An Unwelcome Visitor

Caitlin stayed at a friend's house last night. I got to sleep on the couch as Mim had commandeered a bit more than half of the queen size air mattress (she's her father's daughter).

I'd let the dogs out about 9pm, it was getting dark and cooler than it had been so they needed their run around time and toilet time. After 30 minutes, I heard Gomez persistently barking. This is not unusual, he'll bark at any perceived movement - cockatoos in the trees, lizard through the bush, sheep grazing. I went out to yell at him to shut up..... but he was standing at the chook pen fence line barking.

I wandered over, in my thongs, to see a SNAKE on the other side. Inside the chook pen. It was too dark to make out what sort it was, and I wasn't going to peer over the fence to get a better look, but I think it may have had diamond type markings (or was that just the chook wire I could see)! I grabbed Gomez, called the other two and spent ages trying to get them inside. Then called Michael to come and look. He grumbled and put on his socks and boots, and collected the axe and torch before getting outside. By this stage, it had disappeared. Not sure if I was relieved it had gone, or more worried about where it had gone.

Michael assured me that the chooks should be okay, it was just after their eggs, or any mice that were scouting out the chook food. Whilst I love my chooks, no way was I going to check on their safety last night.

Jemima has been given strict instructions that she is not to collect eggs anymore, or even go outside without a parent. And she must always wear closed in shoes. It may have been a harmless snake, but with browns and tigers common in this area, we're not taking any chances. The damn dry weather has been good for snakes.

The chooks didn't lay any eggs this morning, and I don't blame them either. My clacker would be tight shut too if I'd been inside the same enclosure as that!!