Building a Hobby Farm- from woods to eggs

oldhippy · Jun 5, 2008

Tony I am going to the farm this weekend and will look on my tractor and see what the problem with the lift lever is. I think that on mine both move at the same time. Don't have a clue what it does. Will look and if someone has not given you the answer by sunday will post what I find. big dan

tony123 · Jun 5, 2008

Thanks guys. I'm sure I could find some forum with snake experts and they'd know right off. I don't think he was venemous either. I know the triangular shaped head is a sign of danger. This guy did have a pronounced jaw, but I wouldn't exactly say it was triangular.

Thanks Big Dan, I was thinking maybe a spring or something went between the two?

tony123 · Jun 6, 2008

I did a little research. I'm confident he was a Black Rat Snake. He looked just like one based on photos, and he climbed a tree to get away from us (which is common of them).

Internet says they are the largest snake on the east coast at up to 8' long. They are constrictors and eat things like mice, rats, small squirrel and rabbit, EGGS, etc. They are often thought of as a farmers friend for the rodent control. Harmless to humans, even if bitten.

Tororider · Jun 6, 2008

As long as they stay away from the chickens themselves you should be good. How big a mesh did you put on the tractor? Now may be a good time to put a skirt on the tractor to keep it from digging under and getting in. Good luck. Although I would rather have the snake than the rodents and extra rabbits.

Gizmo36 · Jun 7, 2008

Tony I just got on ,it is a Black snake . don't kill it or a king snake them will keep the venomous snake away . a king snake will kill any venomous snake it see. check your email.

GCLnIndiana · Jun 8, 2008

Keep your pigs away from the snakes. Unless you want to get rid of the snakes. Pigs love to eat snakes.

scgargoyle · Jun 8, 2008

If SC doesn't cool off soon, Tony's first egg is gonna be hard boiled!

Gizmo36 · Jun 8, 2008

You got that right , it's 99 right now.

oldhippy · Jun 9, 2008

Tony I moved the lift lever and the draft lever does not move at the same time. Under the seat you have a round knob and a lever that sticks towards the front of the tractor. One of these locks the lift and the other one controls the rate of raise and fall of lift. I can see that maybe if one of these is in the wrong place that it would not work but maybe the draft control would over ride the valve. Hope this is some help. If that does not work you need to post on the yanmar page for some real advise.
I have king snakes on my place and love them. I have a old grain bin that I store tools in and just about every time I open the door one or two will go crawling off after giving me a dirty look. I have not seen another snake on the place other than them and am sure that the field mice are not as heavy as it would be without them. big dan

3RRL · Jun 10, 2008

I wish we had more King snakes on our property.
I've only seen two vs the rattlesnakes we see all the time. Plus, the Calif King snake doesn't get that big to take care of the 6' rattlers we have.