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Post by Deleted on May 31, 2015 16:31:56 GMT
Anybody having a snake problem this year? We've caught at least as half dozen in the hen house that have been gorging on eggs. They are all black rat snakes and some are almost 5 foot long. Two of them even ate the ceramic eggs that we had in the nest, one egg recovered posthumously. Last year we had two mature ducks killed by rat snakes, they were probably squeezed to death and then were swallowed head first but regurgitated because the snake could never ingest the ducks body, the head and neck were all wet and slimy. Since I couldn't catch all in the act, I blew and salted a couple of eggs, put them in the nest, and the next morning the eggs were gone, no more evidence of egg pilfering or duck deaths. If I catch them alive I'll release them, but if I can't they will have to suffer the consequences.
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Post by Mari-in-IN on May 31, 2015 17:13:58 GMT
Oh my gosh! I've never had a snake problem-knock on wood... Just coons/possums trying to break in at night... And coyotes/bobcats during the day when they free-range... Just curious what state you are in? I'll have to do some research and see if they reside in Indiana... I don't know how small of a hole they can get through?? Maybe try to find out how they are getting in and seal it up?? (I guess I am assuming that they do this at night--or is it during the day?) Sorry I can't help you but I do have an inquiring mind nonetheless and I do express sympathy for your losses... (Even ceramic eggs??!! Wow!) Regards, Mari |
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Post by Bear Foot Farm on May 31, 2015 17:58:41 GMT
I was sitting in the den the other night when I heard something hit the ceiling fan, and then heard something hit the floor.
I glanced down and saw something black in the floor, and thought the cord had fallen off the fan until it crawled away.
It was a snake about 14" long, and I still have no clue how it got on top of the fan.
It disappeared under the kitchen stove and I haven't seen it since.
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Post by Deleted on May 31, 2015 18:03:30 GMT
I heard that the snake problems in the areas with flooding are terrible this year because they've had to leave their territories and find new places to live.
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Post by bergere on May 31, 2015 18:24:50 GMT
Yikes !
Have mostly Copperheads in this area... neighbors are having big problems with them... so far... knock on wood.. because of the turkeys and the way I keep the place. No issues so far.
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Post by Mari-in-IN on May 31, 2015 18:28:25 GMT
I was sitting in the den the other night when I heard something hit the ceiling fan, and then heard something hit the floor. I glanced down and saw something black in the floor, and thought the cord had fallen off the fan until it crawled away. It was a snake about 14" long, and I still have no clue how it got on top of the fan. It disappeared under the kitchen stove and I haven't seen it since. Reading that just made my skin crawl...Now I have shivers going up the back of my head! EWWWW!!! You wonder HOW in the WORLD did it get up there!!! Wow... |
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Post by Callie on May 31, 2015 19:29:28 GMT
I saw several snakes this year and that's the first time in the 6 years we've been here. Most were while I was mowing some tall stuff down in the hay field BUT..there was one in the greenhouse. I'm totally phobic about snakes. I see one and feel like throwing up. My knees go all weak and it's not a good thing. My excuse is that I was raised around poisonous snakes in MO and my dad drummed the dangers into us pretty well. So when I saw the little garter snake in the greenhouse maybe 18 inches long...I decided I had other more pressing chores elsewhere. I ran into him again outside the greenhouse when I was pulling up some plastic along a fence and under the mulch....I really didn't want to work outside too badly that day anyway. Haven't seen him since.
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Post by AD in WNC on May 31, 2015 22:20:52 GMT
I've had a few snakes this year - black snake/rattler hybrids. They look harmless until you turn them over then the diamond patterning is visible.
Manny - How do you salt eggs?
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Post by Bear Foot Farm on May 31, 2015 23:42:08 GMT
The only thing I can figure is there was enough room around the junction box and the top of the fan for it to have climbed down from the attic.
As long as it eats mice and not my eggs, I can live with it, and they don't scare me at all
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Post by Deleted on May 31, 2015 23:58:07 GMT
Killing small snakes is about the only useful thing feral cats and hogs do. Other than eating turtles, eating snakes is the only useful thing alligators do.
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Post by manygoatsnmore on Jun 1, 2015 3:53:20 GMT
I'm so glad I only have harmless garter snakes here. They do eat mice, so I'm good with that. They aren't big enough to eat an egg, and a chicken is more likely to eat them than the other way around. I forget how lucky I am until I read posts like the OP!
