Warning graphic photo - RIP 2 keets

[BennieAnTheJets]

So I just took some photos last night for the "Frist time mom and dad raising keets" post update - they are flying now and had their first outings - then last night the dogs went nuts and I am so sorry I did not go right away to check - they woke me with barking but it sometimes happens - so I went to the kitchen to batch cook some food for the week and went out later...

This morning I cannot find 2 of our keets - then I found a black snake inside (!) our run - oh God!

So disappointed - even have hardwire cloth with cement in the floor so the snakes can't get in - was feeling safe and now I feel like I let my Guineas down after all. I will check later if there are any holes

Always close the run and the connection from the coop to the run while they the others are free ranging and thought 1. the coop nest hens would defend the coop if a snake came in there and 2. I checked all the corners, as I usually do, for snakes before I closed the doors for the night with the coop/run connection open again - and still!!! It got in and got two of our keets - two of the Coral Blues, the two biggest ones. So sad.

I do like wildlife almost as much as our birds and I thought about cutting my losses and releasing the snake but then decided against it since I heard they are territorial and I thought it may come back for the others and I cannot let them down again...

So, I got it out and killed it and even pulled the keets out as long shot hopefull attempt to save them if they are still alive but it was too late. All three (2 keets and 1 snake) are dead and have been delivered to our wildlife offerings spot at the edge of the property, outside our fence, for possum and racoon and foxes.

Still numb from by the whole thing and can't believe our run is not save now. How and when did this big snake get in? I used to enjoy seeing the big black snakes around here because "I knew" I had done my job to protect the birds and we could live side by side without it being a problem. My "solution" was to have a safe place for the Guineas and let the snakes have their habitat outside our coop. I need to re-think. This caught me by surprise a bit.

The parents and other Guineas did not kill it. Can this happen again? (of course, I know that - you just do so much to guard against it and would like to feel safe and at peace sometime). We even have a night light but it did not help.

I am sorry for the snake, too, it was just looking for a meal and in nature many young birds get eaten, I know.

RIP beautiful babies (and snake). The babies were just finding their wings... so sad. Mother Nature can be so cruel.

(to be clear : I first cut the snake's head off to kill it as quickly and humanely as possible before cutting it open to get the keets out - the photo does not show that)

The biggest two are gone - the smaller 4 are still with us:

 

[BennieAnTheJets]

on the joyful side: we got 3 Lavender and 2 Buff Dundotte that are ready to go to a new mom, who is waiting for them, when the last live egg has hatched (there were 7 out of 11 alive - the first one was little Chance who is still with us with the parents outside now)

these were the "leftover" eggs Scoobydoo had been sitting on that I rescued into the incubator when she decided to leave them behind and go with the hatched keets

they are beautiful and cheer me up a bit because they have been "saved"

 

[My2butterflies]

I’m so sorry How heartbreaking

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

Oh no! I’m so sorry Bennie!!!! We’ve had so many problems with black rat snakes too! Last year, we lost our 2 month coral blue and a lavender pied, to a black rat snake that invaded the coop. These juveniles were too big for the snake to eat but it still killed them. My friend lost a cooped adult mallard duck to a black rat snake! Way too big for that snake to eat.

This year, one made its way into our guinea coop during the day at the same time that a big storm hit, knocking out my coop camera. That snake ate a pile of eggs and a one week old keet. I was very impressed that moms stayed and tried to guard the last keets. Those are the pics below with the wall of guinea moms trying to guard the keets that are just peeking through. I took the pic thinking it was cute, not realizing that the snake was lying in wait right there in that box next to the mom that is sitting alone! I think that convinced the snake to take the easy meal of developing eggs and gave me time to find it and remove. In my experience so far though, guineas are no match for large snakes.

I’m surrounded by cattle pastures, where these snakes are a benefit, so I relocate the snakes to pastures that are at least two miles. I think that black rat snakes, despite the name, are something of bird specialists and are very attracted to young birds in particular.

I also do a check in the coop every night and also have a nightlight. The other attached pics are of one that I found crawling around the outside of the coop at night, looking for a way in... Sometimes nothing you do is enough. Such an absolute bummer!

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

on the joyful side: we got 3 Lavender and 2 Buff Dundotte that are ready to go to a new mom, who is waiting for them, when the last live egg has hatched (there were 7 out of 11 alive - the first one was little Chance who is still with us with the parents outside now)

these were the "leftover" eggs Scoobydoo had been sitting on that I rescued into the incubator when she decided to leave them behind and go with the hatched keets

they are beautiful and cheer me up a bit because they have been "saved"


View attachment 2263915

They really are beautiful little keets!

 

[mkeawsh]

Illegal to kill snakes in my state - even if they are threatening. Per a conservation officer who caught a person killing a copperhead that was threatening. Got fined. Don't say it too loudly until you know the law in your state.

 

[BennieAnTheJets]

Thank you, both!

Mixed flock enthusiast - thank you for the kind words and for sharing your story and pictures.
It does help a bit. We are all in this together. It is just part of loving and caring for poultry.

It's like playing ping pong, except no fun and heartbreaking: the predators show you what you missed and you fix it and so on to round two - even though I am still not sure how this one got in, except during the day into the open coop and then at night from the coop to the run. I guess I will have to lock the coop door now when they free range. Bummer, since they love to come home and go in and out again.

I am just grateful it was not a copper head. Would have had more stress to grab that.

Hope we don't get more coppies now since this is the second dead big black snake here - the first one was killed by the dogs at night in the field, I think. I even cried for it. I saw it and admired it several times. Actually used to love having the black snakes around. This morning has put a bit of a damper on that, but I bet I will get over it.

Still need to get a handgun to carry at all times around here because of the copper heads - got surprised by one more than once - they are hard to see sometimes, even if you try to watch out - it is on my list.

 

[BennieAnTheJets]

Illegal to kill snakes in my state - even if they are threatening. Per a conservation officer who caught a person killing a copperhead that was threatening. Got fined. Don't say it too loudly until you know the law in your state.

Thanks for the heads-up, mkeawsh.

Well, as far as I know, I am within my right in VA. Having said that, I do not like to kill anything unless it eats or seriously threatens my family members (feathered or otherwise).

We have had snakes and bats and mice and other critters in the house that I have released. Not copper heads, though.

https://www.snakesforpets.com/law-on-killing-snakes-by-state/#Virginia

This does not seem to suggest legal protection for snakes in MO, either, though. I guess it is best to check with local authorities, which I have done years ago. Will do again. Thanks.

 

[Chickenhappy8708]

I heard that cowboys used to wrap their rope arround them so snakes wouldn't bite them. Apparently snakes don't like that coily feel. Can't hurt to try wrapping it around the run, but IDK if it works(rope or garden hose.)

 

[newb1rdmom]

Ugh! I am so sorry for you! A snake got 3 of my babies last night too. I thought it was safe because we double checked all over, have a double wire fence and even some thorned vines growing on the outside but some how one got in and killed 3 of the babies.

It’s certainly frustrating and definitely feels like you let them down. I feel so bad for these babies because they don’t really know how to protect themselves yet and I bet they were just so terrified and it was their first night out in the pen too! They’re probably traumatized.

But I’m glad you were able to find your snake! Mines still on the loose but not for long. I’m on a mission lol. I feel bad killing them because they just wanted some food but I have to protect these poor babies cause they can’t do it themselves.

We just have to remind ourselves there is only so much we can do against nature. It’s so sad and I’m still really upset but I also know I did my best to try and prevent it but those snakes are sneaky and they’ll find their way in regardless of what you do. We get them in the chicken coop a lot and we’ve done just about everything we can to keep them out and they still find a way.