I hate copperheads! If you're sensitive or squeamish don't read *semi-graphic pictures*

Yesterday I killed a baby one. The chickens really enjoyed that. Today while I was out weed whacking I had to kill another one that was much bigger. It was coiled in attack mode. The chickens enjoyed that too after I cut it up (minus the head). Is there a way to actually deter copperheads from the yard WITHOUT deterring the non-venomous ones or am I just out of luck on that one? Copperheads are a danger to my chickens, my child, and my dog so there's no way I will allow them to live if I run across them. If you have a negative opinion on me killing them I don't want to hear it, I have to protect my family.

Glad you got him!! Wish there was something that you could do to deter them. Do you have cats? They keep the food sources down. It is a bad year for Copperheads.

No, the neighbors have cats. My son and I are highly allergic though so no cats for me. They're cute, but swollen eyes and face isn't (not to mention difficulty breathing, hives, etc) lol

chickmomma03 said:

No, the neighbors have cats. My son and I are highly allergic though so no cats for me. They're cute, but swollen eyes and face isn't (not to mention difficulty breathing, hives, etc) lol

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I understand--have family members with the same problem! Good luck---just keep whackin' em!!

Kill them. I am not sure how to keep them away moth balls keep snakes in general away not sure if theres away just to keep venomous ones away. We have the same problem with rattle snakes and cotton mouth on the property they rarely come into the yard if they do either myself, my husband or our cats will kill them. We have a dog 1.5 year old who got bitten by one of the two and his leg was just horrid for a month after his flesh was rotting off so i kill most venomous snakes i see only time i dont is if i have nothing to kill them with.

I find a shovel is the best tool for dealing with rattlesnakes. I like to keep the king and gopher snakes around, though. Funny: The last rattlesnake I beheaded, was offered to my chickens. They refused to go anywhere near it. A raven finally took it away.

Lol well atleast that means they reconized danger when they see it. Its amazing how animals know what dangerous and what not even without being taught.God sure does some wonderous work if you ask me.

Yea, I took a shovel to it. I find them to be the best too because I can keep a safe distance and at least disable them before going in for the kill. I hit it with the shovel once, moved it out of the spot it was in (with a fork hoe) to a flatter surface and got it again. When I was satisfied it was dead I went and got the "snake expert" of the house to make sure it was a copperhead and then help me chop its head off. Once that was done I was a little hesitant to cut it up, but once I saw the insides ("snake expert" cut it open long way) it gave me the "confidence" to cut it into smaller pieces. I couldn't bring myself to watch him rip the head off.

Oh yea, and I think I should have worn some gloves, that snake urine/blood stinks!

Follow this link https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/515899/best-way-ive-found-yet-to-deal-with-snake-problems and give it a try. BTW, shakes are expert navigators so don't relocate one unless you want to see it again, it might just beat you back home. However a few hours in the deep freezer will take all the pizazz out of old "No Shoulders"

There also was a boy bitten by a copperhead today in Birmingham.

I don't relocate snakes, if they're venomous and they cross my path they die, especially when they coil into attack mode. I have a fear of them, but I have had to battle through it and get the job done. I especially don't pick them up after almost accidentally picking up a baby copperhead many years ago to show to my toddler when I was stopped just before grabbing it (I didn't have knowledge of copperheads then, I moved her from the north). We've been working on clearing out "hiding" places for snakes for quite some time. I was clearing out some tall grass when I ran across the one I did today, yesterday I was clearing construction debris from building the coop and that one was under that. I try really hard not to leave things laying around they can hide under or allow any brush/tall grass, but I had the lawnmower go down and had to wait on parts to arrive before I could cut again so it got taller than I ever like it to get. *blushes* Unfortunately, copperheads seem to be the most common here in NC, yuck.