It’s been nearly two weeks since one of the donkeys – Simon, we are pretty sure – stomped Liam and bit him on his back. The bite was minor, the stomp broke several of his ribs. He recovered quickly, and every evening after dinner time he goes over to the fence where the donkeys are and checks Simon out, Simon returns the favor.

Simon, we think, did not recognize the small lamb as a sheep, he moved to protect the flock, as he often does. This is not aggressive behavior for a donkey, they are very protective, but we had not experienced it before, and Simon has been around sheep and lambs from the time he arrived.

We will wait until Liam and the other lambs are bigger and then introduce them in closer quarters while we are present. As it is, the donkeys can see the lambs through their fence, they can see that the lambs live here and are not intruders.  Liam does not seem intimidated in the least, and he is bigger and faster now.

We will move slowly, I’ll keep you posted.