BackYardChickens Forum

thanks for all the replies.
LizzyJo you sound just like me on the phobia but there is just no way that I could ever come to the point of letting a snake on me! I really admire you for overcoming that. I always said that I hoped the Lord didn't decide to test my faith with a snake, I'm afraid I would fail, and I really do pray he doesn't. I have 3 wonderful boys the oldest is 11 and I really depend on him so much, my husband works 7 on and then 7 off, night shift, and my son is so good about helping with the chickens. Thankfully they are not afraid like I am, although I think they should have some fear and respect for snakes, just not a phobia.
My husband and I went to the zoo before we had kids and I was going to try and overcome my phobia somewhat, anyways, so we went into the place where the snakes were in the cages you know, well, I just lost it and stood there and cried, I was so scared. I hate being that afraid but I just can't help it. You all think about me this summer and pray I don't see anymore snakes or, oh my, have one in my chicken house! By the way I live in a little place called Allardt, Tn. The Big South Fork is right in my nieghborhood you might say.
thanks to all,
Buffy

just thought I'd throw this out there.

Chickens eat chicken feed.  Mice like chicken feed.   Mice live close by the food source.  Snakes eat mice.  Snakes live close to the food source.

I am glad they cured your fear because they would have failed on me.  No way no time.  I saw a black snake in my closet called my dad 15 miles away screaming bloody murder. All he could make out was snake.  I move shortly after that.  I screamed at the drive in watching True Grit.  A friend told his girlfiend that Kathryn.  I know that scream over a snake anywhere.  We had grown up together and he had heard it many times before.
I was going to flunk High School if I didn't handle a green snake for science class.  I told him to flunk me.  He got ticked at me and he tossed a  snake at me. I did not know is was a toy.  And I  took a swing at him and would have hit him if a friend hadn't stepped in. Almost got kicked out of school but Supertent let me off with a warming.
Even my 3 years old grandson tells me it protect me agaist snake.
I whole church knows not to come near me even with a play snake.

That so called teacher who threw a snake should have been suspended. 

I went to the Dallas Zoo   to try to figure how to tell if snake was poisonous..All I remember for sure is that you supposed to look at their eyes..

The rule is either if they are set down on pointy nose or higher on head they poisonous...but I cant' remember which it is..kind of like the black and yeller kill a feller thing. 

Now here the catch..I near sighted..even with correction lenses..I still don't see that well...and no way am I getting close enough to a snake to check out his eyes..

So..since I have 3 friends who have been bitten by copperheads..I simply put distance between myself and snakes..if I know about them.

I carry a stick, I stomp around when walking in leaves or tall grass..I take the dogs with me...I never reach into anything to get anything...I probe and poke first..

And I am "uncomfortable " with snake stories.

Wow this is funny timing.  I went fill my chicken feeders and there was a 6 ft black snake in the coop!  All my chickens were already on the roost but they were very nervous.  And 6 ft isnt an exageration, I measured it.  I pulled it out and gently removed his head.