Black Snakes in my chicken coop!!!!!

[SemperChicken]

Absolutely no offense taken. I know you mean good by it.

I guess you're right about the hawks, but I guess I take comfort in knowing the crows are keeping them away.

Thanks for the info on the cats. I guess because we've been here since January I don't really feel like it's the neighbor's cats. Who knows. I'm hoping the dirt I have in front of the small coop will keep a foot print.

 

[youtubeminer]

I never have a problem with snakes because every side of my run has wood boards on it so rats, snake can get through

 

[Gloryjasmine]

Absolutely no offense taken. I know you mean good by it.

I guess you're right about the hawks, but I guess I take comfort in knowing the crows are keeping them away.

Thanks for the info on the cats. I guess because we've been here since January I don't really feel like it's the neighbor's cats. Who knows. I'm hoping the dirt I have in front of the small coop will keep a foot print.

Awesome! Glad you know my heart. I know the hawks aren't your nightly issue. I guess the crows here are slack. And eventually,your hawks will get use to them being around. The dirt was a great call. For security and tracking! Do y'all hunt deer?

 

[Gloryjasmine]

I never have a problem with snakes because every side of my run has wood boards on it so rats, snake can get through

Hey there thanks for your post. Glad to hear that your flock is safe. I'm working on updating mine.

 

[SemperChicken]

Awesome! Glad you know my heart. I know the hawks aren't your nightly issue. I guess the crows here are slack. And eventually,your hawks will get use to them being around. The dirt was a great call. For security and tracking! Do y'all hunt deer?

I've never been out hunting before. Well, I've never hunted legally. I've shot and ate squirrel before from our own backyard. But ya... No "real hunting" of big game.

Just to update you we've kept the pullets inside the last couple nights and locked up the big coop during the night. Whatever predator (just going to assume coon) came back Monday night cause some things were altered around the small coop. Unfortunately, the dirt idea didn't work and I wasn't able to get a good imprint. Yesterday I put the latches on the lid of the nesting box and laid something on top of the lid that would fall over if something messed with it. Sure enough, the coon must've came back again last night cause it was fallen over. Also, under the nesting box I had a piece of 2x4 standing upright blocking the pieces of wood I screwed in to close the 1" gap; that 2x4 was pulled away as if the coon was checking that opening.

Not sure how well this game camera app will work, but I'm going to leave my phone staged outside to see if I can capture 1) what exactly we are dealing with and 2) what time it is coming by. If it is a coon, I'm probably going to trap it and kill it (relocate?.. Nah, dang guy got 4 of my 7 week old pullets and 1 cockerel).

I keep an eye on them during the day and visit when I'm not busy with our twins. Call us crazy, but we also picked up 3 chicks from a local hatchery. A speckled Sussex, a favorelle, and a lavender orpington. All born within the last few weeks.

Have you dealt with any more black snakes?

 

[Gloryjasmine]

I've never been out hunting before. Well, I've never hunted legally. I've shot and ate squirrel before from our own backyard. But ya... No "real hunting" of big game.

Just to update you we've kept the pullets inside the last couple nights and locked up the big coop during the night. Whatever predator (just going to assume coon) came back Monday night cause some things were altered around the small coop. Unfortunately, the dirt idea didn't work and I wasn't able to get a good imprint. Yesterday I put the latches on the lid of the nesting box and laid something on top of the lid that would fall over if something messed with it. Sure enough, the coon must've came back again last night cause it was fallen over. Also, under the nesting box I had a piece of 2x4 standing upright blocking the pieces of wood I screwed in to close the 1" gap; that 2x4 was pulled away as if the coon was checking that opening.

Not sure how well this game camera app will work, but I'm going to leave my phone staged outside to see if I can capture 1) what exactly we are dealing with and 2) what time it is coming by. If it is a coon, I'm probably going to trap it and kill it (relocate?.. Nah, dang guy got 4 of my 7 week old pullets and 1 cockerel).

I keep an eye on them during the day and visit when I'm not busy with our twins. Call us crazy, but we also picked up 3 chicks from a local hatchery. A speckled Sussex, a favorelle, and a lavender orpington. All born within the last few weeks.


Have you dealt with any more black snakes?

Hey! I'm sorry today's been a busy day on the farm. Lol squirrels are annoying! But some good eating! Lol I wanted to talk to yall about deer hunting. Is it alright with you and your wife if I PM you? (Private message). Omgosh.....ok based off of what you're describing,ima say fox. Yup. Red or gray. Also wanted to discuss something related to the animal issue with y'all privately. Awww dude I so get your anger and frustration! You feel violated. It really hits home. Not only is this your territory,it's your family.

