New Arrival at Dyfi Donkeys

Announcing the arrival of Billy the donkey.

Dyfi Donkeys have a new addition, a beautiful dark bay gelding called Billy. As far as we know Billy is about 9 years old and stands about the same height as Del-Boy and Muffin.

So what's his story ? Why is Billy at Dyfi Donkeys?

Billy used to live at an adult care facility in Dolgellau with his buddy Harry. They had both come to the home about 8 years ago when Billy was still very young. Sadly a fortnight ago , Harry passed away; he was much older than Billy . So Billy was left all alone with just a little pony to keep him company.

The owner of the care facility thought that Billy would be better of with other donkeys rather than a pony so contacted Dyfi Donkeys to see if we would be prepared to offer Billy a new home. Louise went to see him last Tuesday and realised that this was a really nice donkey. He has a lovely temperament , maybe a little timid at the moment but because he has been used to being handled by adults with learning difficulties he is used to being gentle and calm. 

Billy was a little sad to have lost his best friend and so we decided to move him as soon as possible. On Friday we headed off with the trailer to pick him up.  Billy was a little reticent to get in the trailer ; although this maybe because some of his friends from the home had come to see him go and maybe he could tell they were sad. Eventually we convinced him to mount the ramp and off we sped back to Dyfi Donkeys.

Louise decided it would be a bit much for him to be turned out with all the other donkeys. Everyone was really pleased to see him when he arrived and were very vocal, but she put him in a stable with Twister.This is good for Billy because he suffers from seedy toe so a nice dry stable is a good place to be.

 In the morning the rest of the donkeys were allowed in to meet him. Billy was a little overwhelmed but he had plenty of his own space. After a while the rest of the gang got tired of bothering him and wandered of. Then Billy asked to be let out.

Everyone made him feel really welcome and by the end of the day he was happily wandering round the the field with everyone else. By teatime Billy was ready to come back into his stable. So last night he spent with Twister again, he doesn't have to fight for his food and his feet are nice and dry.

Today Billy has been out again and has been playing with Muffin and Del-Boy.

Everyone seems happy, and  Billy has settled in really well. We are all happy to have him and hopefully he is happy to be here. We have lots of work to do with him but once his feet are sorted we hope to be taking Billy down to the beach.

TV Gold - Dyfi Donkeys hit CBBC Newsround and shine!

Watch the link and let us know what you think.

Del-Boy and the boys do it again as they put their best hooves forward and let the world know that they are not resting on their laurels all winter but out their working their hooves off!

So What DO beach donkeys do in the winter?

www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/24958983

BBC Newsround visit Dyfi Donkeys

How exciting , Dyfi Donkeys got a visit from the BBC!

CBBC Newsround presenter Ricky Boleto paid us a visit and filmed the donkeys for a news segment.

The donkeys were all very excited and Muffin decided that it was his turn to be a star for the day. He followed Ricky and Louise around the yard all day, hardly leaving their side and making sure he was always in shot!

Ricky, Mosses and Muffin putting their best hooves forward in front of the camera.

The piece will focus on what the boys get up to when they're not on the beach - as you may know we do lots of Christmas based events from church carol concerts to donkey rides at Santa's grotto at Newman's Garden Centre in Aberystwyth. we also do birthday parties and educational session too through out the year.

It was a great day , the fim crew were all really friendly so neither Louise or the boys got too nervous. The foals weren't too sure of it all and kept themselves in the background, but you never know they may make it onto screen!

We aren't sure when it'll go to air yet but rest assured we will have a link added ton the page so that everyone gets to see Muffin in his new Media celebrity role!

HALF TERM OPEN DAY 30th OCTOBER

This is your last chance to catch up with the Dyfi Donkeys at home this year.

Dyfi Donkey Wood will be open from 11am to 5pm on Wednesday 30th October.

All normal activities will be available , the donkeys will be roaming free although they may be lurking in the shelter if the weather is wet! Dont forget even if it is wet there is lots of cover in the woods and the grooming sessions are all under cover.

Grooming sessions at 12pm and 2pm.
Den building available all day.
Autumn treaure hunt - all day
General exploring - all day.

New for Autumn - the chance to find an acorn and plant it, you can either leave it with us and come back and plant it once it's grown or you can take your very own piece of Donkey Wood home with you.

Dylan and Seren are growing fast so take the oppurtunity to come and see them before they aren't really foals anymore... they are really fluffy at the moment!

Prices are £3 children and £4 adults, no additional costs , no need to book.

Phone 07717020344 for more details.

Dylan gets a little sister SEREN

Wow, things have got really hectic here at the Dyfi Donkeys; our open days are in full flow and the foals are keeping us all on our toes.

Dylan's little half sister arrived on 18th July at 13.40 to everyone's surprise. All the books say that donkeys will give birth during the wee hours of the night , obviously Poppy doesn't read!

I was happily trying to relocate everyone to accomodate a visit from our friendly farrier, Dorian, when i realised that poppy wasn't just lying down because she was a little weary. Luckily the birth went without the same trauma as Dylan's and Seren popped out of her own accord.

Seren - about an hour old!

