Bull snake at the hen house door...

[jossanne]

This baby is almost 5 feet long. I got my kids all out to come see it, and they followed it off the property. Now I'm worrying that it will come back, and start eating eggs and young chickens. How big of a bird will a big bull snake eat? Or will it just get my eggs?

 

[TammyTX]

Snakes can kill your chickens.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=169959

 

[jossanne]

Thanks Tammy. I knew they'd get my 7wk old birds that are in transition cages in the hen house, but I didn't think they'd try to eat a full-grown hen! I guess we'll start huntin' snakes.

We haven't worried about bull snakes in the past, because they will kill rattlers, and they are really good about catching and eating rats, mice, gophers, etc. I guess now I'm going to start worrying about them...

ETA: Sorry to hear about your pretty Jersey giant baby. That would really bother me.

 

[TammyTX]

Rattlesnakes are bad news and if they kill rattlers...well, I might try deterrents first. You can try putting snake deterrent spray out. I think it's the same stuff mothballs are made of. I know mothballs are TOXIC to chickens, but I'm not sure about the spray.

Your bull snake is a lot prettier than my rat snake!!

 

[theOEGBman]

Gorgeous snake! Good job looking at the benefits, a lot of people won't do that. Bulls can easily reach 8 ft long so they can definitely take down smaller birds. If the rattlers and rodents are abundant, I don't think he'll go for your birds. If you catch him in there again grab him or grab a stick with leaves and brush it along his tail to scoot him on out!

 

[countrydream7]

i am also afraid of snakes .uggh but I see most people don't have coops tight closed so much. I have hardwire cloth on a lot of my tractor coop and locks on top of that.. doing my best to not encounter snakes or rodents...just put my bjg out to coop nothing yet and hope not to see either...

 

[Kimberclimbs]

Snakes can kill your chickens.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=169959

They can kill young chickens. Let’s keep things in perspective. The article you posted clearly states that the bull snake killed a 10 week old pullet. If you have a rooster, this would not be a problem at all even for a 10 week old. Also, bulls snakes are excellent at keeping all rodents at bay.