before. Did I read somewhere near the beginning of the thread that you manage to upkeep all this AND have another job? How do you manage it? Myself and OH are currently looking into finding a bit of local land to rent and having alpacas. They don't have to be as expensive as people have mentioned. You can get really good "starter pack" deals. Of small groups or If you don't want to breed, then you can get companion animals for a few hundred quid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted March 15, 2009 Author Share Posted March 15, 2009 Yes you read that rightly. We found this smallholding just over three years ago - went all out to raise a bridging loan and moved here on May 1st 2006, without having sold our house! We had that bridging loan for 15 months and it nearly sunk us! Carl works full time but now works 2 days from home - I work part-time in our own business and only work from home now. We have to fit all the smallholding stuff in where we can! - in fact it frequently comes first because animals have to come above accountancy (shame that accountancy pays the massive mortgage and the animals don't ) We were supposed to vaccinate the sheep today - we had set up a race and pen and worked out how we were going to do it.....but they weren't playing nicely.....as usual We sat Jazz - on a lead - in a strategic place but instead of just making the sheep wary of coming towards that fence, she barked at them and scared them to the other side of the paddock It's not easy sheep herding when there are only two of you and a mad dog We will try again on Tuesday when my son and his friend are coming to put up a new field shelter. All the Eglus were jet washed yesterday - they are sooooooo clean! We had two little helpers staying with us.........so it took slightly longer Jake helped me to blast the patio furniture and the trampoline as well though, so I'm not complaining! I wanted to buy a Kelly Kettle for Carl's birthday - I've been meaning to get one for ages and Kate reminds me whenever she mentions hers so I ordered one which arrived on Thursday.....Carl's birthday is in July Lauren and Jake stayed over on Friday night and then we were out with the sheep early on Saturday morning.......and played with the Kelly in time to boil water for their Mum and Dad's tea and coffee when they came to collect them..........Lauren and Jake ended up staying as they didn't want to go home and also cooked baked beans on toast with cheese using the kettle - Jazz helped herself to grated cheese while they were cooking It's been so nice to have a dry, sunny, weekend instead of rain and boggy ground. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted March 19, 2009 Share Posted March 19, 2009 Somebody breeds minature donks about 10 miles away from us. I didn't realise for ages, and thought that one of our favourite walks went thru a donkey sanctuary. I was mortified when I realised how much they cost - I thought they were shaggy old rescue donkeys They are very appealing though. In my fantasy life I will have miniature donks and alpacas along with the hens but I guess if you're running a business the animaux have to pay their way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted March 20, 2009 Author Share Posted March 20, 2009 They are lovely aren't they! We have enough freeloaders though - half a dozen old hens! ....and three ancient sheep - they do act as lawnmowers though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard T Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 You can get miniature sheep too: http://m6live.smallholder.co.uk/shlivestock/shsheep/2447566.Miniature_Southdown_sheep___Claire_Waring_discovers_that__alpaca_owners_can_keep_sheep_as_well/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted March 20, 2009 Share Posted March 20, 2009 you shouldn't have done this - southdowns are our local breed. My goodness they are adorable....... I'm beginning to have Marie Antoinette/Little Bo Peep/Bunting Cupcake (see main chicken thread) fantasies....but quarter of an acre is not enough....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted March 20, 2009 Author Share Posted March 20, 2009 Aren't they cute! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trish Posted March 21, 2009 Share Posted March 21, 2009 ooo and they'd fit in my garden too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillfamily Posted March 26, 2009 Share Posted March 26, 2009 You can get miniature sheep too: http://m6live.smallholder.co.uk/shlivestock/shsheep/2447566.Miniature_Southdown_sheep___Claire_Waring_discovers_that__alpaca_owners_can_keep_sheep_as_well/ I soooooooo shouldn't have clicked on this link Southdown sheep are my absolute favourite and I always dream of having enough land for one or two :D :D ........now if I had these, I wouldn't need as much land Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted March 27, 2009 Author Share Posted March 27, 2009 You could even keep these for a few weeks.......... Latest additions.......... Two Aberdeen Angus X calves - one 5 weeks and the other is 3 weeks! Their bottles are almost as big as they are! sorry - photobucket is playing up - photos later..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 27, 2009 Share Posted March 27, 2009 Awww, so you got them! I bet Carl is sleeping in the barn with them tonight! Can't wait to see them when I get back from hols. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillfamily Posted March 27, 2009 Share Posted March 27, 2009 awwwwww Lesley they are gorgeous :D I was wondering what your new additions that you mentioned in another post were.......now I know :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
