Things you wish you could say

[KaleIAm]

As of last night the egg was saved. We don't kill bullsnakes so it's still alive and in the barn somewhere.

The nest originally had 5 eggs in it, but yesterday evening I went to check on the birds (I have a pair of Sumatra living in that pen) and saw the snake in the water bowl, soaking. Mama had still been sitting, but we had to move the snake to give them water since they werent going near the bowl and it was over 100 outside. We manages to finally annoy him out of the bowl with a broom handle, which made mama get off the nest because there was a snake near her now. When she left, there was only one egg left instead of 5, and the moment the egg was unguarded, the snake hurried and started to swallow the last egg. Turns out if something presses against their neck, snakes apparently stop swallowing. We were trying to get him to leave through either the chickenwire he came in through or the side door we opened. But he literally followed the egg as we used the broom to get it close enough to grab and keep safe until the problem was solved. It took about another 10 minutes to get the snake out after we took the egg away to get him to finally leave all the way. I feel like he was almost 6 feet, but he was probably closer to 4 or 5. Mama immediately went back on the egg when I gave it back and it was still there this morning.
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Why don't you kill bullsnakes? I probably wouldn't either, I'm just curious why you don't.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Why don't you kill bullsnakes? I probably wouldn't either, I'm just curious why you don't.

Because until thisbyear they've left our eggs and chicks alone and if they're hanging around, then rattlers likely aren't. Plus they're not aggressive or really that dangerous to us and usually rat a good amount of mice

 

[JacinLarkwell]

As of last night the egg was saved. We don't kill bullsnakes so it's still alive and in the barn somewhere.

The nest originally had 5 eggs in it, but yesterday evening I went to check on the birds (I have a pair of Sumatra living in that pen) and saw the snake in the water bowl, soaking. Mama had still been sitting, but we had to move the snake to give them water since they werent going near the bowl and it was over 100 outside. We manages to finally annoy him out of the bowl with a broom handle, which made mama get off the nest because there was a snake near her now. When she left, there was only one egg left instead of 5, and the moment the egg was unguarded, the snake hurried and started to swallow the last egg. Turns out if something presses against their neck, snakes apparently stop swallowing. We were trying to get him to leave through either the chickenwire he came in through or the side door we opened. But he literally followed the egg as we used the broom to get it close enough to grab and keep safe until the problem was solved. It took about another 10 minutes to get the snake out after we took the egg away to get him to finally leave all the way. I feel like he was almost 6 feet, but he was probably closer to 4 or 5. Mama immediately went back on the egg when I gave it back and it was still there this morning.
View attachment 2747140

Also wanted to add, my mom finds this really interesting:

The broody egg is definately alive, probably around day 15 or so, maybe more. The snake was only interested in that one, it couldn't care less for the undeveloped eggs we tried to offer instead to get it full and leave. So were thinking that it was able to tell it was alive compared to the empty ones

 

[KaleIAm]

Because until thisbyear they've left our eggs and chicks alone and if they're hanging around, then rattlers likely aren't. Plus they're not aggressive or really that dangerous to us and usually rat a good amount of mice

Thank you for the explanation!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

As of last night the egg was saved. We don't kill bullsnakes so it's still alive and in the barn somewhere.

The nest originally had 5 eggs in it, but yesterday evening I went to check on the birds (I have a pair of Sumatra living in that pen) and saw the snake in the water bowl, soaking. Mama had still been sitting, but we had to move the snake to give them water since they werent going near the bowl and it was over 100 outside. We manages to finally annoy him out of the bowl with a broom handle, which made mama get off the nest because there was a snake near her now. When she left, there was only one egg left instead of 5, and the moment the egg was unguarded, the snake hurried and started to swallow the last egg. Turns out if something presses against their neck, snakes apparently stop swallowing. We were trying to get him to leave through either the chickenwire he came in through or the side door we opened. But he literally followed the egg as we used the broom to get it close enough to grab and keep safe until the problem was solved. It took about another 10 minutes to get the snake out after we took the egg away to get him to finally leave all the way. I feel like he was almost 6 feet, but he was probably closer to 4 or 5. Mama immediately went back on the egg when I gave it back and it was still there this morning.
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Thank you, now there's a story!

 

[HappyClucker7]

Also wanted to add, my mom finds this really interesting:

The broody egg is definately alive, probably around day 15 or so, maybe more. The snake was only interested in that one, it couldn't care less for the undeveloped eggs we tried to offer instead to get it full and leave. So were thinking that it was able to tell it was alive compared to the empty ones

Maybe he sensed the heat inside?

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Maybe he sensed the heat inside?

That's what my mom thinks.

The egg didn't end up making it. The sac had drawn down, but it wasn't alive inside. We're unsure if it's from yesterday or just the heat from the past week being too much (we've lost several eggs in the Cornish pen as well to heat) so I swapped it out with an egg that is similar in age since I always try to support my broody behavior

 

[Silviaschicks]

Also wanted to add, my mom finds this really interesting:

The broody egg is definately alive, probably around day 15 or so, maybe more. The snake was only interested in that one, it couldn't care less for the undeveloped eggs we tried to offer instead to get it full and leave. So were thinking that it was able to tell it was alive compared to the empty ones

snakes can see heat, so they can tell if the egg is alive or not

 

[Isadora]

If you spell your child's name in a "unique" way, or just flat out make it up, don't be offended when I can't pronounce it correctly on the first try.

 

[HappyClucker7]

If you spell your child's name in a "unique" way, or just flat out make it up, don't be offended when I can't pronounce it correctly on the first try.

When I was little, I knew a girl who's name was spelled Suri, but it was pronounced "Sudi". Of course, no one pronounced it right at first, and she always got upset. Eventually, she actually changed her name to Sudi.