WindinherhairCAS

WindinherhairCAS

Redding, CA, California, USA

Nov 2014

1,127 Views

Snake?

As I have mentioned I live way out in the middle of no where. I have chickens. Recently two just up and disappeared.. I thought it may have been a chicken hawk as I saw one flying over head one day.. sure enough on separate days (I was letting my chickens free range).. Each one came up missing. So I locked them up.. Today I go out and only 1 egg.. when there should be about 20 as I did not collect yesterday.. (I know I am bad but the weather is cool so no problem)... So I got on computer and they suggest snake! OH Hel. no! Said they can hide just about anywhere! Need to rethink pen and laying area.. Don't want to walk in there.. Don't want to sit up late at night with flashlight and snake shot either.. but!!!! Any one out there with same experience? Suggestions? I think too cold for rattlers.. so I am not worry about that.. (I think).. No. CA here.. normally do not have black snakes.. That I am aware of.. Skunks would leave a trace egg behind.. Gophers will just pester the chickens and even then they would leave a trace behind.. There is NO trace at all.. which leads me to believe SNAKE!

Post Comment

Post Comment

Comments (23)

ackley●Lacapelle Marival, Occitanie France

Nov 11, 2014●2 Comments

And what about fox or a bird ?

123butterflies●saskatoon, Saskatchewan Canada

Nov 11, 2014●4 Blogs●1,792 Comments

frog

postneoludite●West Vancouver, British Columbia Canada

Nov 11, 2014●53 Blogs●339 Comments

Are chicken hawks real?
Not just in Foghorn Leghorn cartoons?

johnjjm●co westmeath0000, Westmeath Ireland

Nov 11, 2014●5 Blogs●1,312 Comments

check the next door neighbour maybe him the 2 legged snake

carina22●St Paul's Bay, Majjistral Malta

Nov 11, 2014●7 Blogs●398 Comments

Windinherhair I would like to help you. But dont know how

Not used to having snakes at my "door step" here in Malta. On farms here they do. But snakes here

are not posoinous. Not even spiders. Nothing is......

I understand you being anxious of being in your chicken pen at night

Think you need help from a pro.... all those free range eggs are surely being eaten by.......

123butterflies●saskatoon, Saskatchewan Canada

Nov 11, 2014●4 Blogs●1,792 Comments

turtle

carina22●St Paul's Bay, Majjistral Malta

Nov 11, 2014●7 Blogs●398 Comments

Johnjim

carina22●St Paul's Bay, Majjistral Malta

Nov 11, 2014●7 Blogs●398 Comments

Ken that your cat and snake ?

Your cat is cool with a snake at.his feet...... must be frieds

Ken_19●Winchester, Virginia USA

Nov 11, 2014●284 Blogs●3,903 Comments

I would also give very serious thought to putting up some game or trail cameras near the chicken pen. You may be surprised to learn what comes snooping around when you aren't in sight.

Embedded image from another site

Even Walmart carries trail cameras (sporting goods section) and a quick google of trail or game camera gives a broad variety of models with different features and widely differing prices. Choose the appropriate ones.

On dealing with weasels (although the consumption pattern you describe may rule that out as weasels like to leave half eaten carcass behind, try

http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/weasel-chicken-predators-how-to-protect-your-chickens-from-weasels

or

http://www.mypetchicken.com/backyard-chickens/chicken-help/What-do-I-need-to-know-about-weasel-family-H172.aspx

as the beginning of the solution.

johnjjm●co westmeath0000, Westmeath Ireland

Nov 11, 2014●5 Blogs●1,312 Comments

maybe its your hens they could be stopped laying they don't lay forever you know .

Ken_19●Winchester, Virginia USA

Nov 11, 2014●284 Blogs●3,903 Comments

Carina, enlarge the pictures up. Notice the bloody holes in the snakes. Cat teeth go in one side and out the other. 2 different cats. Neither one likes snakes. They just like bringing them too me as a rent payment. :)

carina22●St Paul's Bay, Majjistral Malta

Nov 11, 2014●7 Blogs●398 Comments

Ken...... ok

Using my smart phone again.......

guadal●Heidelberg, Baden-Wuerttemberg Germany

Nov 11, 2014●252 Blogs●1,805 Comments

or a dog

WindinherhairCASOP●Redding, CA, California USA

Nov 11, 2014●15 Blogs●32 Comments

Thanks Ken.. very informative.. Yet.. Did I mention I don't like Snakes??? Don't like em.. don't like em.. don't like em.. Poor Chickens!!! lol.. no serious.. will do something today though.. If I don't post anything tomorrow.. Well... and I know about snake shot, inside the chicken pen! I did not give second thought about back flash of the pellets.. but I learned my lesion in the sound in doing so.. Ears certainly do not like it.. Did this .. this past summer with a rattler! Got the rattler and the sound rattled my ears! Probably why my hearing seemed to be getting worse! haha.. OK.. Wish me luck.. going out to dread the poor situation! I also heard about putting out plastic eggs too.. however it could cause the chickens to go crazy!

goldengloss●Malahide North County Dublin, Dublin Ireland

Nov 11, 2014●1 Blogs●1,936 Comments

WindinherhairCAS
Sorry to hear about your problem. I think that you are right, it is snakes. I have read the blog replies and think Cameras would help. The Chickens are an obvious attraction for the snakes and can get in where other mammals couldnt.
I doubt it rats although Rat Traps would help to detect if it was.
I do think the Camera is the best thing to do.
Its sad you cant let them out to Free Range.
I absolutely empathise with you fully, I have a phobia about Snakes, I absolutely hate them... wouldnt kill them, but if they were messing with my Hens, then I would.
Be careful at night if they are around where you live.
Have you googled in your problem online or even got on to your local Agricultural/Farming helpline to get some advise.?
I wish you the very best. Stay safe . Snakes are not nice.

