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| Ashenhurst is still much smaller than Ashley-Asher |
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| Ashenhurst (on the right) has a black eye. He's got a tough road but at least he's got his brother. |
Frankie and Slim
Happy New Year
Wednesday, May 02, 2012
HE AIN'T HEAVY...
It is a wonderful thing that Ashenhurst has a twin brother. Not only did Ashenhurst's mother reject him, the rest of the herd rejects him also. He would be left to wander alone and unnoticed if it were not for Ashley-Asher, his twin brother. If Ashenhurst strays too far from the group Ashley-Asher will begin to call for him and seek him out. When Ashenhurst was nursing on the bottle, Ashley-Asher would stand beside him and often he would suck on Ashenhurst's ear as if to lend him some moral support. Ashenhurst still runs to me the minute I step out the door even though the bottle days are over. Ashley-Asher runs toward me too, but only to stand by and make sure his brother is okay.
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How lovely that Ashenhurst has his twin brother and you. I guess the mother and herd rejection is part of that whole "only the strong survive" notion, but I'm glad that love conquers all!
ReplyDeleteLynn -- I have seen a group of new kids gather around and support each other and in this case I'm glad none of the other girls had babies. I would imagine the two brothers would still have a close bond, but who knows, maybe Ashenhurst would have been rejected even by his brother then.
ReplyDeleteLet me just add to your blog post..."If you go down in the woods today, You'd better not go alone. It's lovely down in the woods today, But safer to stay at home. ..."
Brotherly love. Amazing. So glad Ashenhurst has you, his brother and Slim. He is still hanging with Slim, isn't he?
ReplyDeleteSeems that the runts are always pushed away and ignored so that they will not bring down the herd. On a farm they stand a chance. They are so cute!!!
ReplyDeleteBonnie -- Oh yes, Slim is still a good friend to Ashenhurst too. Slim will chase off the other goats when she sees them picking on this little goat.
ReplyDeleteTabor -- Yes they do stand a chance around here. Much like your Osprey that stand a chance with their nest near your boat. If they only knew what care you take to make sure they are protected.
Now that is brotherly love...Now if humans could just do as well.
ReplyDeleteYes I've heard that goats will attach to humans quite well if hand fed.
ReplyDeleteThe local man who uses them for pack goats says they all have to be bottle fed, that way they'll stay with them when packing supplies up into the mountains.
Changes in the wind -- A lot of human brothers don't seem to get along quite so well...like Cain and Able:) Your birthday party for you husband was great. That cake was awesome!
ReplyDeleteCliff -- Our little goat herd stays close together and while I can't move them where I want them very well, I can stand and yell "Goats! Goats" and they will run toward me. They may not have been bottle fed but they know I often have a handful of sweet feed for them. Now, we're awaiting your news. You are mean to keep us guessing.
everybody needs somebody
ReplyDeletesweet critters
Today I'm walking at the urban trail near my office where there are a bazillion people around. Yeah - I don't think I'll got back to that isolated trail.
ReplyDeleteI'm happy that Slim is still being a good friend to Ashenhurst.
ReplyDeleteI saw on the Weather Channel the other day that a terrific storm was coming your way and I always think of you and your animals and wonder what they do when that horrible weather approaches.
I always picture Slim as a sort of hero dog like Lassie who will herd all of the other chicks,goats and kitties to the safety of a small barn or shed.
Remember how Lassie used to run in when the barn was in flames and write FIRE in the mashed potatoes
Timmy was eating?
That's how I like to think of her....Mighty Slim the Wonder Dog.....
When we were growing up, we had some kittens whose mom was killed. Two of them would sleep all wound up together even after they were grown. It was so sweet!
ReplyDeleteAwww! So cute! I am always troubled by parents abandoning their children, whether it's humans or animals. He is lucky to have you and his bro.
ReplyDeleteGoats are alot stranger than I thought... I wonder how the herd decided to banish him.
ReplyDeletePoor Ashenhurst- but at least he has a cool name, n a buddy brother who'll always love him. Plus you for a Mom of course. I bet he doesn't head-butt you for fun either-
Dianne -- Yes, because "One is the loneliest number...." That is why it is good that your Siren and Isadora have each other. Glad Siren is improving. Your Cookies and Crapola post --Madness for week 8 was wonderfully put together yet disturbing. It is sad to see you in such dilemma. I must say I loved those hands coming up out of the ground!
ReplyDeleteLynn -- Glad you are choosing bazillions over none.
Nancy -- Slim is good to rush in and break up any incidents of violence against Ashenhurst. Brother Ashley-Asher is good to know when Ashenhurst is missing and will go looking for him. Between the two of them, they will keep little Ashenhurst alive. Poor little Chocolate Chip, Dixie's only kid last Spring, was killed by the other goats. I worry about all our farm critters when a storm is coming. It's a good thing we don't have a storm shelter because I would want to bring them all inside it with us. Nancy, if need be, I'm sure Slim could write "Help" in the mashed potatoes. You, my friend, are a hoot. Loved your story about Grandpop's glass eye in the Elder Storytelling Place. Oh and yes, Nancy kitten is doing very well. Still the leader of the pack of three.
Susan Adcox -- It is amazing how the cat population increases and decreases. We have only had one instance of the mama being killed before her kittens were weaned and that is pretty much a hopeless cause. Most of the kittens around here end up bonding with Slim, the dog, and consider Slim their closest friend.
Riot Kitty -- This is the second time our nanny goat Polly has rejected one of her kids. She is a good mother to one and has refused to accept the other. Sadly the first one died last spring. You just have to wonder how any mother can reject a newborn child but it seems to happen throughout the entire animal kingdom including human animals.
Snaggle Tooth -- In all fairness I need to disclose that one of the worst terrorist goats after Ashenhurst is older brother, Dr. Cole. It is strange how one brother is the loving and nurturing one and the other is out for blood. Let me assure you that ALL of the goats head-butt me at one time or another. They all go after me at feeding time.
Okay why is he rejected - do you know - that is kind of sad - I am thrilled he has a brother that cares. We should all have that.
ReplyDeletesandie
Chatty Crone -- I have done a lot of reading on this subject and while there is not a definite reason "why" the mother will reject a kid, it is something that occurs often, especially in the case of twins. At least this year I was better prepared to save the baby and at least this year the mama cleaned Ashenhurst up and acted interested long enough to give him a better start.
ReplyDelete