This special addition to the farm came as a surprise Christmas present in 2017 from my Father-in-Law. When I opened the barn door on Christmas Eve I couldn’t even believe they were there for me. I immediately broke down into tears.
Two little miniature donkeys! Smilyn Acres Deuce and Prince, registered miniature donkeys.
We spent boxing day hauling over a shelter from the farm and setting up a temporary winter pen for the boys. They came home to our farm just before New Years.
I don’t know how its even possible, but these two donkey boys bring so much joy and happiness into my life. They have such the personalities and are so loving. In the Spring we started letting them out of their pen and they would follow us around the yard as we went about our days. When the vegetable garden started growing we decided we may need to come up with another plan, and so we put out a pen in the pasture with electric fencing and let the boys roam around the back.
They have since graduated from the electric fence and have full range of the back pasture, sharing with their alpaca friends, while exploring the woodland trails and tormenting whatever meat hogs we may have tucked in the corner for that Summer. Watching out the back window of the house they can often be seen grazing along the fenceline and make for great gardens friends as they stand and holler over the fence. They have quite taken to our big dog Hank, whom I am certain they have decided is a donkey himself. They can be seen making quite a rompus out in the field all chasing each other back and forth.
They have become a big part of our little farm family!
The Boys:
Deuce Prince