Anyone know where to get glass eggs for snakes to eat

[oklahorselover]

Hi, I am new here & really need some help. Last night a giant chicken snake somehow got into my chicken house & ate two 5 day old peeps, one 4 week old and killed my favorite black adult hen. I'm sure the hen was protecting the little ones & made the snake mad. I was devistated when we were woke up by a screaming & went outside to find what had happened in our chicken house. We think the snake was already in there when hubby closed the door to the chicken house.
I had heard that you can buy glass eggs & put them out & the snakes will eat them & die. Are these real & where can I buy them ? I am just sick that this happened to my peeps & my favorite hen. The rest of the hens & rooster were scared to death.Poor guys

If someone could give me some advice on the glass eggs or what to do I would really appriciate it. I don't want to use moth balls or that snake stuff as I have horse's a dog & a cat & can't take the chance of any of them getting any of that poison.

Thank You

 

[dykeswa]

Quote:
You can get these at just about any feed store or farmers co-op, we have killed several this year, sorry to hear your bad luck.... WAD

 

[saddina]

Golf balls work well too.

 

[Pagemaker]

Fake eggs, golf balls, etc. are not the answer.
Snakes will simply throw them back up if they can't digest them.
You might try putting poison inside of some real eggs... but make sure you put them where your chickens can't get them, if the "doctored" eggs break the chickens will eat them.

 

[Pagemaker]

I have also heard of people putting fishing hooks with string attached inside of eggs and catching snakes that way.

The only other option you have is to snake proof your nest box.

 

[ranchhand]

The humane methods, such as shooting or cutting off the head are preferable, since they are the quicker methods of killing a snake.

Our method here is to prevent the snake from ever getting in. We have a 6 foot yellow rat snake who tries, but hardware cloth took care of that. Now he sits outside and just drools!

So sorry that you are having this problem, but do try to do it fast and clean.



edit for typing too fast.

 

[oklahorselover]

This is my chicken house situation. The door is left open so if the chickens want to go in during the day they can. In the evening all the chickens go inside & we close the door. The house is snake proof, there is no way they can get in, but that night of the killings we think the snake got in & was in there before hubby went out to close the door. Hubby feels awfull

So now we are checking inside. My thing is if there are any snakes out cruizing during the day & they come into my horse barn "thats where my chickens feel they need to lay their eggs. They are free roam chickens", I want to get that snake by using something that will kill it. I don't have nesting boxes like many people do because my chickens roam free during the day & come in at night. They lay where ever they feel like it. I know their places so I gather eggs daily.
I really appriciate everyone's advice & suggestions.

Thank You

 

[cgmccary]

I am real sorry for your loss. That must have been a really large snake to kill your adult hen. Bantam hen? I had a opossum to kill chicks at night & hearing the mother hen's screams (is terrifying), and I went out & the mother hen (a Bantam OEG, not even lb in weight) was flogging the opossum in the dark. Did you find the snake and kill it? Probably a Rat Snake.

I am one of those strange people who keeps chickens, and I also have a couple of pet snakes (a Bullsnake & a Kingsnake). I know that my Bullsnake (which eats primarily rodents but likes eggs too) will not even eat a store bought egg; smell is gone. The smell needs to still be on the eggs. I can say with certainty, I have never heard of a snake eating a fake egg. It is the smell that lets them know it is an egg. The snake would have to be really hungry to mistaken it for an egg.

It is too bad you do not have a Kingsnake to tie up in a pillow case and leave out there-- the other snakes would get out of there in a hurry. Perhaps, borrow one.

I've heard (no experience) that spreading lime helps repel snakes.

I don't have any but don't Guineas kill snakes? My cat kills them.

If you can find a Herp. keeper/enthusiast who might be willing to come and hunt & clear out the snakes off your property. My brother was crazy about snakes and would go and clear the snakes for free for folks (he'd sell the snakes). The Herp Shows are as numerous (if not more) than the chicken shows & are in every major city. There are snake forums like this forum as well.

Again, very sorry.

 

[wyo-helpmeet]

I was reading on another site that they blow the eggs, tape one end, fill with hot sauce & tape the other. Could you imagine the look on that snake's face?

 

[purpletree23]

Try night light sized light bulbs. Very cheap at the dollar store.