Snake ID - Florida panhandle

[Red Mangrove]

Anyone recognize this species? I caught him in my coop and gave him an egg

 

[Patiocoturnix]

Anyone recognize this species? I caught him in my coop and gave him an egg
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I don’t know what it is but I wouldn’t suggest feeding it because it going to keep coming back.

 

[Evadig]

It kind of looks like this one but y’all sure do have a lot of snakes down there! Says there’s forty-four species in the panhandle alone .

https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/florida-snake-id/snake/gray-ratsnake/

 

[Mr Spot]

I don’t know what it is but I wouldn’t suggest feeding it because it going to keep coming back.

It looks like a gray Texas rat snake (aka: chicken snake) to me. and if you are feeding him your eggs, he will be back. I feed snakes golf balls !

 

[Red Mangrove]

Thank you both, I think you're correct

 

[McChooky]

We call them chicken snakes because once they move in you won't be able to raise anymore chicks. They'll eat your eggs and chicks and take them both out from underneath your broody hens..The rat snake is a constrictor that wraps around its prey and suffocates it.

 

[Chicken_man_J]

Feeding it will cause additional problems , than eliminating it. Any snake in the coop is dangerous for you and your hens. Would you reach around any snake in a nesting box to grab any eggs?

 

[Red Mangrove]

Feeding it will cause additional problems , than eliminating it. Any snake in the coop is dangerous for you and your hens. Would you reach around any snake in a nesting box to grab any eggs?

My chickens don't sleep in the coop, it's just an egg dumping spot they use occasionally. So far I think he's been hitting rats nests mostly. I know where the pests sleep and that seems to be where he lives now

Seems to be more useful than the young barn cats I have

 

[SourRoses]

Give a snake an egg and he'll eat forever in your nests...

 

[Red Mangrove]

"Because of the gray rat snake’s impressive ability to hunt for mice and rats, this snake is a welcome guest in barns where food is stored and on farms as well. This snake may be used to control rodent populations."

No missing babies here yet. Still have 19 running around. Definitely less rodents though. I've heard them screaming multiple times in their nests I can't access

Maybe it's coopfowl that are particularly at risk. My chickens are all free and they seem safe so far