Colorado

[WendyGeisler]

HI All,
This weekend was a blur with the Take A Peak Chicken Coop Tour. So many nice people interested in getting started with chickens.
In the middle of the tour, we had a 6 foot snake come through our back yard. That added a bit of adrenaline to the day.
Can anyone tell me what kind this is? It was not afraid of us. Thanks, Wendy

 

[Pozees]

HI All,
This weekend was a blur with the Take A Peak Chicken Coop Tour. So many nice people interested in getting started with chickens.
In the middle of the tour, we had a 6 foot snake come through our back yard. That added a bit of adrenaline to the day.
Can anyone tell me what kind this is? It was not afraid of us. Thanks, Wendy

Looks like a Bull Snake.

 

[WendyGeisler]

Yep I am thinking bull snake too. Thanks!

 

[trailchick]

yep, & they have evolved/learned to rattle
(vocally) like a rattler too,
around here.....
I moved 11 of them off my place last year
(a couple miles away)
- this year none yet.
gotta love 'em tho
they are good snakes - word is, they
will kill rattlers

 

[WendyGeisler]

I feel bad that my husband killed it. But in all honesty, it was
large, coming at us, and we were hosting a CHICKEN COOP tour
of all things.

 

[samsr]

It is probably good that you did away with the snake. I am assuming you were between him and the coop. A large bull snake like that will eat a few eggs if it can get in the coop. It may have been coming for a meal. One that size, I probably would have taken care of also.

 

[Pozees]

It is probably good that you did away with the snake. I am assuming you were between him and the coop. A large bull snake like that will eat a few eggs if it can get in the coop. It may have been coming for a meal. One that size, I probably would have taken care of also.

X2 - some chickens will go after snakes, although usually smaller ones, but that guy looked large enough to make off with eggs and probably large enough that the chickens couldn't have deterred him. Our policy on snakes is, if they turn up where we work in the yard/garden/coop area, they aren't allowed to stay if they are Rattlers/Bull snakes - even though we know Bull Snakes are actually good rodent control, and we will move them when possible instead of kill them. When you happen across one while out working it may take too long to determine which it is, and either way Bob cannot stand the squeal of a baby bunny in a snake's mouth.

 

[pichuris]

Definately bull snake. A snake that size can easily eat a juvenile chicken and will eat 6 duck eggs in one sitting. All this I tell you from experience. Once they get in the habit and know where the food source is it will not stop unfortunately. Yes, they are awesome rodent control but I tell you so are my chickens. We have relocated bull snakes to a different area of our property, marked them and if they come to kill again they are not tolerated.

 

[pichuris]

Going to be busy tomorrow so I candled eggs on day 13. Started off with 51 and last weeks candling everyone was showing veining and the little pea size chick. Took 2 infertile out left with 49. Today took out 6 quiters and left in a couple that seem to be slow growers but still seeing the veining. I'll be candling all again right before lock down. So 43 left in the bator.

How is everyone's hatches going?

 

[wsmith]

Definately bull snake. A snake that size can easily eat a juvenile chicken and will eat 6 duck eggs in one sitting. All this I tell you from experience. Once they get in the habit and know where the food source is it will not stop unfortunately. Yes, they are awesome rodent control but I tell you so are my chickens. We have relocated bull snakes to a different area of our property, marked them and if they come to kill again they are not tolerated.

Yup. I don't bother Bull snakes unless they are in the yard or chicken areas. Then they go away, either by relocating if they are cooperative, or otherwise if not. We had one on and under the front porch deck last year, that was being threatening, so it died. BUT...as previously stated, where there are bull snakes, rattlesnakes don't go. Three years ago we killed 7 rattlesnakes in one season around the house. That was the year one got into the house. For those who want to, go to youtube and search for rattlesnake in my bed. You will see my younger son Eric shoot a small rattler that was next to his head IN BED in the basement. It woke him up. We found the access hole and plugged it.......