Texas

[jtn42248]

I have some sad news to report. Friday when I was feeding the chickens, I missed my sweet little easter egger bantam, so I went to the back of the coop and raised the door to the next boxes, and before I got it completely open, a snake curled around my sweet little girl fell to the ground. After screaming, I realized the snake had her entire head in his mouth, and was determined that he would be able to get the rest of her down. I grabbed my pick up grabber and got him away from her, although he was able to wiggle loose a couple of times. I finally got him away from the coop and squeezed the grabber as hard as I could. The squeeze seemed to slow him down (by now he had egg running out of his mouth) so I was able to let loose of him a throw a large cinder block on him so he couldn't get away. Then I went into the house and got my revolver and shot him 8 times, 3 times in his open mouth. I have never been so upset. My sweet little bantam was gone so I buried her. I also realized that a couple of weeks before this, I had found a snake that looked exactly like this one in the coop, and just relocated him. I'll never do that again. From now on, any snake in or around the chickens will be dealt a death blow. Also, after I found the first and perhaps the same snake earlier, I bought moth balls and scattered them around the coop. Obviously they don't make any difference. The snake didn't have any fangs, so wasn't poisonous, but killed my sweetie just the same. Never again will I give a snake a second chance.

First, I agree with you 100% on how to deal with snakes. The only good snake is a dead snake. I know they supposedly help control rodents and other things. But, around my birds they are not welcome nor are they a welcome guest on any inch of my property. I have shot several rattlesnakes and a cotton mouth and feel no remorse. I have never tried mothballs except to deter mice and rats from my garage and they seem to work for that. I have found, and use, a product by Ortho called Snake-B-Gon and it does seem to work as a deterrent. Basically it is several essential oils in a very strong concentration that you sprinkle around. The smell confuses the snake's ability to smell which is key to their hunting so they just slither away.

 

[Gittx]

First, I agree with you 100% on how to deal with snakes. The only good snake is a dead snake. I know they supposedly help control rodents and other things. But, around my birds they are not welcome nor are they a welcome guest on any inch of my property. I have shot several rattlesnakes and a cotton mouth and feel no remorse. I have never tried mothballs except to deter mice and rats from my garage and they seem to work for that. I have found, and use, a product by Ortho called Snake-B-Gon and it does seem to work as a deterrent. Basically it is several essential oils in a very strong concentration that you sprinkle around. The smell confuses the snake's ability to smell which is key to their hunting so they just slither away.

Thank you, I will get some of the Snake-B-Gon next time I'm at the store....I bet the livestock feed stores will carry it. I always had the live and let live attitude toward snakes. Now I realize that they don't operate the same way. I'm just sad to learn it this way.

 

[mach1run]

Royce City / Blackland area.

New to the chicken thing. Daughter keeps asking for chicks so after looking into chickens I thought they were kinda cool too. Coop construction has begun after much time in the coop building forum. Almost done with the foundation blocks then construction should go fast. No birds yet, but soon. Lol.

 

[jtn42248]

Thank you, I will get some of the Snake-B-Gon next time I'm at the store....I bet the livestock feed stores will carry it. I always had the live and let live attitude toward snakes. Now I realize that they don't operate the same way. I'm just sad to learn it this way.

We order it online from True Value Hardware by the case and it comes out to be a little cheaper that way. I know Lowes has it and probably a lot of other places as well. If they don't have the Ortho brand be careful. Some snake repellents have sulfer in them and that smells bad and is not safe around poultry.

 

[henless]

I also realized that a couple of weeks before this, I had found a snake that looked exactly like this one in the coop, and just relocated him. I'll never do that again. From now on, any snake in or around the chickens will be dealt a death blow. Also, after I found the first and perhaps the same snake earlier, I bought moth balls and scattered them around the coop. Obviously they don't make any difference. The snake didn't have any fangs, so wasn't poisonous, but killed my sweetie just the same. Never again will I give a snake a second chance.

That is how it is here. I don't have a problem with snakes. They can carry on their merry little way as long as it is not in my yard. One of my dogs got bit last year by a snake. I'm sure he was after it, which is why he got bit. I don't want to lose any eggs/chicks/chickens to snakes, but my main concern is my 5 yr old granddaughter. I would be beside myself if she got bit by a snake that I failed to kill because I let it live. There is over 200 acres surrounding us they can go and live in.

