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Barnyard Buddies:  Snake in the hen house  |
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Bellepepper
True Blue Farmgirl
1207 Posts
Belle
Coffeyville
KS
USA
1207 Posts |
 Posted - Aug 17 2008 : 12:57:22 PM
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| How many eggs can a snake eat? We had been getting very few eggs, then last evening when I gathered eggs, found a big snake. Don't ask what kind. Ole Ron took the 22 and shot him. When he was carring it out of the hen house he was dripping egg yolk. Yuk! |
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Mumof3
True Blue Farmgirl
3890 Posts
Karin
Ellenwood
GA
USA
3890 Posts |
Posted - Aug 17 2008 : 1:11:47 PM
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Oh. My. Gosh. I would have died right there and then if I saw a snake in my hen house. He must have been gorging himself on your eggs if he was dripping yolk. I'd say that little piggy got his just desserts.
Karin
Farmgirl Sister
# 18 :)
www.perfectlittlemiracle.blogspot.com
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misstilliewillie
True Blue Farmgirl
136 Posts
glory
Tennessee
USA
136 Posts |
Posted - Aug 17 2008 : 1:47:50 PM
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How Visual!
My little story is when I went to my chicken house to gather eggs one morning...we call it the howdy house... because I have a sign made of old, rusty barbed wire that spells out howdy on the front door I bought while on an antique buying trip out west... and in one of my girl's nest boxes, was a big ole lumpy snake with several fake eggs in him. I immediately called for the .357 with snakeshot! We hated to shoot him, but had to... |
Edited by - misstilliewillie on Sep 02 2008 8:37:27 PM |
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catscharm74
True Blue Farmgirl
4687 Posts
Heather
Texas
USA
4687 Posts |
Posted - Aug 17 2008 : 1:59:19 PM
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I don't know what to say other than yes..that is quite a visual...oh my!!! Ms. Glory, I bet you that snake was mad that he ate those fake eggs...so much for breaking the gluttony sin!!! HA!!!!
Heather
Yee-Haw, I am a cowgirl!!!
FARMGIRL #90 |
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electricdunce
True Blue Farmgirl
2544 Posts
Karin
Belmont
ME
USA
2544 Posts |
Posted - Aug 17 2008 : 2:45:18 PM
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I forget about things like snakes in the henhouse, because we seldom see snakes around here. Glad to hear the egg theif has been taken care of...
Karin
Farmgirl Sister #153
"Give me shelter from the storm" - Bob Dylan
http://moodranch.blogspot.com
http://domesticnonsense.etsy.com |
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SusieQue
True Blue Farmgirl
603 Posts
Susie
Greenville
Ga
Georgia
603 Posts |
Posted - Aug 17 2008 : 5:08:40 PM
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We have had several also in our henhouse and Thank Goodness it was not me that was gathering eggs that day. The latest one was about 4 weeks ago and he was 7 ft long! Of course he was shot also. Make me have chills over all just writing this.. He had the yolk dripping also when hubby was bringing him out of the pen.
"A mother is someone you never outgrow your need for" |
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Bear5
True Blue Farmgirl
13055 Posts
Louisiana/Texas
USA
13055 Posts |
Posted - Aug 17 2008 : 5:32:04 PM
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Belle:
Glory was right on the visual part; you painted us a picture of Ron carrying that snake out. Gross! My husband would have shot it, but I would have had to carry it out. LOL He is afraid of snakes, and hates the sight of them. I hope there are no other snakes lurking around.
Marly |
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Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - Aug 19 2008 : 03:15:43 AM
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We have this problem every year too especialy in early spring. Maybe because all the mice activity hasn't gotten into full swing yet
I have a pair of snake tongs that hang on one of the coops
Very rarely have I ever found one that was venomous. they all seem to be black snakes
The last one that was in the coop, I tonged him but wasn't able to get a decent grip to bring him down. It was wrapped all into the wire.
guess I gave it something to remember though 'cause we havn't seen any more all summer
and when we are able to get ahold of em, we usually place 'em under the house for further rident control
I try not to think about what would happen if a snake ever found its way in
something about feeling it crwal across my feet/legs while I'm sleeping
I'm all for natural pest control as long as its OUTSIDE! |
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deeredawn
True Blue Farmgirl
2306 Posts
Dawn
Cordova
TN
USA
2306 Posts |
Posted - Aug 19 2008 : 05:11:46 AM
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UGH! Growing up in WV we found a black snake inthe bath tub. One of those old claw footed types. I remember it VIVIDLY. No snakes in my henhouse yet....however I DID see a teeny ol garter snake the other day in which I posted a thread about how I hate snakes! Yucky!
Dawn M. Sista #279 (big grin!)
www.harvestthymefarm.com
"I figure if a girl wants to be a legend, she should go ahead and be one!"...Calamity Jane |
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junkjunkie
True Blue Farmgirl
1306 Posts
Judy
Lawrenceville
NJ
USA
1306 Posts |
Posted - Aug 19 2008 : 5:54:53 PM
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Ewwww....the visual.....glad I'm not eating eggs now! :D Wow! A seven foot snake! What kind of snake was that, Susie? I would have died on the spot....
