The Serpents Have Been Arrested!

[Twinkkitten]

Rat snakes are harmles and beneficial because they eat rodents. Why not just take them for a ride and let them go? Sad.

 

[Blooie]

<GULP> Please tell me that 1/4" hardware cloth over 1/2" cloth over chicken wire will help keep these crawlies out!

 

[Stiggy]

cats eat rats as well.... but both will eat chickens, especially if they are easier prey, or little.....

 

[Twinkkitten]

There is a scrappy homeless cat who lives in my chicken coop. I feed him and have wormed him but he is always starving. I was surprised he didn't eat a 4 month old chick! He kills a pigeon 3 times a week and the chickens help eat it.

 

[Stiggy]

hmm, depending on his age he might be having kidney / liver problems ( like lots of old cats) and they don't gain weight properly, or they do then loose it no matter what they eat or how much, tho good on you for taking care of him. chances are the other hens are protecting him/ her . most cats wont attack a chicken unless it is injured, dying or little, but hens usually call an alarm and protect the flock, roosters especially

 

[Twinkkitten]

He is about 3. He was abandoned. I just need to feed him more.

 

[kjanda]

Rat snakes are harmles and beneficial because they eat rodents. Why not just take them for a ride and let them go? Sad.

If I didn't have chickens and guineas I'd agree. I don't have time to grab a snake, put it in a box, and drive it somewhere. I don't live in the city where one chicken snake is unusual and I can drop it off at a park.

 

[mamm7215]

That has to be a world record rattlesnake...

Come on down but forget your shovel, it 'aint' long enough.

 

[Twinkkitten]

Park? No. Just a couple miles away. I am sorry. I just wouldn't kill a snake or any other animal I wasn't going to eat.

 

[Meadowchick]

HEY>>>That big old rattler is a "Doozey"!!! My dad was horseback in Texas with a friend and they "let" one like that cross the logging road ahead of them...wisely deciding it was happy there and they were not prepared for battle...

BTW we leave predators alone as a general rule, because we are surrounded by the beautiful Piney Woods here where nature is as God intended. But when they happen INTO my hen nests, ON the floor in my hen house, or on the ground of my hen's SAFE HAVEN ...too close for comfort comes to my mind. Unless you have ever tried to sweet-talk a snake into a box, bucket or bag...please don't judge me. These creatures have some pretty impressive maneuvers; not to mention they have FOOD on their little minds and that entails my chickens bodies...
and I LOVE MY CHICKENS ALIVE!

Y'all keep posting...