Found a Nest

[dlgambill]

Oh, and BTW, I finally caught a really big black snake last night in my chicken house. I'd been raising up 3 chicks a friend gave me, and had lost two of them -- one while they were still in their cage (I honestly think the little thing got scared to death), and the other a week later after I thought they were big enough to be safe, but evidently not, because I came in one morning and she was gone. So I've been looking, and last night I found the lovely reptile curled up in the eave. I put a trash can on the floor under her, and in one swift move used a hoe to yank her off the ledge and into the can. Whew! I don't know whose heart was racing faster, her's or mine. Anyway, she went to live about 2 miles down the road, across a river and a creek. Hopefully that was far enough! My gosh she was mad when I dumped her out of the trash can. She laid there coiled up with her mouth open so far I could see down to her tail. Quite the show.

[count dewclaw]

It sounds like the compost is drying out too much, try to moisten it carefully. Try adding some water around the edge of the container, not right next to the eggs, and let the water work its way into all the compost. Add a little at a time so that you don't add too much water. Is the trash can covered? If not, you might want to put a loose fitting lid over the top (once the compost is remoistened) to slow the evaporation. Hope that helps.

[dlgambill]

Okay, I'll do that this morning. Thanks.