Virginia

[pysankigirl]

We have snakes. I know WHY we have snakes. We have snakes because we have frogs. Thousands of frogs. When I walk around after dark I am wading through throngs of them. If the zombie apocalypse ever happens, I don’t have to worry about what to feed the chickens…they will go on an all protein diet of fricasseed frogs. We can go out at night and catch them in nets. It’ll be fine. Why do we have frogs? We are in the bend of a “run” (read: larger than a stream, smaller than a river) and I think because of the bend, we have the perfect breeding ground for them. So we will have frogs. And snakes.

But anyway: Back to the snakes: we killed yet another copperhead last night 10 feet from my front door (!!!) after a close encounter with one of our dogs. I usually have no problems with snakes, but poisonous ones around my dogs are not good. I think the dog is unbitten, couldn't find anything in a cursory exam. my mom was bitten by a copperhead once and spent months with her foot raised above heart level and not able to go to work or do anything besides lay there while her leg turned black.

And all those people that claim that blacksnakes wont abide a copperhead in their territory are delusional. We have them, too.

 

[ki4got]

We have snakes. I know WHY we have snakes. We have snakes because we have frogs. Thousands of frogs. When I walk around after dark I am wading through throngs of them. If the zombie apocalypse ever happens, I don’t have to worry about what to feed the chickens…they will go on an all protein diet of fricasseed frogs. We can go out at night and catch them in nets. It’ll be fine. Why do we have frogs? We are in the bend of a “run” (read: larger than a stream, smaller than a river) and I think because of the bend, we have the perfect breeding ground for them. So we will have frogs. And snakes.

But anyway: Back to the snakes: we killed yet another copperhead last night 10 feet from my front door (!!!) after a close encounter with one of our dogs. I usually have no problems with snakes, but poisonous ones around my dogs are not good. I think the dog is unbitten, couldn't find anything in a cursory exam. my mom was bitten by a copperhead once and spent months with her foot raised above heart level and not able to go to work or do anything besides lay there while her leg turned black.

And all those people that claim that blacksnakes wont abide a copperhead in their territory are delusional. We have them, too.

not that the black snakes won't 'abide' copperheads, but if the blacksnake is bigger and meaner, he'll eat the copperhead... but usually just the babies. I just relocated 2 blacksnakes, both of them full of eggs from hidden nests... I won't kill them but I won't tolerate them around my chickens either...

now the little ribbon snake... that's another story. adult size is under 10" so he's likely to be a chicken's dinner, not the other way around. so he gets to stay.

 

[sbucciarel]

not that the black snakes won't 'abide' copperheads, but if the blacksnake is bigger and meaner, he'll eat the copperhead...  but usually just the babies.  I just relocated 2 blacksnakes, both of them full of eggs from hidden nests...  I won't kill them but I won't tolerate them around my chickens either... 

now the little ribbon snake...  that's another story. adult size is under 10" so he's likely to be a chicken's dinner, not the other way around. so he gets to stay.

Yeah ... I found one very large black snake sitting in my Cochin coop with a big old egg lump in it. He/she has been entered involuntarily into the black snake relocation program.

 

[jmarie]

EEEEWWWWWWWWW
That would freak me out, we had baby toads in our backyard in SC and my weims would eat them and then foam at the mouth, luckily I never saw snakes

We have snakes. I know WHY we have snakes. We have snakes because we have frogs. Thousands of frogs. When I walk around after dark I am wading through throngs of them. If the zombie apocalypse ever happens, I don’t have to worry about what to feed the chickens…they will go on an all protein diet of fricasseed frogs. We can go out at night and catch them in nets. It’ll be fine. Why do we have frogs? We are in the bend of a “run” (read: larger than a stream, smaller than a river) and I think because of the bend, we have the perfect breeding ground for them. So we will have frogs. And snakes.

But anyway: Back to the snakes: we killed yet another copperhead last night 10 feet from my front door (!!!) after a close encounter with one of our dogs. I usually have no problems with snakes, but poisonous ones around my dogs are not good. I think the dog is unbitten, couldn't find anything in a cursory exam. my mom was bitten by a copperhead once and spent months with her foot raised above heart level and not able to go to work or do anything besides lay there while her leg turned black.

And all those people that claim that blacksnakes wont abide a copperhead in their territory are delusional. We have them, too.

 

[canesisters]

Quote:
BYC is not liking my computer anymore so I can't post picts, or smileys - but here is a reminder (IF it posts....) from an earlier post. Swap in Dinwiddie tomorrow!! Should be nice weather and we've heard from several folks whe are planning to come and bring chicks, grown birds, quail, jams & jellies, feeders/next boxes/etc. Looking forward to a great morning.

 

[jmarie]

For VA peeps here is a link to a organic, soy free source of chicken feed. They have deliveries all over VA.
http://www.countrysideorganics.com/home.php

The farm I get milk, pork and beef from recommended them to me.

 

[pysankigirl]

they sell it in the southern states around here!

 

[ki4got]

Quote: here's a hint for posting pics & such... if it won't post for you, find the image and right click it, select copy, then when you're typing your post, right click where you want it and paste.

like that.

 

[KDbeads]

Whooo hhoooooo!!!!!!!!!! Dinwiddie swap tomorrow!! Have several people planning to show up with lots of goodies and critters. We'll be behind the main building since there's no room out front. I'll have signs up directing everyone in!

So if your bored, come on out!!!!!!!!!! Let's make this swap a decent one!


Off to start collecting the chickens and caging them up!

 

[Plarch]

Hi, all! I'm in Henrico County, VA! Great to be on BYC!