Nothing more pathetic than...

muttduck · 10-09-2009, 08:33 AM

... weaning an 8 month old jennet.

(Note - raining in Noah-like proportions, so no pics to protect the camera.)

The big day came (finally), when Buttercup was brought in with Lonely and Toby, and baby Cinder was left out with Lily, Berry, and Bella.

Normally the donks are both out with the big herd overnight, and have been this way for months. Lily has taken an interest in 'babysitting' Cinder. Cinder has also taken on Lily as a 'big sister'.

Since Cinder doesn't respect the electric in the baby pen, I thought it best to leave her with Lily in the big field, and bring Buttercup in the electric, when Lonely and Toby came in for the night.

Mind you, the only thing separating the donks is a 4' tall mesh fence. They can nose to nose through it, but no nursing can happen.

You'd have thought that the world was going to end.

The first hour, Cinder hollered and cried (and she uses her 'big girl' voice), with her ears hung to the side, head hanging at her knees, and the biggest, most pitiful eyes that even a kitten would envy (think 'Puss in Boots' from Shrek).

Then, after dark, apparently Cinder caved in and accepted that she wasn't getting in, and hunted down Lily and the herd, (somewhere over the hills, out of view of her mom's pen.) So from 9pm to 11pm, her momma hollered for the baby.

Note: Buttercup never 'talks', ever. And when she does, even on a good day (excited about dinner or cookies), there's an intake of breath that squeaks, sounding like she's building up the world's largest bray... but when it comes out, it's a whispery moan barely loud enough to be heard... it's the most forlorn donkey cry on the face of the Earth. So you can just imagine how truly sorrowful she sounded when her baby disappeared from sight...

Now, it's daylight, and raining. Lonely & Toby, (and Buttercup of course) are being kept in since the mud is too slick to let Toby out to run... and Cinder is back, with those kitten eyes, droopy ears, and hanging head... slowly pacing the fenceline and watching her momma (who is more focused on eating hay this morning).

Tell me that this will get easier...
I feel like the world's biggest

for making them so sad.

singing tree · 10-09-2009, 08:47 AM

Sounds miserable all around. Hope you don't have neighbors to close by.
Maybe today will be better...

jazzbond · 10-09-2009, 09:10 AM

The braying would drive me insane!

Hopefully won't last long for ya!

roberts617 · 10-09-2009, 09:21 AM

Poor Cinder, she probably did think her perfect little world was coming to an end. I hope tonight is much quieter for you!

Valerie62 · 10-09-2009, 09:23 AM

Awwww....poor things. I can only imagine how difficult it is to not cave in and let them have what they want but it has to be done. Hang in there ...hopefully their pitiful looks and sounds will wane over the next few days.

Maybe when the rain stops you can snap a few pictures ... I just can't get enough of them long ears.

Red Gate Farm · 10-09-2009, 09:27 AM

Awww poor little donkeys.

I know what a mare and foal sounds like at weaning time. I cannot imagine what a mournful donkey's bray sounds like.

Can you put it on YouTube?

Rednette · 10-09-2009, 12:12 PM

Hope you have understanding neighbors. Mine calls the police when my dog barks! (seriously)

horselady · 10-09-2009, 12:13 PM

I hate the screaming and pacing, after a couple of days it does get easier, poor babies, it is pitiful.

Gotta Love Duns · 10-09-2009, 12:49 PM

Oh that just sounds so pathetic, I don't think I would be able to stand the looks. Weaning time is so hard.

heather1982 · 10-10-2009, 05:09 PM

I know how you feel, made me feel so horrible when we weaned Cuervo but it had to be done. They still call to each other but not nearly so often now. I think its more to check in with each other now. Once I have him gelded, I can reintroduce them again, but I knew it was their good too so that helped me be tough and ignore all the crying at first.

Horselady44 · 10-20-2009, 03:59 PM

Yes...weaning in general...is a pain in the

But weaning a donkey....oh man!

muttduck · 10-20-2009, 06:42 PM

They still cry...
I still get angry looks from both when Toby and Lonely get to go out, but Buttercup has to stay in.

They crying has slowed though, to 4 or 5 times a night, instead of every hour.

Buttercup was swollen hard with milk the first few days, but she's going down now. She's about where she would be if Cinder were nursing regularly.

Cinder's eating great, and even has enough nerve to throw a foot or two to protect her dinner bucket (never works when it's Berry pushing her out) - but a second 'back up' bucket with more dinner is 10 feet farther down the line, so Cinder gets to eat plenty, and Berry gets to feel all tough for outranking at least one in the herd.

