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How we deal with Shedding on the Farm

How we deal with Shedding on the Farm

Today I'm going to tell you a little story. Some might find it amusing. Most will find it ludicrous. But there are a few who will find it essential, and they are the reason I'm writing this today.

Once upon a time, there were 30 donkeys. Four of those donkeys couldn't eat grains, and, in fact, had become violently ill the last time they tried them, (back when they didn't know they were allergic to grains.) The rest of the donkeys didn't see any problem with eating grain and indeed, seemed to thrive on the extra treats.

So, the four sensitive donkeys didn't eat the grain, while the rest of the herd enjoyed it for breakfast, lunch, and some even got an extra boost at dinner. Just to be on the safe side.

The four donkeys thought they would be fine, just eating grass all day. They could be with the rest of the herd and simply refuse to eat the grain, and everyone would be happy.

Then one day, the grass fed middle donkey's eyes began to burn after she spent the day playing in the meadow with her grain eating friends. They watered. And they burned. And she started to blink. And blink. And BLINK. And she couldn't stop blinking. The blinking became so frequent and so bad, she couldn't even see to find her favorite bits of Bermuda grass. And her momma was worried. The usual fix of donkey milk wasn't cutting it for this new assault on her immune system.

Then the youngest grass fed donkey got a nose bleed. And then another nose bleed. And she had never had nose bleeds before.

Then the grass fed momma donkey began to itch. And itch. And itch. And she didn't have donkey lice. Or fly bites. Or any reason to be itching and scratching all over.

The only difference was, the rest of the herd was shedding. And no amount of currying from the caring farmer seemed to make a bit of difference.

As a last resort, the farmer gave the four grass fed donkeys a round of i-Vermect*n, because, he figured the herbal de-wormers weren't quite cutting it this time. (The youngest donkey prefers her i-Vermect*n mixed with almond butter, and an apple.)

And the blinking went away. And the itching went away. And the nose bleeds stopped.

For about a week...and then they needed another round of horse dewormer. Or the nose bleeds and itching and blinking came back...with a vengeance.

It wasn't ideal. But, for now, it seems to be keeping the shedding at bay.

And the four grass fed donkeys can co-exist with their grain eating friends.

(As long as they will have them, anyway.) 

If you're one of the sensitive, grass fed donkey types, perhaps this story will help you too.

And just in case you need it, here is a link to a kick A grain refusal. In case your donkey is being pressured into eating grains too.

If you know a super sensitive, grass fed donkey in a similar spot, please comment and share this with all your bestie grass fed donkey friends. 

P.S. This story is an allegory. If you're about to comment with some judgmental rant about grain feeding our donkeys or giving them dewormers, please, just....don't. Oh, and Aslan? He represents Jesus. Just sayin'. 

P.S.S. If you're tempted to say "This isn't real, since it isn't happening to ME." Then it follows that your allergies (eczema, asthma, etc.) aren't real either, since they aren't happening to ME.  

Please be kind. Your experiences are valid. As are ours. Each of us is unique and created by God. Our DNA. Our genome. Our immune systems. We all react to the world in our own individual ways. Some of us are canaries in the coal mine, and when we react to the toxins around us, it's a clear warning to the rest of the miners...something isn't right in the mine.

How we deal with Shedding on the Farm

How we deal with Shedding on the Farm

Comments (14)

Thank you for sharing your story!

Joy B.

Very clever post and absolutely awesome. I’d like to tell you a story about my two cows. They were sisters and the best of friends. Their farmers fed them both a grain-free diet as well. However, the younger sister cow was placed in a pen with a grain fed cow for a bit and the farmer started noticing some problems. Her cycle was not right. She was bleeding more and in more pain than ever before. The farmer started seeing giant blood clots coming out of her. Then just two weeks later it happened again, much too early for a normal cycle.
Thankfully, the younger sister was able to move into the older sisters pen for the summer. The older sister already had a small bull calf and has another on the way. The farmer is being careful not to let her pregnant cow spend too much time in contact with other grain fed cows after noticing such weird happenings with his other cow but he knows that with zero control over other farmers feeding their cows grain there’s not much he can do about it other than try and keep his cows healthy and feed them things to really boost their immune system. He has realized he has to give his worries over to Jesus and he’s knows he will take care of his precious herd.

Makenna

LOVE your writing and your honesty even more! Have a freedom keeper friend w a son w ASD. Hoping she buys some milk from you 💕 Keep doing you. It’s amazing!

Courtney

Great allegory! Our house loves your products! It was exciting to have my husband come home from working at OU Children’s the other day and inform me some of his patients use your products too.
We can’t thank you enough for the peace of mind your products bring to our home.
Lynda

Lynda Watson

Get it & love it! Hope you are all doing well.❤

Chris Vogt

That scare the crap out of me. I left the house for the first time in weeks because we grow our own food and there was no reason to go anywhere. I was around A LOT of people for a few hours. I broke out in itchy sores that just won’t go away and they aren’t bites. I didn’t put the two together.

Dirtpatcheaven

Thank You!
Great story !

Janeen Shaver

I absolutely live your allegory and your posts. Thank you, from one canary to another.

Prescilla

I love this allegory. Our experiences as sensitive donkeys ARE so valid. Thank you.

I also love your deodorant!

Keep up the excellent work!

Christayla

You. Are. BRILLIANT. Thank you for this and glad these donkies are doing so much better!

Kristen

🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽 Preach! You know I’m a big fan of that dewormer!

Jessie

Beautifully written; thank you (miss you all btw). We may need to get some for our ultra sensitive little herd as well; the usual helps aren’t working.

Melissa

Thank you so much. I appreciate you and what you share more than words can say. God bless and prosper you, your family and all of your endeavors.

Sheryl

Amen! Thank you for being YOU (and the products you provide.) LOVE getting someone else’s perspective that is … Just. Like. Mine!

Susan Cabot

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