Wing It Ranch

[WingItRanch]

Wow that's crazy. It's unfortunate you couldn't have carried it off somewhere else into the woods far away until you had time to make necessary coop enrichments. Black snakes are harmless (aside from being thieves) and are good to have around for mice, etc.
Happy to hear all is well with the chickens.

We have a serious mole problem that is getting worse by the day. The tunnels are all over the yard! I'm beginning to think there's an entire family of them down there. I wish our black snake would return for that reason.

I completely agree! Normally "good snakes" would stay. However, once it knows where the food is at, it would be back. Also, I'm pretty sure this one was going to die slowly anyway since it swallowed a wooden egg then 2 more real eggs. Not sure if it could have regurgitating it.

 

[Bawkbok]

I completely agree! Normally "good snakes" would stay. However, once it knows where the food is at, it would be back. Also, I'm pretty sure this one was going to die slowly anyway since it swallowed a wooden egg then 2 more real eggs. Not sure if it could have regurgitating it.

Snakes make for good eating - if you're so inclined.

 

[WingItRanch]

Snakes make for good eating - if you're so inclined.

You're not the first person to say that to me today!

 

[thistlewick]

That is a wild story and I am glad you found out what did that right away, it would drive me nuts the mystery of it!

I have witnessed a black rat snake climb straight up a vertical brick wall in a corner, but still. They are insane climbers!

I'm *amazed* I haven't seen a snake yet, but our hen house is exposed and not near a treeline or anything remotely safe at all. Honestly I think this is why I just don't see predators at all. They gotta get REAL exposed to come at it and there is plenty else to eat around here. Lotsa eastern cottontail bunnies, for one lol

 

[WingItRanch]

That is a wild story and I am glad you found out what did that right away, it would drive me nuts the mystery of it!

I have witnessed a black rat snake climb straight up a vertical brick wall in a corner, but still. They are insane climbers!

I'm *amazed* I haven't seen a snake yet, but our hen house is exposed and not near a treeline or anything remotely safe at all. Honestly I think this is why I just don't see predators at all. They gotta get REAL exposed to come at it and there is plenty else to eat around here. Lotsa eastern cottontail bunnies, for one lol

That's awesome that you haven't had any issues. I've seen snakes around (and foxes, coyotes, bobcats, etc) and never had one actually get in. Thankfully, it's an easy hardware cloth fix in my case.

I'm lucky it only had eyes for the eggs!

 

[WingItRanch]

Chicks are doing really well. The first night they were in their new pen was chaos. I went out at dust to check on them and they were huddled on the ground crying loudly instead of upstairs in the coop.

To be fair, I screwed up. I should have locked them in the coop for a couple days so they knew that was the safe place.

So there I was, crawling around on my hands and knees in poop and grabbing them to put them in the coop. I had to block the door to the ladder so they didn't run back out. Then I had a couple that escaped completely and had to chase them. By the time I got them all locked up, they were traumatized and I was panting.

Thankfully, the next day they went up to the coop by themselves and have been putting themselves to bed each night and going back downstairs into the run in the mornings. Whew!

They are no longer scared of me and come running to the door when they see me. They also seem completely unafraid of the big girls. Here's a pic of the dark Blue Copper Marans standing up to 2 of my Barred Rocks.

 

[thistlewick]

Hahah oh man I am glad they are over the fright from the first day but oh man I know that feeling hahaha

Isn't it great to just watch them all run about and be chickens out of the brooder? its the best

 

[WingItRanch]

Hahah oh man I am glad they are over the fright from the first day but oh man I know that feeling hahaha

Isn't it great to just watch them all run about and be chickens out of the brooder? its the best

It's so fun. My favorite is watching them dust bathe. The pure delight in their little bodies is so cute! Even better that the dust is far away from the house!

 

[WingItRanch]

 

[Bawkbok]

Simply adorable - cuteness overload. Is that an egger up front looking at the camera?