1/2 acre wooded lot

[chickenwhisperer]

Quote:
As someone who has bred many species of snakes for the pet trade, and dealt with hots, I honestly do not think this is possible.
Venomous snakes are not closely related enough to other snakes to permit this.

If this does in fact turn out to be true, that is a very scary situation.
However, the offsprings will be "hybrids", and as such should be infertile and so could not make more.

This really sounds like something out of an old B-horror movie.


This I have to Google . . .

 

[upthecreek]

I would cherish the trees and cut out the under brush that houses mosquitos and ticks .
Once your ground gets bare buy some oat hay/straw and spread it about the chickens will love it (they will work in it and keep themselves healthy and happy) but only use it on the bare areas .
You are indeed lucky to have this setup in the trees and it sounds like you might have a grassy area also .

Best to You

 

[ravenvalor]

Hi Folks,

Thank you for all of the great advice. You have helped lead me to the following decision. I am going to clear out the center 1/4 acre of this 1/2 acre lot. Next I will divide this 1/2 acre lot into 4 lots using chicken wire. The chickens will have 2 - wooded lots and 2 - grass lots to graze on. I will have 2 - firewood lots and 2 - garden lots to grow produce and chicken feed on.

Best Wishes To All!

Jim

 

[teach1rusl]

Quote:
I don't find some of my kin too palatable. Can I send them down to your neck of the woods???

Cause I'm pretty sure I like my chickens better than some of them...lol.

 

[zazouse]

Quote:
No. This is a myth. Black snakes and Copperheads are not closely related and have no interest in breeding with the other. Their own unique genetic makeup would make any attempt at this type of union with offspring not viable

 

[foxinachickenhouse]

Quote:
No. This is a myth. Black snakes and Copperheads are not closely related and have no interest in breeding with the other. Their own unique genetic makeup would make any attempt at this type of union with offspring not viable

This exchange is fascinating and got me really curious. I did some googling and learned that as blacksnakes lay eggs and copperheads bear live young, it is impossible. Here is some text of a paper out of Pennsylvania State University:
"Myths
There are many myths about copperheads. One that has come up for me in a variety of conversations and emails concerns the interbreeding of copperheads and black rat snakes to form a new, very active, venomous hybrid snake. The good news is that this cross-species breeding is not biologically possible. These two snake species are, in fact, in different taxonomic families! The chance of these two species successfully interbreeding is as likely as a human being producing viable offspring after mating with a lemur, or a dog being able to hybridize with a house cat! This myth possibly came about because of the previously mentioned observation that black rat snakes and copperheads often den together during hibernation. There is a big difference, though, between communal denning and reproducing!"

Some other herp people explained that some populations of copperheads are showing dark colors, almost black. Other folks maintain that people are having increased severe allergic reactions to rat snake saliva making the bites appear venomous.

Wacky! Either way, I feel for you all having to deal with snakes at all. Here in te PNW we are lucky.

 

[PriceFamilyFarms]

I'm not a reptile person at all, I had just posted what I had been told...

I apologize for the misinformation

I'm glad it's not possible because I do have alot of blacksnakes around my place and they have gotten me in the past.

 

[chickenwhisperer]

Quote:
No worries, its just that that is a VERY scary thing, IF it could in fact happen . . .
I been working with/breeding snakes for as long as I can remember . . .

 

[Hugerat]

What bothers me is that an extension agent passed on the information. You would think in that position you would be more cautious about checking your facts.

 

[carrlr]

I interbred a snake and a chicken. As soon as this thing sheds I'll have skinless chicken. LOL!!