Friday was a bad poultry day here in Draketown. Checked the quail and had one dead in the cage. No signs of trouble, so I'm guessing old age.
Fed the chickens and one of the hens had her guts hanging out. Not sure what happened there. No sign of a predator.
THEN the rat snake. See, the brooder boxes are in the garage. I had opened the garage door to let in some fresh air. I was in the kitchen and heard the chicks going wild. Looked out there and this huge snake was in the brooder box and had swallowed one of the 3 week old chicks. He tried to climb out but couldn't get his big belly over the edge.
So, @GAMarans I caught him and then showed him the business end of a shotgun. Needless to say, he will not be eating anymore baby chicks.

Fed the chickens and one of the hens had her guts hanging out. Not sure what happened there. No sign of a predator.
THEN the rat snake. See, the brooder boxes are in the garage. I had opened the garage door to let in some fresh air. I was in the kitchen and heard the chicks going wild. Looked out there and this huge snake was in the brooder box and had swallowed one of the 3 week old chicks. He tried to climb out but couldn't get his big belly over the edge.
So, @GAMarans I caught him and then showed him the business end of a shotgun. Needless to say, he will not be eating anymore baby chicks.