Central TX Predator

[justroostin]

Hi and Good Morning to all,

Got a picture for you. We have problems with these critters here in Central TX. I haven't had any get my girls yet, but my neighbor has.

 

[Whirlwind]

looks like you figured out how to post pics.

YIKES!!!!!!

 

[justroostin]

Yes I did! If you have anything getting in and cannot figure out how they got in, it's probably one of these. They can get through the smallest cracks.

 

[Whirlwind]

Yes that is why my dh put 1/2 inch cage wire on my coop. It would have to be a really small critter to get in that, even coverd the floor and I just keep pine mulch over the wire. I keep watching for snakes anyway as we live on a creek and I think they just smell chickens. So far we havent seen any poisonous ones.

 

[bayouchica]

Hi there, what kind of snake is it? Yeah we have lots of different kinds of snakes over here as well.
Cool pic.

Miriam

 

[justroostin]

It's called a rat snake or chicken snake. Don't know its official name. They mainly eat chicks and eggs, but I have seen some big enough to eat a grown chicken. They use constriction. Non venimous. We have others such as cotton mouth, king, etc., but these chicken snakes are what I have seen the most of around here. My aunt just happened to be looking out her window one day and saw one chasing a frog.

 

[JamieandShady]

We have them ALL OVER. I keep finding dead baby snakes (rat snakes) everywhere, and my cat keeps killing them. I'm really scared for my 4 week old chicks. Too many predators!!!

 

[Cheri]

King snakes are supposed to be good. They eat other snakes.

 

[justroostin]

Yes Cheri, you are absolutely right, but the bad thing about it is I can't remember the riddle about red to black and red to yellow, which one is the coral and which one is the king. I had a real big problem with them one year I was seeing all kinds of snakes and they were under my house. Everytime I went outside it seemed like I either saw one go under or come out from under the house. I am scared of them. They may not hurt me, but they will make me hurt myself! I had mice the winter before and they were after them. They rid me of the mouse in the house problem. I put out sulfur all around the perimeter and it got rid of them. Well, needless to say, the mice came back. I am always finding baby snakes and grown ones. One day as I was coming out my back door I saw the granddaddy of them all (chicken snake) coming out from the opening where the air conditioner sits. He was a whopper. I ran for the shovel and he was gone when I got back. I don't care what the snake experts and snake lovers say, I will kill every snake I see if I get the chance. Especially the poisousnous ones.

 

[iopele]

Red and yellow kill a fellow,
Red and black, bite him back!

I understand how you feel about snakes, but personally I'd rather have them around than rats and mice with all their fleas and diseases they can pass on to people. Gimme a few snakes any day! (Of course, around here it seems like all we've got are rattlesnakes, and I'd really rather they went elsewhere...)