Moth balls do nothing for snakes.

Also, if any of you take prayer requests... My best friend is in dire need of a pick up. Her husband just left her, and their three kids, and returned home to Florida. I'm at a loss. I live five hours from her so I can not go console her until next weekend. Prayers needed to give her strength to lift herself up from this. Sorry I don't normally ask these things but she needs as many helping hands as possible.

So sorry this happened to your friend. Sending prayers her way.

Royce City / Blackland area.

New to the chicken thing. Daughter keeps asking for chicks so after looking into chickens I thought they were kinda cool too. Coop construction has begun after much time in the coop building forum. Almost done with the foundation blocks then construction should go fast. No birds yet, but soon. Lol.

Welcome to BYC!

Smart to build your coop before getting your birds. Most people do it the opposite, LOL. What kind are you looking to get?



Put my 2 young cockerels in with the older girls yesterday. They were starting to harass the pullets, so they got bumped up and can harass the older girls, if they can! So far, everything is going fine. Some chasing going on, little pecking going on but nothing major. Of course the boys are hollering like they are getting scalped!

 

[TerryPy]

I'm for the game camera. Many of the folks moving to Texas don't expect country living, i.e gunfire right outside their fence during dove season. Worry how that attitude will change Texas.

 

[Eliza1313]

I too plan on trying to keep a few different rarer breeds. I know it will be work to maintain each breed to standard, but it will be worth it. Plus keep some that are good looking birds but don't meet the standard for other projects. After much research I know now that the stock I have now are not the quality I want to breed. So will slowly acquire good quality stock of the breeds I want, preferably two lines or more of each.

As of right now I have started keeping the males and females separate. Will continue to do so in the future. Then make pairing selections and put the into breeding pens for awhile. Have a lot of construction ahead of me.

For right now the only breeding I do will be for freezer stock for us, to give to a friend for her to raise on her homestead, or for pretty feathers for crafts.

 

[Eliza1313]

I'm for the game camera. Many of the folks moving to Texas don't expect country living, i.e gunfire right outside their fence during dove season. Worry how that attitude will change Texas.

I plan on deterring the dove hunting on the other side of my fence line this year. No I am not against hunting, I know it serves a needed purpose in population control, and they are tasty. However when yokels want to teach their children improper gun safety and fire towards my property I have a major issue with it. Since they were hunting from their hay pasture (not the property where their home is located) the only trees are along our fence line. Going to be tying together sets of 2 cds with fishing line and tossing them up in the branches along the fence at the end of August. No birds in the trees and brush no reason to be firing towards my property.

 

[jtn42248]

I'm for the game camera. Many of the folks moving to Texas don't expect country living, i.e gunfire right outside their fence during dove season. Worry how that attitude will change Texas.

If someone is moving to Texas and has not been prepared for it (and they are not moving someplace urban) I can only imagine what they must thing when they wake up one morning to the sound of warfare.

Where we live we have dove, quail, turkey, deer, wild and feral hogs, and people that just like to shoot at things like cans and bottles. There are certain times of the year that it sounds like and invasion has begun around us. If I was not aware of what was happening I would just dig a bunker, get in and never come out again.

 

[orumpoultry]

My neighbors just listed their property for sale after 45 years of living there. They got to old to keep up and my husband and I had enough trouble getting our property cleaned up from the previous tenants to be very helpful when they needed help. They moved into a home, I think. She's got brain cancer and is in her 80s. They went the simple way.

I feel bad for whomever buys that place and isn't expecting what they're moving into. We've got so many birds its never quiet. Lots of snakes. We've killed two this month alone that were over five foot. One was in my ( forgot to latch the latches) quail pen one morning. Between the roosters ( of all types... We have more than just chickens) and screaming ladies ( peafowl ) they're going to hate life if they're not chicken friendly.

When someone does buy that place I plan on finding them enough fresh eggs to make them like us. Hopefully they come during the spring when we have grass! Th summer heat has burned away grass almost everywhere all around us.

Maybe they'll be dog friendly, too. Our LGDs are not by any means quiet. We're used to it. Old neighbors didn't mind them.

My husband says I'm over analyzing. I say I don't want to be enemies with someone I have to see every day.