Seren means Star in welsh. Seren's vital statistics were height 82cm tall, ears 21cm long, weight 20kgs.  She looks much finer than Dylan, has a very curly coat and a beautiful cross on her back.

I was luck enough to watch her make her first steps and her first steps are available to view on our facebook page at www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10200717007180398&set=vb.548717721815216&type=2&theater - check it out as it is really special, Bambi could have taken some lessons from young Seren.

A week on now and Seren has totally found her feet and she is spending her time racing around the field with Dylan.

If you get the chance get down to one of our Open days and check them out. We are getting nothing down down here on the farm because we are spending all our time foal watching!!!!

Donkey Picnic for Cylch Meithrin Corris with added DYLAN!

Cylch Meithrin Corris visited Dyfi Donkey Wood yesterday (10th July) for their summer picnic. 

 The donkeys welcomed 16 children, assorted parents and Anti Val , group organiser into the woods in the glorious Welsh sunshine.  After a leisurely picnic under the shade of the trees in Muffin's Picnic Meadow everyone headed up to Mosses' marquee to try their hand a grooming a donkey. Almost everyone overcame their nerves to get up close and personal to the donkeys, who stood calmly and patiently despite the excited chatter and click of numerous camera shutters!

Once the donkeys were shining brightly from all the grooming up came the shouts " Can I ride a donkey?"  Normally on an Open Day rides aren't available but anything if possible with a pre-booked group so Mosses was swiftly saddled up and off we all went. Up through the track and over the bridge towards the stable for the extra surprise of the day.  All the children shared the ride up to the farm; no mean feat to organise that one and many thanx for Anti Val for coming up with the idea of alphabetical order - no wonder she's group leader!

So what was the surprise or should that be who?  Our newest addition of course, Dylan made his public debut at just 1 day old. He should have been too shy , his mum should have been too protective but in true donkey style - they love a sense of occasion - once everyone was gathered round Daisy peeked out of the stable ; checked everyone was holding their breath in anticipation and with a quick nod to Dylan out she came. Well of course he had to follow her.. to a chorus of aahhhh's and ohhhh's. 

He stood and looked at everyone before scurrying back into the stable. Well , would that be it? Sixteen 3-5 year olds and all their grown ups starring at you is enough to scare anyone, let alone a day old donkey. But Dylan is not just any day old donkey, he knows he's a Dyfi Donkey and meeting their adoring public is in the blood! He scampered out again and proceeded to parade along the fence letting children and adults alike have a stroke and feel just how soft his coat is. By the end of the visit he was really working the crowd.

Everyone agreed that they had had a fabulous summer picnic and that Dylan was just the icing on the cake. Afterall it's not every day you get the chance to cwtch a day old donkey. Dylan has proved that he is a true Dyfi Donkey and its really looking forward to the group from Ysgol Aberdyfi who are coming to see him next week. Who knows he may have a half brother or sister by then!

Baby Donkey - Daisy is proud Mum!

Welcome to Dylan, our new Dyfi Donkey. He arrived eventually at 1.55 this morning, 9th July.

As with everything donkey there is always a story so here goes.

As I tucked the two girls up late last night I took a long hard look at Daisy and something told me I'd be seeing her again before morning. Off I went to bed to be rudely awaken - and believe me that is an understatement - by a bellowing donkey. I was out of bed and into my jeans before my eyes openned. I had no idea of the time but it was still very dark so at this time of year you know its the wee hours.

The air raid siren like bray broke the quiet night air as I tore out of the kitchen door and across the yard to the girls' stable. I don't know what I expected to see but it was certainly not the sight that greeted me.  Everyone tells you that a donkey will foal in the night and it's really unlikely that you'll see it so imagine my surprise and delight when I peeped over the stable door and there was Daisy in the throes of giving birth. One donkey head , two donkey legs... very long donkey legs. "Just in time", I thought, "how lucky". I stood waiting to see the foal plop to the ground,  all the research I had done suggested a donkey's birth is usually very quick and uneventful.

Poppy was watching over like a good midwife; "how sweet" I thought until she let out another enormous bellow and I realised it had been her who had rousted me from my bed. She looked up at me and those deep meaningful eyes bore right through me .." this isn't right" they seemed to say. Sure enough I turned back to see Daisy straining but absolutely no movement from the foal.

Years of watching James Herriot as a child kicked in and I rushed into the stable. Close up it was obvious that Daisy was having a bit of trouble expelling the back end of her baby. I gently felt the foal who was alive, alert and seemed relatively undistressed, although in a rather unbecoming position, just hanging there with his nose almost bouncing off the floor. The problem; two rather large hips attatched to two more very long legs. There was nothing for it, dragging every episode of All Creatures Great and Small through my memory banks I took a firm hold of each of the two foot legs and with a soothing suggestion to Daisy to push I slowly began to pull the foal. At first nothing happened and then like a cork from a champagne bottle... pop... out he came , tumbling to the floor. One quick check to make sure he was unhurt and Daisy was in order behind and I scurried out of the stable to let nature take its course. That mother / baby bond needs no human interference.

I ran into the house like a lunatic shouting  "Get up, get up we have a baby!!!".

More later on Dylan's first steps and introduction into the big wide world.