I just wanted to mention that this time of year here in the south, NA., and NC., its a bad time with snakes.... they get real mean. we lost one of our doe kids yesterday from a snake bite, we think was a copperhead or moccassin. Poor baby, her head swelled and we tried our best to save her. She was struck in the eye. I have now declared war on all snakes on our farm! Just be careful with your goats on pasture if you have posinous snakes in your area. It was hrooible and i just cried.

Bernice

-- Bernice raymond (geminigoats@yahoo.com), May 03, 2000

Answers

Bernice,I'm so sorry to hear about your little doe dying. That's awful! Makes me want to cry thinking about it. Have you tried guineas to kill the snakes? When I lived in Texas and Arkansas, that's what everyone recommended.

-- Rebekah (daniel1@transport.com), May 03, 2000.

Bernice, how terrible. I hope the rest of your goats manage to avoid the snakes. Gerbil

-- Gerbil (ima_gerbil@hotmail.com), May 03, 2000.

As a child--I saw a deer do this little dance in a clearing. It made me curious, so I went to the spot the deer danced in. I found a 4 foot rattlsnake dead and cut to pieces. Now, I don't know anything much about goats but aren't their hooves similar to a deer? I would think adult goats are self protectors but I am sorry you lost livestock. I live in snake country and I've been copperhead bit myself but around the house, free rangeing roosters are good snake repellent. One bit of advice, smaller the posionous snake the more deadly the venom.

-- Joel Rosen (Joel681@webtv.net), May 05, 2000.

Last year I had to kill 4-6 snakes. I live in east texas. I had ducks and a few chickens. This year i have not seen one snake. I now have 4-6 guinies, 4 greese and more ducks and a few free range chickens. From everything that I have read and heard, the fowl work.

-- scott wyatt (scottjoy@flash.net), May 05, 2000.

Bernice, I'm so sorry to hear about your doeling. We're crying with you.

-- Jean (schiszik@tbcnet.com), May 06, 2000.

Thanks to all that replied for your kind words and advice. I plan on getting those guinea hens and also diviving up our free range roosters and putting some out back. Have more chicks on the way and knowing my luck more roosters instead of hens! Thanks again.

Bernice

-- Bernice (geminigoats@yahoo.com), May 06, 2000.

I have a website that you can go look at that may be helpfull to you and the snake problem that you were having. If your snake problem is gone, you may have friends with similar issues. www.animalrepellents.com has a lot of useful information including descriptions of many products including a snake repellent. Perhaps this will be of some service to you. There is a number that you can call if you have any questions and it is 800-921-3080. That is my direct line. You can call it any time throughout the day during regular business hours.

-- Sara Benton (sarabean10@yahoo.com), April 10, 2001.