Bad bad snake

[getaclue]

TinaMarie, it's not a myth about black racers killing venomous snakes. I've seen it multiple times with my own eyes. So have many other people. The black rat snakes, often confused with black racers, do not kill venomous snakes.

 

[Wezdin]

The only good snake is a dead snake. I know some folks believe black snakes (racerbacks) eat poisonous snake but this is a myth...kinda like snakes drinking from udders. I often patrol my yard armed with a .38 loaded with shot shells, but that's just me.

Maybe so, but we had some kids kill just 2 black snakes the other year and our mouse population was through the roof, way more than we ever had.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I had a black snake In the coop over night and didn’t know it. I killed a tried to eat an 8 week old Bantam Cochin it couldn’t then it was eating eggs. Because we want to keep them around to take care of the rodents I started leaving one duck egg a week inside. Eventually it must have moved on because no eggs are being eaten in the last 2 weeks.

 

[Gray Farms]

Its kinda a 50/50 deal with black snakes. They are great for controlling mouse populations but they also eat eggs and chicks if the can get to them. Personally I catch them and take them up to the other farm where I don't have chickens.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

The only good snake is a dead snake. I know some folks believe black snakes (racerbacks) eat poisonous snake but this is a myth...kinda like snakes drinking from udders. I often patrol my yard armed with a .38 loaded with shot shells, but that's just me.

Boooo!

 

[slordaz]

Boooo!

They don't have a problem as long as they don't come in the fenced perimeter, of course a stray cat has adopted the yard which is surprising as my chickens and other animals don't usually allow guests lol. the snakes have been good about staying out, and the few mice that have braved coming inside the perimeter, the chickens, cants and dogs swiftly dispatch, sure as heck don't have a pest or bug problem inside the fence and have seen snakes go right on by without coming in lol.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

You probably don't have as many snakes in Idaho as we have in Missouri.
In the last year, I've caught black snakes eating eggs in 3 different coops around dusk. I grabbed them by the tail and flung them into next week. Perhaps the experience made them rethink a return visit.
Snakes beat cats hands down for rodent control. A cat has to sit and wait while the snake can go into the crevices and catch the vermin where they hide.
The chickens were unconcerned by the experience. No drop in production.

 

[TinaMarieofFL]

Boooo!

I know, I hate to kill anything but I simply cannot stand snakes. I want to protect my chickens and dogs. It's not as if I went out looking for them but if one makes the foolish mistake of allowing me to see it, well, if they can outrun my bullets, they can live. I am a very good shot, particularly with the shot shells.

 

[ellenscoop]

not a fan of snakes. I'd relocate him...far far away

 

[TinaMarieofFL]

You probably don't have as many snakes in Idaho as we have in Missouri.
In the last year, I've caught black snakes eating eggs in 3 different coops around dusk. I grabbed them by the tail and flung them into next week. Perhaps the experience made them rethink a return visit.
Snakes beat cats hands down for rodent control. A cat has to sit and wait while the snake can go into the crevices and catch the vermin where they hide.
The chickens were unconcerned by the experience. No drop in production.

Haven't seen any snakes by the chickens (yet) but I had a rat problem for a while. They were coming in after the feed the chickens spilled. I am anti poison so my hubby set traps. Only caught a few with those and we have about a dozen traps. I have killed more via shooting than all the traps combined. Lo! I put a 100 watt lightbulb in the pen and have not had any trouble since. Who knew what a simple light bulb could do.