Snake in nest with hen

[old biddy]

This morning I found an oak snake in the nest. It had already eaten one egg with three left. The hen left the nest, of course, and even though I have removed the snake she does not seem inclined to return to it. There are still three eggs waiting to hatch. They are cool to the touch. I don't know how long the hen has been off the nest, but the snake had eaten one egg which was halfway down the length of its body. My question is: how long does it take a snake to devour an egg to that degree (so I will know when it scared the hen off the nest - and so I will know how long the eggs have been cooling down and whether they are still viable.) Anyone have any ideas?

 

[redranger209]

Kill the snake and rescue the egg quick. Cut it open along the stomach, it might still live.

 

[redranger209]

The eggs are probably still viable.

 

[old biddy]

Thanks Redranger209. Too late to kill the snake. I already relocated it, bulge in belly and all. So it is gone. I hope you are right about the eggs still being viable. I am trying to convince the hen to return to the nest but so far she is having none of it. These are peafowl eggs that I gave to the chicken hen who had gone broody two weeks ago. I might have to give them to another broody hen to hatch. Fingers crossed.

 

[redranger209]

How long do peafowl take to hatch?

 

[chonsey]

How long do peafowl take to hatch?

26-30days

 

[redranger209]

Then give the eggs to a hen that started setting recently. The horamones for chicks should line up then.

 

[RWise]

Unfortunately that snake is likely to find it's way back to the nest. I keep a golf ball in each nest for them, once they eat a golf ball they will not be back.
Fingers crossed hoping you can save the hatch,
Good luck!!!!

 

[happyfrenchman]

I think you did the right thing. Did anyone wind up sitting on those eggs? I see this was from yesterday.. Those eggs can cool considerably before they die so hopefully you got someone sitting on them. I don't think cutting one out of a snake is a particularly good idea. That kind of mess would not be something you would want to fool with. And I doubt the egg would survive that excursion. I got to where I take snakes for a pretty long ride because they will come back otherwise. Unless they manage to bite me, for which they go on a much longer journey. For live ones though, across the river usually works. Did the hen ever return? She might have figured the snake was still there eating.

 

[old biddy]

I think you did the right thing. Did anyone wind up sitting on those eggs? I see this was from yesterday.. Those eggs can cool considerably before they die so hopefully you got someone sitting on them. I don't think cutting one out of a snake is a particularly good idea. That kind of mess would not be something you would want to fool with. And I doubt the egg would survive that excursion. I got to where I take snakes for a pretty long ride because they will come back otherwise. Unless they manage to bite me, for which they go on a much longer journey. For live ones though, across the river usually works. Did the hen ever return? She might have figured the snake was still there eating.

Unfortunately, the hen did not return to the nest. I took the eggs and put them under another broody hen at another location (more secure and snakeproof) that had been sitting on eggs that had never hatched...they were 36 days old...but she would not give up sitting. So, now she has something to sit on that are (hopefully) more viable. We will see. She has another 10 days to sit on these before they are scheduled to hatch. I hope she hangs in there and that they make it.