Our neighbors decided to become citizen farmers. Lucky us.
Don't get me wrong. My best friend in high school grew up on a farm and I've always respected their work ethic and the care they give their animals.
But lately, three of my neighbors have decided (for various reasons) to become citizen farmers. The one has about 8 acres of land and he's been raising heifers for sale for butchering. I find them rather funny because they look down the hill at us when we are in our yard and watch us or they bellow when they are tired/bored/lonely/hungry just like babies.
Another neighbor has decided to raise free range chickens. The rooster has no clue of what sunrise is and crows at all hours of the day and night.
And the third neighbor has decided that they need goats, chickens and a donkey. The goats bleat, the chickens crow and cluck and the donkey? Well the donkey has a lot of opinions that he/she expresses both day and night.
I guess in my mind I had always equated donkeys and mules as being the same size, but either donkeys are a lot shorter than I realized or this one is a runt.
No matter the physical size, this creature has a set of lungs on it that are exercised day and night. We are about a quarter mile from this little bugger but when it gets going, I'd swear it was in the room with me.
Of all the creatures, the donkey by far makes the most noise of them all. He's not mistreated, is well fed, has sufficient room to run, is pampered and friendly, but sure has a lot to say.
He kind of reminds me of some people. Nothing really to add to the conversation or to complain about, but always right there with an opinion.
Sadly, sometimes that person is me........
Comments (6)
Ah, we are all donkeys now and then.
This made me smile. I live with my parents on 5 acres "in the country" (right by a major interchange, but that's beside the point). One of the neighbors used to have a rooster that did the same thing as the one you mention. I think a raccoon finally got him (or maybe fox or coyote).
It's no wonder that verse is in Psalms - Don't be like the horse or mule. Sometimes I need the reminder.
Donkeys are like that. My parents have one. Sometimes, when I go for a visit, I pray that the donkey comes down with laryngitis.
Mules are a cross of horses and donkeys, so they are always taller.
A lot of farmers around me use donkeys as a watchdog for their sheep.Maybe that is why your "neighbour " is so noisy. I'm told they go nuts if foxes or coyotes come around.
@katietroyer - indeed.....
@CHorsey - I had forgotten about the verse in Psalms...thanks for reminding me...
@Krissy_Cole - a donkey with no voice....LOL...thanks too for the rec......
@Bricker59 - thanks for the info....I can never remember which way the donkey/mule thing goes....as for being a watchdog...this one could be quite busy....there is a fairly large bear roaming this area, as well as coyotes, foxes, and a myriad of other critters....perhaps he's just being a good watcher....
I love Katie's comment!! How right she is. Sooooo...are you going to keep up with the Jones's and get some of your own?? Sounds like a buffet around there - with the chickens and heifers why don't you go in the biz of selling BBQ sauce??? HA HA Have a great weekend ~