Am I being a horrid mum?

Fairynuff

Fairynuff

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Paolino the pony and Doodles the donkey live together in a fenced off part of the woods and have a shelter which they can use as they want.For the last 4 days its been piddling down and there have been a good few thunder storms so they have been loath to get wet and have spent most of the time inside. Problem is that they have eaten ALL their straw and look like two barrage balloons. They are now standing on a muck heap of their own making and I will have to empty it completely.Now, common sense tells me that leaving them without bedding will NOT kill them and it will be best for their waistlines, BUT, I feel rotten about it. They wont have their nice warm and soft bed to sleep in or pick at during the wee hours
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They get a tiny amount of hay early morning and late at night and can always toddle off and chomp on a bush or two when they want but with this weather theyre staying put. Every time I pass I am getting filthy looks from Paolino and very sad looks from Doody (as only donkeys can do
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).What would you do-steel your heart, or, cave in at the psychological warfare and chuck in some nice warm straw? I feel so hard hearted. M.
 
I would put in that coped rape stuff or shavings if they eat straw to give them a bed. Because a bed is important. We don't just give them it so they look warm and snug. And either feed ad-lib hay or let them harden up and be proper horses and go out in the field and graze in the dizzle! Bit of wet shouldn't be stopping them!
 
I agree with FMN above; oh but I do love donkeys - melt my heart everytime. We have a beauty just next door and she's the colour of Guiness and looks like she's wearing a pair of glasses. She's so funny, talks to the world as it's going past even at 5:30 in the morning.
 
What about shavings?

Can I just ask a stupid question (knowing nothing about donkeys!) - is it true that donkeys are never meant to get wet because they're not designed to? That they get rain scald really badly if they do?! Feel like a moron asking but people have told me this and I dont know if its true or not!
 
What I should do is leave them to get on with it but being realistic I'd almost certainly give in, I'm just too soft a touch
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Hi MM, Id heard that one too! I doubt if its true as all the donks in Ireland would be in a terrible state. I know they dont like getting wet but I think thats just part of being a donkey
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M.
Ps, no to shavings-the hens would have it churned up in a second.
 
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