I closed the coop door and went to get a shovel. When I got back, though,
the snake was just slipping out through a gap underneath the door.
This gave us some time to discuss what should be done if he returned.
We considered three options. First, some variation of catch and release,
removing the snake to a patch of land a few miles away. The problem here
was that we do not have tools of any sort for the task and feared if we tried to
trap him with boxes or buckets and such it was likely he would escape leaving
the situation unresolved and our duck eggs still at risk.
The second option, the final solution, steel at the end of sticks, was unsettling.
Understanding the snake's very real role in reducing the rodent population and
trying to balance nature and animal husbandry left us feeling uneasy at taking
the superficially simple and immediate solution.
rodent population in exchange for the recompense of a few duck eggs.
...
During the day we usually let the ducks roam freely.
They have a kiddie pool to play in, and some nice mud puddles to wet their bills.
Later that afternoon we noticed all the ducks back near the coop quacking.
Maddie, who has been sitting on the eggs all day, was out in the foyer very
agitated, even jumping into the screen wall in an attempt to escape.
We ran over to check it out. The snake was back. He was right
in Maddie's corner on top of the eggs she has been sitting on.
If we hadn't made up our minds yet, seeing the ducks so agitated and
the snake sitting on top of Maddie's anticipated ducklings led to a
unanimous verdict.
We locked him in---luckily earlier in the day we had eliminated
the gap under the door with a 2 x 4---and went to get some gardening
tools.
Fortunately, the coop has a back door as well, adjacent to where the snake
was lying on top of the eggs. We opened the back door and
with a quick grasp slung the snake out onto the grass. He was
apparently startled---or perhaps just had a full tummy---and did not
react much before the sentence was carried out. A couple
whacks with a shovel and a hoe and he was dead.
Ladies and Gentleman of the Jury. Lest you think we acted rashly in our
carrying out of this sentence, I present to you exhibit A. 
A crushed egg was found just by the snake's mouth. He must have been
in the process of regurgitating it when we disturbed him.
What about the lump we saw in the snake's body? I give you exhibit B:
Unless this snake has yolk for blood, he had been eating some eggs.
You did what you had to do. I can't wait to see pictures of the little ducklings. Jane
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