A snake got in my brooder last night!

[RM44]

So sorry to hear it. Sounds like you did what you felt necessary to protect your current and future flocks. I'm fortunate not to have had any "problems" with snakes. The only issue I have is that there are poisonous ones running around. And those get to meet the end of my shovel too!

Good luck getting a new brood started. Try not to be too sad about it.

 

[chick4chicks]

, I am so sorry you lost so many chicks, it is horrible. You did what needed to be done, it invaded the chicks space. RIP little ones.

 

[Mandy1296]

Must be that time of year in our neck of the woods. About 3 weeks ago I found 2 - mind you 2, rat snakes over 5 foot long in and under my brooder pen. The brooder pen is in the storage half of our chicken building, and without too many words here, they had to go the long way around to get in there. ( Think it was snaky date night or something) The 5 foot one was in the pen (1 in. chicken wire) trying to eat it's kill. After I took care of that one (who actually started to strike at me) - out comes Mr. 7 foot Leroy that had been around for the last 5 years or so. Feel kinda bad about him because he was so calm and really didn't bother anyone, but once they quit feeding on mice and things and switch to the chicks, it's over. About 3 days after that had to kill a 2 foot long one.

I'm working on making one of those snake pole kinda things so that I can just relocate the nonpoisonous ones from now on.

As long as they aren't poisonous and they don't mess with my chickens then I will tolerate them, but a lazy snake is not welcome around my place.

So sorry to hear that you lost so many

 

[noodleroo]

Rats and rat snakes can get in such small spaces. I've posted this pic before of a snake taking a rat in my attic. They got up in there in about a 1" space...

I broke the board with a hoe to pull them out and the snake never let go!

 

[rancher hicks]

I opened the coop door yesterday and an aaaaahhhhhhh ssssnnnnnnaaaaaakkkkkeeeeee fell from up above. Little thing but stiil scared me. I got it out of the coop and it stood up as if to strike. Thats when I chopped it up with a shovel. I don't know what kind it was but if it was going to strike it dies.

Saw another in the drive today but it slitthered off into the rocks of my garden bed. It gets to live. I think it was a different kind.

Sorry for your loss.

Rancher

 

[SPRING CREEK FARM]

Quote:
Yeah, Cyn. I used the one inch chicken wire and was shocked that such a large snake still managed to get in! This sucker was as long as I am tall and thicker than my wrist at the narrowest point!
Looks like a hardware cloth upgrade is called for, sigh.......

Yes, I know what you mean, and I have thought about that hardware cloth upgrade too, but...

our coops and pens back up to woods, nice for shade, but not so nice as it makes it easier for some types of predators. We have the vinyl coated heavy duty chain link type fencing with poultry wire attached on the outer edge of the fencing. Pretty durable, but a snake can wiggle thru.

Problem is, I have witnessed a snake hanging over one of the coops, dropping onto the roof, and slinking in thru the eaves. A determined snake can get wherever it wants to go, same as any other predator or pest.

 

[gumpsgirl]

I'm so, so sorry.

 

[WriterofWords]

I am good at relocating,, but strike at me and you're toast.

 

[D'Angelo N Va.]

I am really sorry about your little chicks..I know the pain....hopefully you will not get discouraged though...

 

[TwistedSerpent]

Quote:
The snake is probably more afraid of you then you are of it, nature tells it that everything bigger then it is a predator and with a big looming person over it there is no chance to run. A snake striking at you is just scared that you're going to eat it and thats its only defence it has. No reason at all to harm it if it is not causing an immediate danger, just get a stick and move it out of the way, or leave it be.

Its defense, it wouldnt be around you if it had the choice as well, its just pure survival instinct in a world where its lunch to many things larger then it. Theyre not out to hurt you theyre just trying to scare you away.