Do chickens make snakes worse?

[gocrow77]

My chickens kill snakes, they have killed 2 since moving their coop about 1 1/2 weeks ago. They haven't even started laying yet and they have already began earing their keep in my opinion. They also have decimated the ticks around my house - no spray or granuals for us this year. Not a single tick since they went outside to their coop. Yay for chickens!!

 

[swtamour]

I too have an extreme phobia of snakes. Whenever I scream from my nightmare, my fiance knows it's about snakes. I've been wanting to purchase a large land to farm my own food but afraid of snakes. I figure living in the middle of a big city will lower my chance of bumping into one. I know for a fact that my phobia CANNOT be cured. I wouldn't be able to open that door knowing a snake is in there.

 

[buffy O's]

okay, everyone keeps saying clean up around your chicken coop. Ours is next to the woods but we cleaned the woods out around it some, all the under brush and the chickens keep it pretty well scratched out. The very back of it is what is against the woods we thought they would have plenty of shade that way. We only give them a little scratch during the day because I read on here on a post that scratch makes their body temp rise, and since it is so hot thought it might help some. They are approx. 16 wks. so they are on starter and we have gave them a little scraps but for the most part they are not too wild about scraps. So scraps are not usually left out. We do however fill the feeders in the evening like about 4 or 5. Is this not recommended? Should we fill them in the morning and let them eat all day? They free range some each day but usually just 2-3 hrs. because I'm afraid something will get them or they will get in my garden or flowers.
Buffy

 

[OcoeeG]

I hadn't seen a snake in months out there.
THEN...I went out the other day to check on things. We HAD 2 turkey in a brooder box that had 1/2 inch hardware cloth laid over the top. Well I looked in to see only one turkey hopping around in the box, wondering where the other one was. It was kinda dark in the coop. Upon closer inspection the other turkey (1.5 months old and good sized) was in the belly of a 4 foot rat snake. Whoa!!!!! It was a site to see, the turkey was 5 times the size of that snakes head. I will secure the hardware cloth a bit better from now on!!!!

 

[buffy O's]

I'm really envious, people talk about finding these snakes and it doesn't seem like it bothers them and I honestly think I would have a heart attack!
My husband says "honey, if you see one just get the hoe and kill it" and I look at him and he says " I know, I know but you might have to sometime". It just seems impossible. I wish I was like you all, I was raised about as country as you get and you would think I would be a little braver but I'm not.

This sounds crazy but I think I would rather run up on a bear as a snake, not that I want to do that either!

buffy

 

[Oklahoma Lightning]

One of the little boys in church toss a play snake at my grandson and of course I am talking and know nothing about what going on until I tried to put a new door into the side of the rec hall. That way my grandson tells everyone he got to protect Grandma cause she goes crazy when she see a snake.

 

[Oklahoma Lightning]

I was raise country from teens on and I know why I am the way I am. I was a city girl and my step grandmother locked me out of the house one hot summer day. And being city when I need the bathroom she won't let me in. Nor would she give me anything to drink. I was trying to get her attention and toss a rock at the side of the house but missed. I broke a window so she locked me in a dark celler and said if I moved the snakes would eat me. I was 5 and had nightmared for years about snakes. It only came out in counseling when they were trying to figure out why I was having them. She told me if I told what happen she lock me up for days. Back then family didn't call anyone on other family members.
But it sure made me a strong fighter for the protection of any child. And I know why I hate snake but I just can't control the fear.
And I learn to toss 2 by 4's and rock pretty darn good. Ask the coon I hit with both.

 

[Uppity Peon]

Wow! You had one mean grandma!

 

[Uppity Peon]

buffy O's :

We do however fill the feeders in the evening like about 4 or 5. Is this not recommended? Should we fill them in the morning and let them eat all day?

I would recommend picking up the food at night and lockiing it away baecause you may be feeding rats and mice all night long if you dont. Those rodents definitely draw lots of snakes.​

 

[007Dawn]

Put moth balls down around the coupe on the outside premiter. Snakes hate the smell. I personally use a full box. Yeap it will smell for a few days but it works.

Every say three weeks throw down a new box and then when fall comes you won't have to worry about it.

And if the chickens for some reason do peck at them it won't hurt them.