|
Post by cks4me on Jun 28, 2011 11:38:40 GMT -6
Yesterday went out to get eggs in afternoon. Since the snake that jumped out at my friend I have been careful to look before putting my hands in boxes. Well I looked in one and saw IT!!! Brown and black scales OMG I can't tell you how scared I was Backed out slowly called a friend and he came over with his hoe and BAM BAM BAM BAM then I heard 'I got him". He came out with this HUGE snake draped over the hoe. Honest that snake was at least six foot long. And what is more disgusting? A egg was oozing from his mouth. He had eaten two eggs in the time it took Chad to get there..I had wondered why my girls weren't laying much but they were....that d____n snake was eating them all. UGGGGGGGG I still get the willey's couldn't sleep last night thinking about that nasty thing.
|
|
|
Post by Crystal Lake Farms on Jun 28, 2011 13:09:49 GMT -6
at least he is gone now.
|
|
|
Post by herb on Jun 28, 2011 13:40:09 GMT -6
Very very sad! A shame to destroy such a valuable and beautiful vermin controller.
|
|
|
Post by cks4me on Jun 28, 2011 14:01:41 GMT -6
I agree but he was eating my eggs. In essence I was paying for feed to feed a snake. If he had stayed out of my eggs and chickens he would still be here. BTW I do not agree with beauitful UG.
|
|
gayle
Spring Chicken
Posts: 79
|
Post by gayle on Jun 28, 2011 22:37:31 GMT -6
You will never forget that encounter! I still take caution when checking eggs....any eggs.... at any time of day....anyones chicken house. Glad he is out of your hair. (well your "feathers") One less thing to worry or wonder about. Gayle
|
|
|
Post by cks4me on Jun 29, 2011 17:43:37 GMT -6
BTW my egg collection has gont from about ten at the most to 30 today. Ummmmmmmm
|
|
|
Post by chowdownsilkiefarm on Jun 30, 2011 10:32:12 GMT -6
No snake is a good snake as far as i'm concerned. Poisonous or not. They will either steal eggs, kill birds or scare me to death.
Just yesterday morning I was filling the water bucket in the ducks pen when I looked down and there was a copperhead right next to my foot. I didn't know how big it was becaues it't back end was sticking out from under a tomato plant. Thankfully there where shovels nearby. When I looked to see where it's head was it was staring right at me ready to strike.
I heard on the radio the other day where a man died from a copperhead bite. Turns out he was allergic to bees. He never made it to his truck to go get help. He died that fast. I'm glad i'm not allergic to bees. But I didn't know an allergy to bees would make snake venom kill you.
I had one kill one of my ducks about a month ago. I see a snake I don't stop till I either kill it or it gets away.
I read where you can trap them. Minnow traps. Put an egg in the trap and set it by the coop or pen, by a brush pile or fence row and they will crawl in to get the egg and can't get back out. To kill it just put the snake, trap and all in the freezer. For those wanting to relocate just take it out back and let it loose because it'll just come back anyway and you can catch it again.
I've been looking for minnow traps since I found out about this method.
|
|
|
Post by cks4me on Jun 30, 2011 12:51:15 GMT -6
a friend of mine yesterday said that if you put a fake egg, or golf ball, in the nest they will eat that and it will kill them. Sounds like it my work. Never heard or seen a minnow trap and don't have a freezer to put it in. Why couldn't you just shoot it? I am so happy you were able to kill it. They scare the h___ out of me.
|
|
|
Post by chowdownsilkiefarm on Jul 1, 2011 10:22:45 GMT -6
A minnow trap somewhat resembles a cricket bucket except the hole isn't so big and the bottom is different. I read that a snake goes by smell and a gold ball don't smell like an egg.
I would have shot it if DH owned a gun that didn't sound like a cannon, plus as close as that snake was I would have shot myself too.
|
|
|
Post by herb on Jul 1, 2011 11:47:06 GMT -6
sigh
|
|
|
Post by spamela on Jul 1, 2011 12:41:35 GMT -6
I HATE snakes. But Herb's right, they have their purpose too. We just relocate them to an area where they aren't a nuisance because technically it's illegal to kill snakes in TN.
|
|
|
Post by chowdownsilkiefarm on Jul 1, 2011 22:53:23 GMT -6
My husbands boss told him if he puts out sulfer along the property line it will deter snakes because they don't like the smell and won't cross it. So he got a bunch of it and will put it out this weekend. If it does rain he'll do it after. I'll be putting out moth balls where I think they are living to chase them out of the yard. We have a shed that has a concrete floor and it extends out beyond the shed and there is a sizzle pen built on it along with a patio beside that. There are places all around it where something has burrowed under it. We once had a rabbit get loose and went under it. I'll be tossing moth balls under there too.
My grandsons are always running around barefoot and they don't watch where they walk or reach into. With copperheads around I can't have my babies bitten. The snakes have to go. One way or another. If I can shoot a dog that is a threat to the people or animals and property I certainly will kill a snake. I have a cat for mouse control. Where I live, cops will do nothing for shooting a snake in my yard. Some other places may but not here. The nearest hospital we have isn't fit for taking care of a cold much less a snake bite. A person would sit out in the waiting room and die first.
As it is we are all on alert looking for snakes everywhere we go. I don't even like going in the coop anymore because of it and I used to walk around and check on the birds at night but not anymore. Once it's dark I don't go outside unless it's to get in the car. I don't like being afraid to be in my own yard and i've already lost a duck to a snake bite.
|
|
|
Post by rinksgi on Jul 2, 2011 9:23:43 GMT -6
I don't like snakes, but don't like to kill the non-venimous ones,unless they come to me. I know they will kill the venimous snakes. just stay away from me! If you eat a few eggs,fine, but eat them and go. Don't hang around for seconds.Ugh!
|
|
|
Post by ellisfarms on Jul 8, 2011 11:14:36 GMT -6
i relocated my snakes to ha hole in the ground my wife i allergic to bees did not know that it would be that bad if she got beat by a snake . not good . are cats have kept snakes out since we got them have not had any snakes
|
|
|
Post by chowdownsilkiefarm on Jul 10, 2011 23:13:38 GMT -6
Well, my ad on craigslist for wanting minnow traps finally came thru. A man called me today, he has 6 of them and since i'm almost an hour drive away he said I can have them. Now i'll find out if I still have any around.
We did go around and put out moth balls in hopes to chase them away. The hubby walked up on one and it slithered under our trailer. So we tossed several under the under pinning all around the trailer and around the shed. I put a couple in several 2 liter bottles and water bottles and put them in the coop and one in the brick pile and another in the brush pile.
We haven't seen any since but I would like to know for sure if it worked. Thats what the traps are for. We can kill the poisonous ones and relocate the others far far away.
Hopefully there are none. Between my cat and the water buckets, My mouse population isn't too bad.
|
|