North Carolina

[Chasity]

I go on vacation for 5 days and come back to over 100 posts!!!!

Hollow: =( I recently went and met a lady in raeford and acquired some dark brahma babies so maybe when you're ready we can get some hatching eggs or day olds for you!

when I left for the beach on Wednesday morning Momma Red was sitting on 10 eggs....came home Saturday AM and she's only got 8? No broken shells, no sign of anything......I was thinking maybe a snake, but then remembering when my hens killed a cat I thought the snake would have never had a chance?!?!? PUZZLED...any ideas?

This egg thief was found in our hen house 6/27/12, so it is possible, but they could have also eaten it. I cook, and crush shells and give them back to the birds for added calcium! I hope you don't have one of these big guys sneaking in and out of yours. After the initial scare of my first born; the boys enjoyed checking him out before the beheading! We were wondering where the eggs had been??? We have also went out one day and found 18 eggs under hen, and the next day 12. They had been fighting in the nesting box, so we removed the eggs and put them in the incubator. I hope the rest of your babies hatch

 

[Chasity]

LukesCityHens;
When our birds brood, they do take time off of the eggs, but not much time...

 

[LukesCityHens]

Thanks everyone! My gf is a really big into snakes and has a few in the house in tanks...not my style!... so I guess she gets to find one if there is one.

one more question: I tried to candle the eggs and either I'm dumb or my light wasn't bright enough? any suggestions on the easiest/best way to candle would be greatly appreciated

 

[Coop Scoop Boogie]

Honey, that's a wonderful thought but I'll not having you drive the entire length of the county to deliver eggs to me! Although, once the quarantine is lifted I'm sure I can meet up with ou or someone else and get some eggs now and then. Maybe even at WCA...

Speaking of which, the sprayer I got to replace my broken one was better than I thought. I'll be getting a couple more to stash about the property. And I'll have one in my car when I do come to WCA...just for spraying my tires at the gas station down the road before I head home. If anyone else wants tires sprayed those days, just come along and we'll get them all!

But since I am back to driving at D Bryd,
on that side of the county,
I would NOT be driving all that far to bring you eggs.

Welcome to all the other NC thread folks

glad to meet you

 

[ramirezframing]

I was thinking it might have come at night, but that's also when the stray cat got in and the hens did him in.....I mean like when I went out in the morning there was only maybe a little more than half the cat left =(.... I guess I get to go snake hunting after work, I was thinking maybe a smaller snake because it took the bantam eggs when the big brown eggs were left untouched. and you don't think the broody would have done anything? the eggs were gone from right under her =(

not really, last year I went to candle eggs at night from under a broody in a big dog kennel. there was a small snake in with her. she didn't move the whole time I was chasing the snake around the kennel. it got out into the chicken pen, with other birds and they didn't move either while I chased it around there.

 

[Hollowoakfarm]

Quote: Well, in that case, I might just be a regular customer for the winter and summer, until the new flock starts laying! I can always meet you on my unscheduled days.

Another long day. Got to work at 7:00 and left at noon. Ran by the grocery store on the way home. Then we dropped the farm truck off for repairs. Came home, ate a belated lunch, then started washing bottles, bowls, etc. that were in the bleach soak. I just now finished that chore. Fun! (snort) But at least it's done. Small cuts on my hands are burning pretty good. Hubby leaves on the next trip in an hour or two, so I need to cool off, feed him, get a shower, and then melt for a while. Tomorrow will be half-day at work, then house cleaning....ahhhhh, air conditioning!

Life is good. Mostly.

 

[obxbum]

is that a black snake?

 

[Chasity]

is that a black snake?

It WAS a large black rat snake. I am sure that I have caught sight of him in the past on a bird cage that is used for young birds in the woodland landscape. I could see it from quite the distance because of the size. Never failed to be gone when I ran around with a rake. I think he had been stalking my birds for a long time. There could not be more than one that big; could there?

We have found large corn snakes, and a few cooper heads as well, but what are the chances????

 

[abChicken]

I lost a 4 month old silkie friday to a snake- didnt get the snake

I did get a pic of the bird -but i dare not post it kinda gross -didnt know silkies had that long a neck

 

[Coop Scoop Boogie]

It WAS a large black rat snake. I am sure that I have caught sight of him in the past on a bird cage that is used for young birds in the woodland landscape. I could see it from quite the distance because of the size. Never failed to be gone when I ran around with a rake. I think he had been stalking my birds for a long time. There could not be more than one that big; could there?

We have found large corn snakes, and a few cooper heads as well, but what are the chances????

Nature is everywhere so of course there could
be another one and that big....... it all depends
on what the area around you is like.......the more
rural and less city the better the chances for 'nature'.

Lost a blue partridge silkie this year to a snake.....no
mistaking that gooey stretched neck.......but snakes
have their uses too.........just rather the big ones go
somewhere else