Late night snakes trying for the quail!

[aprophet]

Quote:
Following this advice, I didn't see another last night, but went out this evening to see what was out in the runs...

I didn't see another the same size or color, but to my amazement....
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/52686_imgp6417.jpg
One shot, one kill...times two! Clean head shots again. These snakes must really like quail.

No black snakes, ( I saw one black snake and let it go back to the woods) just the piosonous ones....if you're in South East Oklahoma, folks they're out!

Thanks to everyone who supports the troops! Dawg 53, thank you for your service. I've only got 17 in...I went from an NCO to now a CWO, I've got several to go....

Disclaimer: I didn't go in the woods hunting these, only my run/coop area. No non-piosonous snakes where hurt during the extermination of these two. This is for informational purposes only, no need to post if trying to change my mind on the irradication of all poisonous snakes I see in the inhabited/cleared area of my homestead.

good shooting

 

[Lynn in Texas]

My two cents worth about copperheads - (and my goodness the ones in your photos were HUGE!!!) One of my husband's outdoor magazines this last year had an article about someone who was bitten - the anti-venom shots cost $41,000 - apparently it's scarce stuff. A friend that breeds Corgis had three pupplies bitten at the age of 6 weeks last year - all survived but it wasn't pleasant or cheap and one had permanent nerve damage.

A warning about snakes in general - my brother in California tried to warn me about how small an entrance they could penetrate. The coop we built this last winter was done along the lines of "Fort Knox" - hubby is a civil engineer and very talented. A 12 x 12 coop with attached completely enclosed 12 x 20 run until they can free range this October. We used 1" 20 gauge poultry wire backed up with 3 lines of "hot wire" and a completely protected perimiter (metal roof flashing attached to the frame and buried with bent metal t posts and timbers at the bottom of the ditch). It has protected against the hawks that live up the road (and that we love) and the biker boy racoon pack, but much to my distress 4 weeks ago a 4 foot rat snake was hanging out of the side, neck fried on one of the hot wires - he got stuck with the lump of a month old black jersey giant ( I had to cut it out of the fence so was able to see which of my darlings he had comsumed). I still couldn't believe that a snake with it's diameter could get into that small an opening, then when I went down the next day the dude that had been hanging around our stock pong was half way through the 1" opening. I was able to chase him off but I swear he was 2 - 1/2 inches around - it's simply amazing.

Went to Tractor Supply, got a good supply of Snake Stopper and sprinkled it around the perimiter and purchased 3' hardware cloth to line the run area - no problems since then, but dear brother told me that even if they can't swollow the chickens, they love the eggs, so now I know to be extra vigilent.

Thanks so much for your service - you're one excellent marksman!

 

[Buckguy20]

I am with you bfrancis. I like snakes but I won't let them eat my chickens, eggs or be a threat to my family.

 

[aprophet]

Quote:
I am not sure how they do this but coon will squeeze through an opening 3-5 " in diameter