As many of you know, I am now letting Norma Jean, my 30 year-old Jenny, roam the property from dawn until dusk. I think this freedom is challenging her mind and gives her vast choices throughout the day, which I think enriches her life. I feel she was struggling to maintain status in the herd, but now on the outside, she has clout and is also safe. And, I know she is eating all of her supplements and not rushed at mealtime – very important for her because she had 2 choke episodes while in the herd.
At night, she beds down in the barn.
This arrangement has been fun for her and enlightening for me. I never knew how entertaining it would be to watch NJ make decisions.
(I do remember, long ago, when I put a Go-Pro on the top of her halter and let it run for a half hour. Now THAT was entertaining!
Anyway, it has been truly a joy to watch Norma go wherever she wanted and do whatever she wanted, within reason… I do keep her out of my garden after she fleeced all of my rose bushes…
It started about a week ago, with Norma coming up to my evening reading spot on the porch. She noticed that I was eating chips.
She won because she is such a good donkey – I gave her a tortilla chip or two.
Vivey was frightened and appalled at the same time, “You’re going to let HER up here?!”
PORCH DONKEY
Yesterday and the day before, I noticed that NJ was in the flower bed outside our front door right around mid-morning.
Hmmmm. This would not be my first.
Well, THIS MORNING, I found her right at my front door, looking in! I let the dogs out and back in, NJ didn’t move. I asked her to move and she actually got closer to the door and just tilted her head outward. I walked away, and she just watched.
Does she want tea?
I’m not sure because I next found her looking into the living room – so maybe she wants to watch TV or read a book. Sigh. Maybe she is just curious. Maybe she can feel the air-conditioning if she stands outside a door. Maybe she always wondered what happened inside the house.
Dunno.
But I’m guessing she’ll be back tomorrow.
This is how it starts. Don’t let your donkey stand in your flowerbed, or the next thing you know, she’ll be at your doorstep.
Here she is, getting more bold, again joining me on my evening reading on the porch session. I had no chips, but she was inquiring…
The next day, when I came home, I found her guarding the front door! I was incredulous. She was like, “And, so what?”
This morning. (Excuse the dog slobber and paws on the glass – this made them CRAZY.)
I tried to shoo her off of the porch, but she wasn’t having it. She simply turned her head.
Later, when I went out to check on the waters, she was still there. Eventually, she left.
And now, just 10 minutes ago, I found her here. Looking into the living room. I can’t say as I blame her because I’m 7 mins late feeding – and we all know how THAT goes…
