Out here on the Ranch, we pride ourselves on cohabitating with all of GOD’s creatures. We do our best to let the deer, the turkeys and Coyotes roam, the Owls hunt at will, the Black Vultures (who by the way are protected) clean up around the Ranch, and the snakes slither where they like.
It’s usually a fairly rare sight to actually see the snakes around here; the occasional sighting while cutting the fields or turning over a log or a barrel that’s been sitting for a minute. I do see one or two in our main barn but we tend to get along rather well. I don’t bother them, and they stay out of my way. I do let them know, if they are living in the barn, they have to help Thomas, the barn cat, keep the mice out of the feed!
I love watching the deer roam around the Ranch. They are beautiful creatures, very majestic! I never really had any reason to NOT like deer, but since we have been here on the Ranch, I have found one thing I don’t like about them; they will tear up a fence as quick as the cows! I mean, I get it, I put up a fence where they normally travel. I guess it’s really not their fault, but to spend a summer working on a brand new fence around a pasture just to come check it the next week and find a big section that looks like an elephant sat on it is very disheartening.
I actually like sitting out after dark and listening to the coyotes having their ‘conversations’ from one side of the Ranch to the other. Occasionally, we may see one during the day wandering through a field. Once, while I was baling hay in the back of the Ranch, I did have one come out of the wood line, lay down, and watch me for a bit. Once I got a little too close for his comfort, he just got up and walked back in the woods.
Black Vultures. What can I say? Although, I know they were put on this Earth for a reason, and I don’t have a problem with that. But, we have had some problems with them congregating in areas such as roosting on the cattle feeders and waterers and leaving their ‘vomit’ and feces all over them. I usually just run them off and that’s it. However, this year, I have had to chase them away from cows just after they have had their calves.
The vultures seem to be more interested in trying to talk the mommas out of the newly delivered Afterbirth, but Momma cows get so stressed from trying to protect the calf, and these vultures can be relentless when they want something, and they do work in groups or flocks. We here in Tennessee CAN apply for a permit to shoot them if they present any aggression or danger to our livestock. I have never purchased a permit in the past, but I was wishing I had this year.
Some Farmers and Ranchers have had problems with them attacking the newborn calves and pecking their eyes out! Ehhh! I cannot imagine. I may be applying for a permit next year.
What part of the country do ya’ll live, and do ya’ll have problems with vultures as predators to your livestock? Drop me a line Contact me! here and let me know! What do you do about them?
So, back to the snakes. My chicken coop is actually an old ‘short’ grain bin that was left uninhabited when we moved out to the property. Poor thing looked so lonesome out there all by itself, I just had to do something with it! Wait! That ole grain bin would make an AWESOME chicken coop!
One of my bright ideas, that in hindsight was probably not such a great idea. I mean, it’s roomy inside, can accommodate quite a few chickens actually! Has room for a big dust bath, several nesting boxes, and night roosts. Problem is, when it’s pushing 98 degrees here in Tennessee with 104 degree heat index, the poor chickens are just shy of laying ‘boiled’ eggs, not to mention almost having a heat stroke in the process.
New coop plans are in the making as I write this post! The girls are on strike until I we build them a new house!
We have had problems before with the occasional “no shoulders” visiting the coop to get an egg or two, but this year, they must have called all their slithering relatives to let them in on the “buffet” in the area. My Momma, who is really part owner and chicken enthusiast, hates snakes! Me, if it’s a ‘good’ snake, eh, I’ll let it SLIDE (see what I did there?). I mean, if the ‘good’ snakes are going to control the ‘bad’ snakes around the Ranch, I’m all for letting them be.
The first one we caught in the coop, I let go in the woods. Momma said “kill it!”, but I didn’t, I let it go…..with a Warning of course. Well, he didn’t heed the warning. About two days later, he was back! Well, he paid the consequences of that visit. We’ll just say that.
Well, we were all happy, chests poking out…..We got rid of that egg-stealing no shoulders for good!
To our surprise, though, a few days later, I caught ANOTHER ONE in the coop! Well, there was no warning this guy, he was just gonna pay the price. And he did! Two within a week of each other! Again, we thought we had won the war, but then, less than a week later….. #3! I’m talking, all these snakes were about the same size, about two water hoses around and at least 2-1/2 feet long or better! Unfortunately, I didn’t have enough hands to photograph these guys for you, but if I catch another invasion, I’ll try to catch a pic for ya.
We haven’t seen anymore for over a week, so we’re hoping either that was it, or the others have taken heed! We have looked up so many different ways to keep them out, but not sure if they are really working. Our latest is putting moth balls around the perimeter of the coop. Supposedly, they don’t like the odor. I don’t blame them, I don’t like the odor either!
Anyone else have trouble warding off the ole No Shoulders around your place? What do you do to keep them out? I’d love to hear from you and any suggestions you have! Contact me! , and let me in on your secrets! In the meantime, we will keep fighting the battles!
Until next time! Be Safe and be Blessed!