When you live in the country, you're gonna run across critters. Critters abound out here and if you don't like critters, then don't live in the country. Critters are different from your good buddy pets. Critters eat your garden, dig holes everywhere, come in the house even when they're not supposed to and are a general nuisance. We're always trying to get rid of critters - mice, rats, gophers, armadillos, moles, skunks, hogs, possums, 'coons AND last but certainly not least - SNAKES.
Now I don't cotton to these kinda critters too much myself, but they're not going to keep me from loving my little farm and enjoying every minute I'm here! You just live with 'em and deal with 'em.
This morning, we had a some excitement here at Sand Flat Farm. I went out early - 6:45 to feed and water my chickies before work. Fresh water, fill up the feeder, strew a little corn to scratch, clean out the night's poo... you know, the usual. Upon exiting the run, I happened to glance to the side, right by the doorlatch, and lo and behold, I saw THIS ------>
WARNING - Graphic photos - not for the squeamish nor faint of heart!!!
I MUST HAVE JUMPED BACK TEN FEET!
This fellow slithered into the coop probably a couple of days ago. I wondered why the chickens only laid 2 eggs that day when they usually lay 5-6. I thought it was just too hot outside. Evidently, the snake had come through the small gauge chicken wire and ate his fill and then couldn't get back through with such a full stomach! He was a good 4 to 4 1/2 feet long
Rat snake, right? At least I hope so. We've seen him a couple of times around the yard. He'd always shoot up under the house when he spotted us looking at him with an evil intent in our eyes. Can you count the bumps along his stomach? SIX, there are six bumps! Horrors!
Slowly, I eased out of the coop trying not to disturb him. I started for my hoe, but decided to go get Tony out of bed and have him come out. He dressed quickly and got the hoe ready. Tony took the snake's tail and carried him twined around the end of the hoe out to the orchard and neatly whacked his head off.
Good job! Another farm critter bites the dust! Glad that was all he bit! Tony got a plastic bag to dispose of this booger and I went to check the coop just in case there was an early egg or an egg from the night before.
GUESS WHAT! That dumb snake swallowed all six of my golf balls that I'd put in the nests to show the hens where to lay!!!! I imagine he did eat a couple of the previous day's eggs, and then later decided to eat the rest of them! JOKE'S ON YOU MR. SNAKE! I'll bet he had a major case of indigestion! Now, don't think us bad folks for killing this guy - he would have died anyway trying to pass those golf balls.
Sooooo, we retrieved my golf balls...
Lookie there ^ - see all six lined up in a neat row!
Kinda gross actually, but at least I got my balls back - to be cleaned and disinfected for sure - reptiles have really nasty mouths - full of germs and bacteria. Yuck, maybe I just need to get some more...
Now, have any questions? Well, then you've just seen #273 of 300 ways to catch a snake. Great way to trap a snake in your chicken coop! You're very welcome.
Keep yer dress down.