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Post by mollymckee on Jun 1, 2015 4:36:08 GMT
I was sitting in the den the other night when I heard something hit the ceiling fan, and then heard something hit the floor. I glanced down and saw something black in the floor, and thought the cord had fallen off the fan until it crawled away. It was a snake about 14" long, and I still have no clue how it got on top of the fan. It disappeared under the kitchen stove and I haven't seen it since. I would not have seen it since because I was somewhere else! I would come home when the snake was outside. We lived in tx for 12 years and I learned to detest snakes. We had rattle snakes, copperheads, water moccasins and coral snakes. I didn't want the animals hurt or worse so I usually chopped their heads off. There is no way a snake and I are going to be in the same house! |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 1, 2015 6:39:35 GMT
I'm so glad I only have harmless garter snakes here. They do eat mice, so I'm good with that. They aren't big enough to eat an egg, and a chicken is more likely to eat them than the other way around. I forget how lucky I am until I read posts like the OP! "Common garter snakes typically eat earthworms, amphibians, leeches, slugs, snails, insects, crayfish, small fish and other snakes. They seem immune to the toxic skin secretions of toads and can eat them without harm. Occasionally small mammals, lizards, or baby birds are eaten as well. "
Hope you have lots of earthworms.
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Post by manygoatsnmore on Jun 1, 2015 6:49:46 GMT
We have lots of slugs! Anything that eats slugs is a friend of mine, lol.
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Post by motdaugrnds on Jun 1, 2015 12:22:01 GMT
I certainly identify with the OP's problem with rat snakes as I've had my share. The snake dropping from the fan is a different story in that, as I read that post, I was thinking that fan was INSIDE THE HOUSE HUMANS LIVE IN and that would have frightened me.
My situation appears to be different this year as I've seen fewer snakes than in prior years. (I hope it stays this way!)
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Post by Deleted on Jun 1, 2015 15:58:02 GMT
I've had a few snakes this year - black snake/rattler hybrids. They look harmless until you turn them over then the diamond patterning is visible. Manny - How do you salt eggs? I take a fresh hens egg and poke a small hole in both ends. I pucker my lips and blow my breath through one of the holes which causes all the contents to come out the other hole. I then fill the empty egg shell with table salt and seal the holes with hot melt glue or tape. It's a good idea to have a little of the egg yolk smeared on the egg shell, the snake can smell (taste) that. Place this little bomb in the nest, the chickens won't mind. |
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Post by Deleted on Jun 1, 2015 17:07:10 GMT
................black snake/rattler hybrids................... Can't be. That's an old wives tale. |
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Post by Bear Foot Farm on Jun 1, 2015 17:08:57 GMT
I've lived here 13 years now, and have never seen a venomous snake, although I know they should be in the area.
I've seen many Hog Nosed Snakes, and Kingsnakes, and mostly Rat Snakes
The house is 115 years old so there's no way to keep critters out
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Post by Bear Foot Farm on Jun 1, 2015 17:10:57 GMT
I suspect that tale got started when someone witnessed a Rat Snake vibrating it's tail as many snakes will do when frightened
In dry leaves it sounds a lot like a Rattlesnake
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Post by AD in WNC on Jun 1, 2015 22:01:22 GMT
I've killed several hybrid snakes over the last 10 years. I didn't think the crossbreeding was possible until they turned up at my place. Some have rattles and all have black on top with diamond patterns on the underside. Perhaps this is just an uncatalogued new species.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 1, 2015 23:08:57 GMT
I've killed several hybrid snakes over the last 10 years. I didn't think the crossbreeding was possible until they turned up at my place. Some have rattles and all have black on top with diamond patterns on the underside. Perhaps this is just an uncatalogued new species. You, and the local Bioligist, can get your name in lights. Turn the next one in to the local Bioligist. |
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Post by Bear Foot Farm on Jun 1, 2015 23:20:22 GMT
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Post by feather on Jun 1, 2015 23:34:26 GMT
Only snipes here. Haven't seen any snakes lately.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 2, 2015 17:45:38 GMT
I've killed several hybrid snakes over the last 10 years. I didn't think the crossbreeding was possible until they turned up at my place. Some have rattles and all have black on top with diamond patterns on the underside. Perhaps this is just an uncatalogued new species. Most likely just a color mutation in your local rattler population. |
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Post by aoconnor on Jun 3, 2015 22:53:11 GMT
We always have a problem with Copperheads here, and this year is especially bad because of all of the rain we've had. We have found one, but they should be out in force here pretty soon as the rains quit and it got very warm very fast.
I ran across a huge rat snake a couple years ago. He was stretched out the length of a small guest house we had (5 foot long wall, he was all out next to it), and he started rattling that tail next to the metal skirt on that house, I about fell over...I was leading my whole horse herd in for the night, and we had to walk a few feet from that little house...no other way to the barn at that time. I was between my horses and the snake...so fast as I could, I located that rattle...it was just his tail, the little stinker:-) No rattle. Now I know...he won't fool me again:-)
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