Black snake killed two chickens. What to do?

[Matzwd]

What about bird netting? I have read they will get caught up in it. You can then cut it out and relocate the snake. We have black snakes that reside near our chickens, and I was planning on trying it this year. Just haven't implemented it yet (or seen a snake for that matter). They tend to come from under our shed which is about three feet from our chicken run. This year we've noticed a bunny living under there. I suppose that if any snakes were there they would eat the rabbit?

Anyhow, the plan was to skirt the shed with the netting.

 

[Painted Calls]

Netting works great. I relocated one that accidentally got caught up in a roll of netting in my shed. I've also cut them out of the neighbor's blueberry bush nets. I don't kill snakes of any kind. They all get relocated to the back 40.

 

[centrarchid]

I totally agree with you on not killing any beneficial creatures just because. Especially in an inhumane manor

It is great not to kill, but there is responsibility to have facts straight when giving justifications.

 

[ColtHandorf]

I do not understand- I have had chickens for decades and many snakes have lived here and never-ever- hurt any chicken

Tell that to the eight 3.5 - 4 month old English Silver-laced Orpingtons I lost to snakes last year. They birds were too large to successfully swallow, but they would kill them, get them down to about the breast bone, and then regurgitate them to go after another one.

 

[JBG acres]

Tell that to the eight 3.5 - 4 month old English Silver-laced Orpingtons I lost to snakes last year. They birds were too large to successfully swallow, but they would kill them, get them down to about the breast bone, and then regurgitate them to go after another one.

That's what one did to my guinea fowl last year too. This year I caught one chasing my duck off her nest and trying to eat her eggs .

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

Tell that to the eight 3.5 - 4 month old English Silver-laced Orpingtons I lost to snakes last year. They birds were too large to successfully swallow, but they would kill them, get them down to about the breast bone, and then regurgitate them to go after another one.

Yeah, we lost two, 2 month old guinea fowl to a black rat snake last year. Most snakes are good at sizing up prey, but I’m guessing that black rat snakes are just not so great at telling whether a bird is too big for it to eat. I relocate rather than kill them, since they are generally beneficial snakes.