I❤️ChickenMath
In the Brooder
- Mar 27, 2018
- 12
- 25
- 49
I have had chickens for 2 years, and a still on the steep side of the learning curve. Last year we put 4 wood eggs in coop to help the girls figure out the preferred place to lay eggs. We had no snakes last year and also didn’t have any chickens die. This year we found one of our girls dead in the coop. A few days later we killed a 5 foot snake in the coop. (This was in June.). In July, my 4 wood eggs disappeared. We have a “portable” shop close to our coop that had the lovely death smell around it for a week or so. We did find another 5 foot snake on our porch last week (about 50 yards from coop).
We have 12 layers who were pretty consistent until these snakes started appearing... consistent in laying in coop, then a few started laying in a bush, but now - only 2-3 eggs a day (in I laying box in coop (they have 5 boxes).
We have only had a visual on 2 snakes - which we were told are rat snakes?
1). Wood Egg Mystery (do you think it was only one hungry snake, or 4 - thoughts)
2). Egg production - suggestions...
3). I think there are more snakes around - they are just stealthy. I want safe hens and would like more eggs.
Suggestions? Thoughts?
We have 12 layers who were pretty consistent until these snakes started appearing... consistent in laying in coop, then a few started laying in a bush, but now - only 2-3 eggs a day (in I laying box in coop (they have 5 boxes).
We have only had a visual on 2 snakes - which we were told are rat snakes?
1). Wood Egg Mystery (do you think it was only one hungry snake, or 4 - thoughts)
2). Egg production - suggestions...
3). I think there are more snakes around - they are just stealthy. I want safe hens and would like more eggs.
Suggestions? Thoughts?