chachi
7 posts
Jun 22, 2006
6:55 PM
|
Hello all. Don't post much, but wanted to let out a cry of victory(seems only those with birds can understand and appreciate!)Built my breeder pen out of my shed that I halved out. Did a pretty nice job of it considering that the shed is quite big and built by an actual framing contractor. Anywho, I have had a snake get into my loft because at build up I made a few major errors in the wiring selection. The only problem other than the occasional hawk swooping down was snakes. I know I had a big snake getting in every couple months for a long while(years) because the young it took were two to three weeks old and pretty fat. Well, I lost a few eggs and knew that snake was back, and put up a screen door on my fly window thinking that would keep the snake out. Turned out I locked him in my loft. Found out after it got my #1 pair of squabs. I wanted to destroy. Well after that I went on a vigil every other hour day and night and wouldn't you know it there he was constricting a squab in the next box over two days later right in the middle of the day at 1200 noon. Needless to say I pulled out a machete and began to Marine Corps that snake! My wife that I went nuts out there in my loft. That snake was the biggest brown snake I think I had ever seen. Aside from continuing to tighten the holes, anybody have any hat tricks that they know of to ward off snakes in the future?
|
GREED FOR SPEED LOFT
76 posts
Jun 22, 2006
8:26 PM
|
Chachi, good deal exterminating your pest. I was told by an exterminator , when i was in the south east to keep snakes away from your house or your yard was to spread moth balls around your perimeter every 4-6 feet. They dont like the smell and keep away........ Later .........R-Luna
|
nicksiders
647 posts
Jun 22, 2006
8:27 PM
|
Keep in mind snakes can't chew through anything. Keep the holes closed, the door shut, and the wire small from the floor level.
I also have a dog who is part coyote and she kills snakes very aggresively......runs 'em down, even and then shakes the hell out of them until dead. She is also a better mouser than the four cats I have.....it is a meat snack for her. She is also the boss of the cats; a duty she took up all on her own. She is a very ugly dog, but a keeper.
----------
Snicker Rollers
Last Edited by nicksiders on Jun 24, 2006 1:46 PM
|
knaylor
247 posts
Jun 22, 2006
8:43 PM
|
I had the same problem with a house that I lived in a few years ago. The months of June and July were terrible. I took out 8 over 3 feet long the first year I lived there. I read an article about chickens keeping snakes away. So I got a few big laying hens and for the next 5 years I didnt see a snake one. So it must have worked. Kevin
|
MCCORMICKLOFTS
597 posts
Jun 22, 2006
8:51 PM
|
Kevin, maybe because you killed them all...lol
I got my chicken-killin coyote just this evening.
|
J_Star
482 posts
Jun 23, 2006
5:08 AM
|
Chachi, that brown snake was so big because she was eating the squabs for a while. Glad you got rid of it. Just make the screen mesh smaller. I use 1/4" screen to make sure even mice can not get in. I didn't like it at first but I am happy with it. Have not seen any critter inside the loft not even spiders. I put Demetrious Earth in the cracks and the floor of the loft at the biginning of the season and that took care of it. No wonder why I have all the spiders in my house.
By the way, I think snakes follow mice for feed and that snake happen to stumble onto your loft. Take care of the mice around your yard and you won't have unwanted snake visiters.
Jay
|
knaylor
253 posts
Jun 26, 2006
9:53 PM
|
LOL Brian. I wish I still seen plenty in the area just not in the back by the birds. Glad you got the Dog.
|