Sad story of a broody hen and a snake

[KenK]

Long ago I lived in a little house in the woods. Raised a few chickens but the snakes were constantly eating my eggs and killing biddies. One day I noticed a little game hen had stolen a nest on my front porch and was setting on eggs. Thought to myself surely she will be safe up here. Got woke up one morning by that hen raising sand and a big old snake had got in the box with her and ate all those eggs. That about got me out of the chicken business. Just started back this year after twenty or so years without.

Another time I went to feed and I had a hen and 12-13 biddies in a breeding pen. Did not notice till I stepped in the pen that all the biddies were laying around dead. Starting looking around trying to find where something had got in and didn't see anything. Started to walk back out of that coop and when I did a 5-6 foot snake was laying right on top of the door frame at eye level.

I know snakes are good in eating rats and stuff but they will sure put a hurting on some eggs and biddies.

 

[bburn]

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Exactly....and the reason all known snakes are fair game for dispatching!! As well as racoons. It has been quite a year up here on my mountain for predators! You just feel like it is your job to protect them....then you feel like you have let them down!

 

[farmgirlforever18]

I'm so sorry to hear that I hade a snake this week that got all 20 of my baby quail and they just got all feathers out I was so mad but we had 4 left and two days latter another snake got them

 

[bburn]

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Just makes you sad, doesn't it? We try to protect them....that is all we can do!

 

[farmgirlforever18]

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Just makes you sad, doesn't it? We try to protect them....that is all we can do!

Yes it is hard and sad and you feel like you failed

 

[NonnasBabies]

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I hear ya on this comment!! Hubby killed one a few weeks back and of course got reamed on here for killing a "Good" snake! Whatever!

That thing after the vultures got ahold to it had 10 egg shells inside of it!! I don't spend all that time and money taking care of and feeding my animals to let a snake come and eat all my eggs!! I'm just lucky he didn't get a hold to the 5-8 week olds I had it a grow out coop right next to it!!

OP Great Job!!

and I'm sorry it got your broody eggs!

 

[bburn]

Quote:
I hear ya on this comment!! Hubby killed one a few weeks back and of course got reamed on here for killing a "Good" snake! Whatever!

That thing after the vultures got ahold to it had 10 egg shells inside of it!! I don't spend all that time and money taking care of and feeding my animals to let a snake come and eat all my eggs!! I'm just lucky he didn't get a hold to the 5-8 week olds I had it a grow out coop right next to it!!

OP Great Job!!

and I'm sorry it got your broody eggs!

Thanks ya'll....

If anyone wants to complain about me killing a snake with a belly full of (10) my broody's egg they need to post their address at the same time. I will then send them any and all snakes I capture trying to get my chickens. They can then turn them loose in their chicken coops.....dispatching was the only thing I could do this morning. Gut reaction at the time and if I had time to think it out the results would have certainly been the same!!

 

[Lil'ChickFarm]

Oh willies!! I hate snakes, no matter what kind they are.
I tried to have a pet snake once. My daughter had one, so I wanted to do it with her. UNTIL it got out of it's cage and strangled my bird!!! Well that snake left my house FAST! I sold it, did not kill it. But I will never have one again,. I just can't get used to the things. They are the only animal in the whole world that I don't like.
I like lizards and bred bearded dragons for ten years. They are just sweet. There is no sweet snake though. EWWEEEE!!!
Glad you protected your hen. Poor little chickies didn't have a chance.

 

[Reyvaughn]

Like I said, any snake in or near my chickens is dead. I was rolling down the road yesterday and I saw the tail of a good 7-8' rat snake in the road. I stopped, backed up and pointed it out to the kids and then continued on down the road. See? I'm not always a meany. It was a good 3 miles from my house and chickens. I didn't feel a need to kill that particualr snake.

If by chance it does find it's way to my home, all bets are off.