Bad bad snake

[fradytrc]

I have had 2 of my hens killed by black snakes. I caught one in the act with half her body down his throat. I would not have believed it if I had not seen it myself. So my rule of thumb is, if I find one around my coop and my hubby is there, it will get relocated. If I’m at home by myself, whether in or out of the coops, with or without eggs or chickens in their mouths, then I kill it.

 

[Mtnboomer]

Never kill a black snake. They do so much more good then harm. Instead relocate or better yet just make your brooder snake proof with smaller wire. Once chicks get big enough they snake cant eat them and no longer hunts them. So all you need is from egg til like 2-3mos (depending upon your breed).
I find a black snake in my yard or woods he gets a warm cozy home in our garage (where our brooder is located ) wood shed, or well house with all the mice he can eat.
Good luck but please dont kill it.

 

[new2ducks]

I live in Colorado and in my area there have been bullsnakes. So I’ve decided to read up on snakes in general. They don’t chew so they can’t dig hole so they rely on other critters to do it for them. They will also go through any cracks. They love fields as well as areas that are cluttered with leaves,wood piles and damp areas. Well, this said we have all those conditions!!!! I have 3 ducks that free range during the day and I always thought it was so cute that they laid their eggs under the wild rosebush until I found a bullsnake wrapped around an egg! Well the ducks have switched to the lilac bush now. I’ve timed the egg laying and then make sure to get the eggs.
I also found that SNAKE AWAY has a pet friendly spray that you hook to your hose and it has essential oils that deter snakes. There’s also the granuals that I’ve used but they’re not pet safe but you can make a barrier with them OUTSIDE THE YARD where animals can’t get to them.
I have 2 good sized snakes that I see from time to time but no mice and they don’t go into the coop...living in peace for now

 

[ChickahD]

I live in the high desert, we have many chicken predators to be prepared for here. Each of them has their God given place in the eco system that we live in and serves an important purpose. It's my job to provide my chickens a safe place to live and lay and if I'm not doing my job then I will suffer a loss. My flock has been decimated more by the neighbors wandering dogs or a passing stray than any wild predator coming around doing what it was created to do. It's hard enough for them to survive in a very harsh, unforgiving natural world, let alone one where many humans think they are rightly justified in killing them just because they are trying to live. I don't believe killing just because I can is an answer to any wildlife problem and I certainly would only use that as a last resort. I also don't think losing some eggs or even an occasional chicken is a valid reason to go out and kill all the snakes, coyotes, hawks, and other predators we have. We have the technology to protect our flocks without having to become killers. Every life is precious and purposeful and if I can preserve the natural order of things even if it requires me to work a little harder to make sure my animals are safe and relocate someone or put up a stronger deterent then that is going to be my first option. I appreciate the others who do the same.

 

[jspeese]

I don't mind snakes, but when they eat eggs, chicks (a black snake can even eat a full-grown quail), then they are nuisance predators. And they can be difficult to keep out because they can get into very small spaces and climb. At times I've had to raise chicks by hand in a home-made brooder made totally out lumber and hardware cloth, woven wire floor, and no other spaces, especially in the summer. Fortunately my ducks and geese would usually start laying and brooding in April and May when it was still too cool, at least and night, for black snakes to be really active, and goose eggs are too big anyway, but in the summer, eggs and chicks were unfortunately fair game for large snakes like those in the rat snake group.

 

[microchick]

We have black snakes here in Missouri. I encountered one this week under a piece of metal sheeting that the wind had blown into the edge of the timber where we had piled some branches. Silly creature stuck its head under the branches thinking that if it couldn't see me then I couldn't see it. It proceeded to stick it's tail in the air and vibrate it like a rattle snake would. I had to laugh at it. I think I said.'hey stupid, good try but I know you aren't a rattlesnake'.

It was a good sized snake about 2 feet in length. I've seen them shorter and as big around as my wrist after feasting on frogs and frankly, if they would keep the rats and mice down I'd have no problem with one of them hanging around the barn. But around the coop? Gotta draw the line somewhere. As long as they don't encroach upon the coop or run or threaten the dogs or humans they are welcome to stay. If they go after the chickens or eggs or threaten the dogs or refuse to flee from a human, sorry snakey, all bets are off.

 

[forgive7]

If we rid ourselves of the snake, then the mice and rats play, which can carry disease, the plague for 1, as well as contaminating feed, and home foods. I would relocate the snake some distance from the Hen H and watch for reappearance. I leave a radio on a lot of times, when raising chicks and the HH in summer when they are most app to be in the nest. They hear talking from the radio, and shy away from the situ.

 

[mowin]

Any snake I see is subject to the death penalty. Any coyote, fox, or coon gets the same treatment.

 

[Chickassan]

Relocate the snake.
Smack hubs in the head for lying about gathering eggs "probably why you have the snake".
Have fibbing hubs fix the snake hole.
Easy peasy.

 

[Goatsanddogs]

Thanks guys. The radio is an awesome idea. My goats would be happy with that company and the other varmits would stay away. A coyote wouldn't come close with a radio playing, and I wouldn't have to worry so much, and stop checking on my babies in the middle of the night, and possibly falling down stairs again.... The egg collection is now my priority due to the insufficiency that occurred. I also am converting the bunny hutch to the coop so there is an inclosed location for my one hen. I wouldn't think a snake would kill a hen, but what fradytrc mentioned, it could be true. My RRed went missing. No feathers no blood. Just gone. So sad. I'm needing another hen for a companion and an additional egg. If I get one and use the coop from the beginning, the established hen may take to it better. Oh yeah best part, closed up and NO SNAKES. With cooler weather approaching, the snakes will go into hibernation. Thanks guys. Glad to be part of BYC.