A little bit of backstory, I quit raising and sold out in 2012. I kept a few select broodfowl for myself but I haven't raised out of them since. Well we have decided to get back into raising some fowl and so I recently purchased a brood pair. Also I'm trying to get anything I can from my pair of Redquills I kept from before. They are too old to expect anything from, still I try. She has laid a few eggs so far n they were fertile, just not strong enough to make it to hatch, looked like they died around day 19 or so. At any rate I say that to set up this... This evening about 30 min before I have to leave for work I decided to go out n check on everything (gut feeling) because mainly to give them the best chance I can, I turned the Quill hen out n put the cock out on a cord. Earlier in the day I moved the stag I just purchased to another pen with a hen I already had. The hen I had purchased with him, which I moved him away from, hasnt laid but once since she got here. Well, got my light on my head n I check her first, shes roosting there n her bottom looks kinda turned out n I watch for a min n she looks like she's pushing. As I watch I decided to open the pen door and moments later I catch an egg! Then I check the others and everyone is good. I have 2 open dog kennel broodpens and my Quill hen is roosting in one, well I check that nest hoping but nothing. Turn around n look down, 4ft chicken/rat snake. Perfect size to be eating eggs, so I take care of him. So point of my little story is its funny how gut feelings can turn out and how right they usually are. I could have left for work without checking anything n her egg hit the ground n busted and a snake could have eaten the few others I have around. Thanks for reading. YFIS Nauvoo
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