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TEB

(13,784 posts)
Sat Aug 1, 2020, 06:21 AM Aug 2020

Egg production is down with the ladies they're traumatized

Found black snake eating a egg in hen house Thursday. I moved him to lower pasture. I told the ladies this morning feeding them that I understand completely.

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Egg production is down with the ladies they're traumatized (Original Post) TEB Aug 2020 OP
Yikes. Ohiogal Aug 2020 #1
Hope so TEB Aug 2020 #2
Soothing classical music soothsayer Aug 2020 #3
My dad never considered black snakes to be a problem in the henhouse. Arkansas Granny Aug 2020 #4
I agree with your dad TEB Aug 2020 #5
I never do bother the black snakes jcgoldie Aug 2020 #6
black snakes there handmade34 Aug 2020 #7
theres a fridge by the road down the canyon with eggs 4$ a doz..honor pay.. samnsara Aug 2020 #8

Arkansas Granny

(31,869 posts)
4. My dad never considered black snakes to be a problem in the henhouse.
Sat Aug 1, 2020, 07:03 AM
Aug 2020

For the number of rats and mice they consumed, he was willing to sacrifice an occasional egg. Rodents can ruin a lot of livestock feed.

Also, and I don't know this to be true, he claimed that a healthy black snake population would deter poisonous snakes. I know that I never saw any on our place while neighbors who killed any snake they saw, reported seeing them on a regular basis. I know that's purely anecdotal and you're free to draw your own conclusions.

TEB

(13,784 posts)
5. I agree with your dad
Sat Aug 1, 2020, 07:15 AM
Aug 2020

Black snakes keep the copperheads cleaned out. We used to have a problem with them. And recently I found one in lower horse pasture shot it 22 snake shot. So once again I had lower fields burned out local fire company does it for free. As they train their mountain and brush fire teams. The burn takes care of the copperheads for about three years.

jcgoldie

(12,046 posts)
6. I never do bother the black snakes
Sat Aug 1, 2020, 07:18 AM
Aug 2020

Just give em couple seconds if you see them they will go mind their own business .. good for mice an egg here or there is a small wage... they are much cheaper workers than my egg sleuthing LGDs in that regard! 😂

handmade34

(22,945 posts)
7. black snakes there
Sat Aug 1, 2020, 07:57 AM
Aug 2020

skunks, fox, hawks, bears, etc. here... hugs of solidarity from my hens to yours

samnsara

(18,300 posts)
8. theres a fridge by the road down the canyon with eggs 4$ a doz..honor pay..
Thu Aug 13, 2020, 06:47 AM
Aug 2020

..I love their fresh eggs...all diff colors and sizes. But they have been scarce this summer. Hubby caught owner one morning on the way to work and she said her girls got attacked by a racoon

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