Woods Edge Huckabee, the little donkey who wouldn't quit!

February 27 is our daughter's birthday and always a happy time. This year, we had another birthday, our new little jack was born to Cocoa. It was a very cold day with snow showers, a rare sight in Alabama. Cocoa foaled just after lunch that day, but it was not without a difficult time. She decided soon after that she did not want to nurse this little donkey. We tried for days, but the only way she would nurse him was with us standing by, holding her so that she would not bite or kick him away. It was very sad to see him try over and over, only to be refused by her, but this little guy was determined! After one week of us holding her every few hours around the clock so he could nurse, we realized she was not going to change. It was time to separate them. So, we began bottle feeding him. With the help of some wonderful donkey breeder friends and our vet, we learned a lot about how to feed and care for him. The first weeks were a bit of a strain on us, late night and frequent feedings throughout the day, but it soon became manageable. After a few days filled with worry, he began eating well from the bottle. He soon learned the sound of the gate opening meant he was about to be fed and usually trotted over, greeting us with his little baby bray! He is now (April) 6 weeks old and doing well. With careful attention to his eating and health, we hope he will thrive and do well. This is one donkey baby we will not soon forget!

February Tales

February is usually an uneventful time around Woods Edge Farm, with Valentine's Day and our daughter's birthday the only notable days of the somewhat dreary month. This year proved to be different as our farm was in the direct path of the Feb 6 tornado, one of many tornadoes in several southeastern states. We were not injured and still have our home, but the tornado did not cross our farm without leaving a trail of damage. Many large trees were ripped out of the grown, limbs were broken and all of our donkey sheds had their roofs torn off. Our home also had enough roof damage to require a new roof. The three sided shed attached to our small barn, a favorite spot for our donkeys during inclement weather, was completely destroyed. We were amazed and very grateful that none of our animals, including our miniature donkeys, llamas and chickens, were killed or harmed.
The sound of a tornado is not something we will soon forget, nor the fear of such a strong force that swept across our farm that night. Even in these weeks of repair and cleanup, we remember the outcome could have been far different and are very thankful.