Chickens going NUTS!!!

[max13077]

I was out changing the water in the fount tonight when I heard what sounded like an explosion of feathers, loud chicken noised, and gravel flying. I ran around the house to see all the chickens running around like,….. well you know.

I went up to the pen and laying inside all curled up was the biggest garter snake I've ever seen. I had to be pushing 30 inches. I wondered why the girls were going ape-poopy. They would crowd around the snake, then when the snake would strike out, they all flew off in a tizzy.

I don't think it would do any harm, but I pinned it under a stick and drove it down the road to a swamp to let it go.

Now I ask the question, would a snake like that be dangerous to the chickens? Eggs maybe?

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

Well, it would be dangerous to the chickens in my world as I would have a heart attack and the chickens would be left with no one with opposable thumbs that could open the food bin.

snake!

 

[smom1976]

 

[Coop-a-kick]

I second the

!

 

[amazondoc]

Well.....garter snakes mostly stick to yummy things like slugs and earthworms and frogs.....but I suppose they'd be happy to eat an egg if they could fit one in their mouths.....

 

[LynneP]

Garter snakes, though not technically poisonous, are vicious biters and the bites often get infected and initiate blood poisoning. They're coming our of their hibernation pits, spreading throughout the ajacent lands and starting to feed. They're hungry and not taking no for an answer.

 

[SpottedCrow]

I had em all over my yard for the longest time and I sold them at work too and I never got bit...hmmm...
I hand fed em feeder minnows...

 

[lovethechickens]

I have seen chickens kill snakes before. I think you actually saved the snakes life. Im sure after they got used to him strking, thed begin pecking, and you know the rest of that one

 

[lovethechickens]

Oh yeah, and banty chicks would probably be gonners.

 

[amazondoc]

Quote:
Oh, cmon. It's just a garter snake!

I've been bitten by plenty of snakes -- including garter snakes -- with very little ill effect aside from some swearing on my part. Yes, getting bitten hurts. Yes, there may be some swelling and soreness for a coupla days. But you are NOT likely to get "blood poisoning" (I assume Lynne means some sort of septicemia) because of a garter snake bite!