When I got home from work last night I went out to the coop to check on my (7) 1 month old chicks and only counted (6). When I set down the water pot something caught my eye in the corner of the room. There curled up was a rat snake with a big fat belly full of baby chick. I was so freeked out I was sick to my stomach. The main reason was obviously... he got one of my babies, the other reason is I HATE SNAKES and DH wasn't home to kill it. I ran in the house thinking I have to do something but the guns are locked and I don't have a key. I remembered we have a BB gun and commenced to pelting him in the head with that. I didn't want to get close enough to use a shovel and after about 20 shots he finally died. I still feel bad for the little chick. I'm new to raising chickens and this is the first one I lost to a predetor. I still can't figure out how the darn snake got in there.