Nope no crazy! That I get too.

No praise The Lord!!! My moth balls have ,once again,proven true. They best not show themselves any where near my babies!!!! Thanks for the update. God bless you and yours.

 

[Gloryjasmine]

Ok .....I should've warned you first!

These are the first two black snakes that ate at least 10,or more,fertile eggs. And killed my bestes hen,Charlie.

These came into the run in the same day. A bit before evening. The first one did the damage to my hen as well as 4 eggs. I shot him and cut open his belly to recover the eggs. As I could tell that he had recently eaten them. Digestion had not begun. I firmly believe that he went for the eggs that Charlie was fighting so hard to defend. She was a very feisty lil thang! I know she did all she could to protect her young. The snake eventually constricted around her,and strangled her to death. Then,attempted to eat her. I could send that pic too. But it's graphic. Failing to succeed,he then spit her neck out and proceeded to her 4 remaining eggs. After ridding the run of him,I gently washed the eggs and warmed them quickly. However,those 4 weren't fertile. (I eggtopsied them a couple days after their hatch due date). I would've loved to have carried her spirit on. Then about an hour later,the second one showed up! What the??? I believe he was a participant in the eating of her fertile eggs,but he did not get to do anything from there!!! Anywho,thought I'd share.

 

[SemperChicken]

Hey! I'm sorry today's been a busy day on the farm. Lol squirrels are annoying! But some good eating! Lol I wanted to talk to yall about deer hunting. Is it alright with you and your wife if I PM you? (Private message). Omgosh.....ok based off of what you're describing,ima say fox. Yup. Red or gray. Also wanted to discuss something related to the animal issue with y'all privately. Awww dude I so get your anger and frustration! You feel violated. It really hits home. Not only is this your territory,it's your family.

Nope no crazy! That I get too.

No praise The Lord!!! My moth balls have ,once again,proven true. They best not show themselves any where near my babies!!!! Thanks for the update. God bless you and yours.

Hey, no problem if you PM me.

Thought I'd share that I came across a copperhead this morning, before I realized it was a copperhead. After the fact [that I killed it already], reading a lot of things about how things could've really been bad for me had the snake been able to land a bite. Phew! Anyway, we have an outside shed attached to the house and when I had opened up the door this morning the little guy was there all coiled at me... scared the crap outta me! I went and got the metal rake and a tile scraper (on one of those long poles, so it was like a guillotine). Almost goofed it up and let him escape back into the shed area, but I managed to land the tile scraper on its head and kill it. Chickens were uninterested as, yes, I did try and feed the dead snake to them lol.





Little baby, but just worried about "where there's one, there's more". Not worried about the chickens, particularly, but about our small dogs that we have. Especially Kelsie, my Toy Fox Terrier. Gonna look into those mothballs, Jasmine... how "bad" do they smell?

 

[Gloryjasmine]

Omgosh!!!! I didn't even get to the reading part before I said out loud,"ahh that's a copperhead!!!" Yea you are very lucky. Well not really luck....God kept you safe. It's good to know your snakes!!! In my husbands and my opinion , the only good snake is a dead snake! I'm so glad it didn't harm any of your animals. Lol my real name is actually Glory. But I go by Jasmine too. My husbands nickname for me.

you know,they really only smell bad to me for a couple days. But to the snake,for a long x. Just make sure you place them spiratically. Like one every 2 ft or so. And just a couple under the actual coop. So the chickens can breathe! They've been working for me. No more snakes. Now I've heard they help with black snakes. Idk about any others.

 

[SemperChicken]

Omgosh!!!! I didn't even get to the reading part before I said out loud,"ahh that's a copperhead!!!" Yea you are very lucky. Well not really luck....God kept you safe. It's good to know your snakes!!! In my husbands and my opinion , the only good snake is a dead snake! I'm so glad it didn't harm any of your animals. Lol my real name is actually Glory. But I go by Jasmine too. My husbands nickname for me.

you know,they really only smell bad to me for a couple days. But to the snake,for a long x. Just make sure you place them spiratically. Like one every 2 ft or so. And just a couple under the actual coop. So the chickens can breathe! They've been working for me. No more snakes. Now I've heard they help with black snakes. Idk about any others.

Yea, I just wasn't even thinking when I opened the closet door and saw that. I am always peeking inside that closet before stepping inside because I know mice live up in the rafter area of the closet (all the rat droppings on the floor, plus I've seen one scurry away). May explain why the snake was in there. Honestly not sure how it got in there. Anyway, I about ****** myself when I saw him coiled like he was.

Well, Glory, thanks for the tip on the mothballs.