wallops1964●Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England UK

Nov 11, 2014●24 Blogs●2,327 Comments

Hi Wind, well I have no idea, but just wanted to say sorry that you have lost your chickens and eggs. A bit of a mystery but hope it gets solved soon.
Hugs to you

goldengloss●Malahide North County Dublin, Dublin Ireland

Nov 11, 2014●1 Blogs●1,936 Comments

Just an afterthought Windinherchair What about Cats? if you could keep one or two, they couldnt get into the coup but they'd be able to take out the smaller snakes ? Camera it is though, Mind you dont get bitten, i am worried about you !!!

I really hope u get this sorted.

123butterflies●saskatoon, Saskatchewan Canada

Nov 11, 2014●4 Blogs●1,792 Comments

hamster

Ken_19●Winchester, Virginia USA

Nov 11, 2014●284 Blogs●3,903 Comments

Many things could take outside chickens. Issue is the eggs I think. Not sure how to rig camera if chickens move too. Snake trap my first bet.

goldengloss●Malahide North County Dublin, Dublin Ireland

Nov 12, 2014●1 Blogs●1,936 Comments

WindinherhairCAS Yep, Zman is so right, a snake will eat and then sleep and sleep for a day or so, depending on size as it takes a long time to digest the food, they usually sleep in long grass where they will be undisturbed. So if its happening, on an every 3 day basis... I would say yes def. snake. I agree with Ken, a snake trap. You are one brave woman living alone there [I live alone but the only snakes are the ones with 2 legs who hang around dealing Drugs !! Seriously, be careful and check your closets and behind book shelves. I had a friend in S.Africa who had problems with them in her house... now if that were me, I would be in A and E of a hospital, Sedated.

goldengloss●Malahide North County Dublin, Dublin Ireland

Nov 12, 2014●1 Blogs●1,936 Comments

Ken those photos of your cats at your Door [snakes obviously can read your Welcome sign], they look bigger than Garter snakes ? Love the way the Cats are right up close and personal with them .

emlimas●Larnaca, Cyprus

Nov 12, 2014●2 Comments

I have seen all comments about your snake problem. Though in Cyprus we have different poisonous snakes the do the same damage. My solution in my olive and fruit trees grove was; (1) I prepared a tin ball which i half buried in soil and fill it up with milk. Then I added poison in the milk. It worked fine for all snakes and rats. Within a week i found 5 snakes and 16 rats dead. (2)I sprayed anti-snake chemicals around my farm to prevent other snakes coming and especially multiplying. The chemical odor acted as a barrier for them, and (3) I placed about 60 metres of fishing net (used, obtained free of charge by an elderly fisherman) on my perimeter fence (which I occasionally relocate on the fence). The fish net acts as a snake trap. They get entangled and and cant escape. However the fish net mesh must not be bigger than 1 inch. Adding to the above I am unaware whether legally you can use in your country poison against snakes or other wild life fauna,so you probably need to ask is it is allowed. I hope you find the above useful.

Hermetic1●Onalaska, Washington USA

Nov 13, 2014●2 Blogs●11 Comments

Get an infrared game trail camera and set it up in a discrete location. It will tell you exactly what is happening out in the darkness.

Top of Page

Post Comment - Let others know what you think about this Blog.

More Blogs... Read Next

IRAN'S REVENGE. A GESTURE.

What is a Player? - Part 2

But each day, when she walks to the sea...

Blabbering blabber

Easter-freakout and a few days off

Confrontational personalities...

More Blogs

Meet the Author of this Blog

WindinherhairCAS

WindinherhairCAS

Redding, CA, California, USA

Ok lets try this one more time, Instead of you hearing about all the things I love like everyone else; we are going to do things just a little different. I do not want anyone to be surprised with the real me when the twitterpation wears off. So I'm g [read more]

About this Blog

by WindinherhairCAS

created Nov 2014

in Uncategorized Blogs

1,127 Views

Last Viewed: 9 hrs ago

Last Commented: Nov 2014

WindinherhairCAS has 15 other Blogs

WindinherhairCAS Blogs (15)

I need help

It's been so long!

Need a Date

Merry Christmas

What would you do?

Snake?

What am I affraid of?

Questions need answers!

Cook on wood Cook Stove?

Pet Fly?

Pt 1 Giving MEN Re think!

Pt 2

Pt 3

Mail order brides? Would you do it?

Do real men read profiles?

More Blogs by WindinherhairCAS

Feeling Creative?

Create a Blog

Post Comment back to top

Report Blogs that break rules, are offensive, or contain fighting. Staff may not be aware of the Blog Abuse, and cannot do anything about it unless you tell us about it. click to Report Blog Abuse »
If one of the comments is offensive, please report the comment instead (there is a link in each comment to report it).

Would YOU like to post a blog on Connecting Singles?

Would YOU like to post a blog on Connecting Singles? Have you written blogs that you'd like to share with other members? Posting your blogs shows your skill and creativity and helps members get to know you better. Your blog will appear on the Connecting Singles Blogs page and also in a link on your profile page. Click here to post a blog »