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10-09-2009, 08:33 AM
muttduck Kid Safe Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Central Kentucky Posts: 6,957	Nothing more pathetic than... ... weaning an 8 month old jennet. (Note - raining in Noah-like proportions, so no pics to protect the camera.) The big day came (finally), when Buttercup was brought in with Lonely and Toby, and baby Cinder was left out with Lily, Berry, and Bella. Normally the donks are both out with the big herd overnight, and have been this way for months. Lily has taken an interest in 'babysitting' Cinder. Cinder has also taken on Lily as a 'big sister'. Since Cinder doesn't respect the electric in the baby pen, I thought it best to leave her with Lily in the big field, and bring Buttercup in the electric, when Lonely and Toby came in for the night. Mind you, the only thing separating the donks is a 4' tall mesh fence. They can nose to nose through it, but no nursing can happen. You'd have thought that the world was going to end. The first hour, Cinder hollered and cried (and she uses her 'big girl' voice), with her ears hung to the side, head hanging at her knees, and the biggest, most pitiful eyes that even a kitten would envy (think 'Puss in Boots' from Shrek). Then, after dark, apparently Cinder caved in and accepted that she wasn't getting in, and hunted down Lily and the herd, (somewhere over the hills, out of view of her mom's pen.) So from 9pm to 11pm, her momma hollered for the baby. Note: Buttercup never 'talks', ever. And when she does, even on a good day (excited about dinner or cookies), there's an intake of breath that squeaks, sounding like she's building up the world's largest bray... but when it comes out, it's a whispery moan barely loud enough to be heard... it's the most forlorn donkey cry on the face of the Earth. So you can just imagine how truly sorrowful she sounded when her baby disappeared from sight... Now, it's daylight, and raining. Lonely & Toby, (and Buttercup of course) are being kept in since the mud is too slick to let Toby out to run... and Cinder is back, with those kitten eyes, droopy ears, and hanging head... slowly pacing the fenceline and watching her momma (who is more focused on eating hay this morning). Tell me that this will get easier... I feel like the world's biggest for making them so sad. __________________ Custom stall signs and pet portraits, Wood Burned by hand with your equine's (or pet's) image: www.WoodburnedPetPortraits.com Self Defense Supplies, Stun Guns, Pepper Sprays: https://selfprotectionsupplies.com/

10-09-2009, 08:47 AM
singing tree Long Yearling Join Date: May 2009 Location: Hartville, Ohio Posts: 1,025	Sounds miserable all around. Hope you don't have neighbors to close by. Maybe today will be better...

10-09-2009, 09:10 AM
jazzbond Weanling Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: ashland Posts: 374	The braying would drive me insane! Hopefully won't last long for ya!

10-09-2009, 09:21 AM
roberts617 Kid Safe Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Central Oklahoma Posts: 6,059	Poor Cinder, she probably did think her perfect little world was coming to an end. I hope tonight is much quieter for you! __________________ "The only way to have a friend is to be one."

10-09-2009, 09:23 AM
Valerie62 Yearling Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Washington, PA Posts: 782	Awwww....poor things. I can only imagine how difficult it is to not cave in and let them have what they want but it has to be done. Hang in there ...hopefully their pitiful looks and sounds will wane over the next few days. Maybe when the rain stops you can snap a few pictures ... I just can't get enough of them long ears. __________________ *There's more to life than horses ----- but NOT much!*

10-09-2009, 09:27 AM
Red Gate Farm Started Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 2,362	Awww poor little donkeys. I know what a mare and foal sounds like at weaning time. I cannot imagine what a mournful donkey's bray sounds like. Can you put it on YouTube? __________________ "Humans is sneaky" - Scotty

10-09-2009, 12:12 PM
Rednette Newborn Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: kernersville, NC Posts: 11	Hope you have understanding neighbors. Mine calls the police when my dog barks! (seriously)

10-09-2009, 12:13 PM
horselady Kid Safe Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: albany new york Posts: 6,428	I hate the screaming and pacing, after a couple of days it does get easier, poor babies, it is pitiful. __________________ www.rainbow-horse-retirement.com We love and take care of your companion for the remainder of his lifetime

10-09-2009, 12:49 PM
Gotta Love Duns Bombproof Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Dixonville, Alberta Posts: 10,798	Oh that just sounds so pathetic, I don't think I would be able to stand the looks. Weaning time is so hard. __________________ A penny saved is a penny you can spend on your next horse. http://nightfireranch.webs.com/index.htm

10-10-2009, 05:09 PM
heather1982 Newborn Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: SC Posts: 17	I know how you feel, made me feel so horrible when we weaned Cuervo but it had to be done. They still call to each other but not nearly so often now. I think its more to check in with each other now. Once I have him gelded, I can reintroduce them again, but I knew it was their good too so that helped me be tough and ignore all the crying at first.

10-20-2009, 03:59 PM
Horselady44 Started Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Montana Posts: 2,401	Yes...weaning in general...is a pain in the But weaning a donkey....oh man! __________________ A happy horse equals a happy rider!

10-20-2009, 06:42 PM
muttduck Kid Safe Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Central Kentucky Posts: 6,957	They still cry... I still get angry looks from both when Toby and Lonely get to go out, but Buttercup has to stay in. They crying has slowed though, to 4 or 5 times a night, instead of every hour. Buttercup was swollen hard with milk the first few days, but she's going down now. She's about where she would be if Cinder were nursing regularly. Cinder's eating great, and even has enough nerve to throw a foot or two to protect her dinner bucket (never works when it's Berry pushing her out) - but a second 'back up' bucket with more dinner is 10 feet farther down the line, so Cinder gets to eat plenty, and Berry gets to feel all tough for outranking at least one in the herd. __________________ Custom stall signs and pet portraits, Wood Burned by hand with your equine's (or pet's) image: www.WoodburnedPetPortraits.com Self Defense Supplies, Stun Guns, Pepper Sprays: https://selfprotectionsupplies.com/