"To have life in focus, we must have death in our field of vision." Benedictine monk John Main |
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SusieQue
True Blue Farmgirl
603 Posts
Susie
Greenville
Ga
Georgia
603 Posts |
Posted - Aug 19 2008 : 6:52:19 PM
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Judy, the snake was a chicken snake so hubby said. I made a pic of him on my cell phone and hubby is 6'2" and the snake for over his head and part of him was on the ground. Hubby said he was about 7 f long. My step-son (Brandon) actually was the first to see him and I thought he was gonna pass out. I was right behind him holding my grandson when Brandon stuck his over in the nest and of course a few words came out and he ran out and so did we. He said that snake was curled up and took up that whole section. I hate snakes and am terrified of them.
"A mother is someone you never outgrow your need for" |
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junkjunkie
True Blue Farmgirl
1306 Posts
Judy
Lawrenceville
NJ
USA
1306 Posts |
Posted - Aug 19 2008 : 7:17:19 PM
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**shudder....oooooohhhh.....shudder** Scary!
"To have life in focus, we must have death in our field of vision." Benedictine monk John Main |
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Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - Aug 31 2008 : 09:23:57 AM
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And Belle,
To answer your original question?? Quite a few! I got home last night and only plucked 6 eggs out of a possible 28 that SHOULD have been layed today. Nothing much else has changed and in fact all the girls have been able to free range more than usual due to the gardens being plowed under. The day before I was able to get close to 20 or so, so SOMETHING has been snooping around. And this happened whle the coop doors have been closed and the ladies locked in.
This isn't good since I fill a 6 dozen order on Mondays.
Looks like something had better surface-or the ladies get to layin' double time!
Most snakes are benificial, but I'd
rather they stick to the rodents and leave the eggs alone.
OH! And I have tried the fake egg thing too. Plastic easter eggs filled w/ sand. Those too have disappeared a time or two. |
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nampafarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
494 Posts
Kim
Nampa
ID
USA
494 Posts |
Posted - Sep 02 2008 : 12:12:12 PM
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Belle, the problem is here, that you must not have put up a notice advising that snakes are not allowed. I am very adomint (spelling?) that I do not allow snakes on our property and they do not come. Unfortunatly for me, I never said skunks are not allowed and while sleeping under the stars, with the dogs, near the goat pen, a skunk walked by, they stink even without trying too......I dont allow elephants either, but have given the job of detering them to my dog, Moo, who cant scare a flea, but apparantly can keep away the elephants.......
Kim
Farmgirl Sister # 302 |
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Bellepepper
True Blue Farmgirl
1207 Posts
Belle
Coffeyville
KS
USA
1207 Posts |
Posted - Sep 03 2008 : 06:43:58 AM
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| LOL Kim! The sign idea reminds me of a book I read probably 60 years ago. It was about a gardener that was having problems with rabbits in his garden. So he planted an extra row and put out a sign that said "enough for all". I read that book several times trying to figure out how that worked. At that time I didn't think that animals could read. However, with your suggestion, maybe they can. I'll get that sign made today. Better do one for skunks and especially one for mice in the motorhome. |
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Bellepepper
True Blue Farmgirl
1207 Posts
Belle
Coffeyville
KS
USA
1207 Posts |
Posted - Sep 03 2008 : 06:45:34 AM
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| By the way, we have never had a problem with elephants, so I won't have to hang the signs up very high. |
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neighsayer
True Blue Farmgirl
81 Posts
Shirley
Arabi
GA
USA
81 Posts |
Posted - Sep 05 2008 : 10:46:34 AM
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I solved that problem. I absolutely hate snakes. They scare the bejesus out of me. So, when we built our "chicken ritz" hotel, we used the 1/2" hardware cloth all around. That way, nothing bigger than an earthworm can get through. By then, my rooster has him for dinner. Love it!!!
Thank God I live in the country! |
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Janneane Hazlip
True Blue Farmgirl
67 Posts
Janneane
Fort Scott
Kansas
USA
67 Posts |
Posted - Sep 05 2008 : 11:01:03 AM
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An old timer told me to duct tape a fish hook and line to a couple of eggs and secure the line. When you go to the hen house the snake will have swallowed the egg, hook and all and you will have him caught. This would not be for the faint of heart (like me)as now you have the problem of one ticked off snake and I would be screeming "help me let him go"!!!!
Janneane |
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Sandra K. Licher
True Blue Farmgirl
1106 Posts
Sandra
Horseshoe Bend
Arkansas
1106 Posts |
Posted - Sep 06 2008 : 7:41:13 PM
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Okay...I was just thinking I would get chickens when I get my farm but you guys have cured me of that! I don't do guns and I don't like snakes much so going into a chicken coop to get eggs and finding a snake...well....I guess I won't be doing chickens!
Sam in AR..... "It's a great life if you don't weaken!"
Farmgirl Sister #226 |
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neighsayer
True Blue Farmgirl
81 Posts
Shirley
Arabi
GA
USA
81 Posts |
Posted - Sep 07 2008 : 08:39:27 AM
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Sandra: Look at my earlier post. I promise you, I have NEVER had a snake in my henhouse. Just use the close knit wire (they call it hardware cloth). It is only about 1/2 inch squares and nothing would be able to get into there except something very tiny and by then...the hens would have thought it was a worm. I love having my chickens. Besides, they are a real sense of entertainment! ha ha. Good luck!
Thank God I live in the country! |
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Barnyard Buddies: Snake in the hen house |
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Snake in the hen house
