I'll look twice the next time I turn the corner to my Silkie pen...

[normajean]

What a coinkidink since yesterday I almost stepped on a rat snake...he luckily was in new skin and was VERY colorful or else he would have been partially mushed. I tried to catch it and dispose of it but it slithered away. I don't take chances with lots of little critters, eggs, goats, dogs cats and horses running around my acreage.
Better the little snake meet a humane end than my dog tearing it to pieces and eating it.

 

[Dilly]

Omg I about freaked when I saw this. I HATE SNAKES, any kind any way shape or form. Nothing is worse than a snake. I think he would of died on the vine if this were me. I would not of even gotten close enough to beat him to death, maybe I could of stoned it from afar.

 

[snowydiamonds]

Very thoughtful of you to help the snake out

Last night as I was turning the corner to check on the RIR hens before bed, I was very surprised to see a red fox lying on the ground 10 feet from the coop door (I have a piece of 2x4 propped against the door along w/a padlock on it)!

Going to ask the neighbors (coop is in their back yard until I move it asap) if they know anything about it this morning, I can't see why anyone'd want to kill one this time of year, their coats are all sunbleached and they'll be shedding out...at first I thought it was "playing possum" or sleeping but didn't see any signs of the chest rising and falling but it still made me uneasy. It was too late to ask the neighbors, 1am...(why I was up that late, I'll explain in a post about my Pilgrim geese.)

 

[Theda's Mom]

Poor snake!! I'm glad you saved it. (I do like most snakes - plus they have their ecological role.)

We had a problem with rats years ago. Rather than kill them (they were all named Templeton after the rat in Charlotte's Web), we would live trap them then run them down the road a few miles and turn them loose in a large field.

 

[theOEGBman]

Awesome catch, Michelle!

Good on ya for letting the poor guy go. Yes, these guys eat eggs! I've seen quite a few filled with eggs after my grandma beheaded the poor things. Beautiful snake, why the heck cant I find any here!?!?!? We only live 20 minutes apart,lol.

 

[Broke Down Ranch]

A snake that size may not be able to completely swallow a silkie BUT it can get enough in to suffocate them (they swallow head first) then when they can't get them down they regurgitate and your left with a dead, slimed-up silkie. Then they move on to the next silkie that is also too big to eat.....I lost 7 silkies in 1 night to a snake doing just that.

Release the snake? Not me, baby. I have lost WAY too many birds to snakes to show them mercy any more....but that's just me......

 

[tiki244]

Quote:

YYOOWW That would have sent me through the roof!

 

[MissPrissy]

I would have had to go back to the house and change clothes

 

[Chellester]

Quote:
Next time one decides to get tangled up in my chicken wire, I'll drop you an email and you can come and get him.

 

[theOEGBman]

Quote:
Next time one decides to get tangled up in my chicken wire, I'll drop you an email and you can come and get him.

My mom would kill us both! I just want to find one out here in the yard, I miss seeing them.