Feeling a big oops afterwards

[JupiterFarmer]

This morning as I'm letting out the girls out of fort knox, unlocking unwedge the locked door. I let out the roosters and the little group of chicks to free ranger and to eat start & grow instead of layena.

My sister comes in to see if there are any eggs to pick up and something, at the same time, slithers into the coop towards where one of my hens is about to lay. I stomp at it while trying to get it with one of the sticks are and then it tries to run out where I have smaller pullets out.

My mind goes straight to panick and protect mode since I only saw the tail end of it clearly. I whacked the snake until it was getting away any time soon and only then realized it was not a threat to any but my free ranging month olds who it must've past on the way into the coop

I have either really large mice or small rats coming from my neighbor's yard to the coop yard to steal feed, so the snake might've used my coop to get to the neighbor's yard. I feel so bad and tried to make sure it wouldn't suffer after my panicked attack on it. I need to be less jumpy/paranoid now

If my sister didn't open the door at the time she did it problably would've squeezed under the coop to get on its way and I wouldn't have been surprised by him T_T

 

[Davaroo]

One word: Traps

 

[Wynette]

Awe...sorry you're feeling bad - I would be, too. But I also probably would have just reacted and done what you did.

 

[JupiterFarmer]

Quote:
For the rats or the snakes?

 

[Davaroo]

Quote:
For the rats or the snakes?

Yes.








Seriously, rats are a no-brainer. Trap and dispatch them, without mercy.
I'm not aware of anything like a snake trap, although something probably exists.
The normal thing to do with snakes is:

A. Let them be.
B. Do the "Stomp and Shovel" two step on them.

 

[JupiterFarmer]

Quote:
For the rats or the snakes?

Yes.








Seriously, rats are a no-brainer. Trap and dispatch them, without mercy.
I'm not aware of anything like a snake trap, although something probably exists.
The normal thing to do with snakes is:

A. Let them be.
B. Do the "Stomp and Shovel" two step on them.

I know

I don't see many traps around here though I might try a couple once we have some funds so my dad wouldn't flip out if it failed.

What's a really good trap though? The buggers are making a trail from where they dig into the coop yard

 

[Davaroo]

Quote:
Yes.








Seriously, rats are a no-brainer. Trap and dispatch them, without mercy.
I'm not aware of anything like a snake trap, although something probably exists.
The normal thing to do with snakes is:

A. Let them be.
B. Do the "Stomp and Shovel" two step on them.

I know

I don't see many traps around here though I might try a couple once we have some funds so my dad wouldn't flip out if it failed.

What's a really good trap though? The buggers are making a trail from where they dig into the coop yard

You can buy rat traps for $1 most anywhere, even WalMart. You may also wish to try a bucket trap, very effective and cheap. just google the term.