egg-eaters

[dainerra]

I hate to kill a black snake but we didn't have anywhere to relocate him. I've noticed that our egg production has gone way down but I thought that it was the heat.
He had 3 eggs in his belly so I don't feel TOO sorry. He definitely didn't do it because of a food shortage; the barn on the edge of the property is overrun with pack rats.

He was a bit over 4 feet long.

ETA: scared the bejeezus out of me. I should know better than flipping the lid open and just sticking my hand into the nest box.

 

[RedDrgn]

I think I would've tried putting him down by the barn full of rats and then plugging up whatever hole he went through to get in, first. That's just me, though and I understand the issue if it was downing the eggs. While I love snakes, finding one sitting in a nest box would still shock me if I wasn't paying attention when I went in for an egg!

 

[Jaxon4141]

Those three eggs he had in him would have probably lasted him for a week or more. Snakes do not eat everyday. Some only eat once a month. For the amount of rats and mice he would have eaten over his lifetime you could have easily support him with a few eggs.

 

[dainerra]

I've been losing about 3 eggs every other day. I couldn't relocate him because we already have a ton of black snakes; I think that he just moved into the area from where a neighbor is clearing brush. The big black snake is still down in the barn; I saw him there yesterday while I was getting hay. There is no way to block him from the coop - how would the chickens get in and out?
Since we dispatched him, I'm back to 3-4 eggs every day. We had been down to only getting eggs every other day.

and No, I don't have eggs to support the local snake population. If it was a bad year and there was little/no food for him to support himself, I wouldn't mind. I like having the black snakes around. But, like any predator, they will always take an easy and safe food source over hunting. It's just nature.

 

[7L Farm]

I've been losing about 3 eggs every other day. I couldn't relocate him because we already have a ton of black snakes; I think that he just moved into the area from where a neighbor is clearing brush. The big black snake is still down in the barn; I saw him there yesterday while I was getting hay. There is no way to block him from the coop - how would the chickens get in and out?
Since we dispatched him, I'm back to 3-4 eggs every day. We had been down to only getting eggs every other day.

and No, I don't have eggs to support the local snake population. If it was a bad year and there was little/no food for him to support himself, I wouldn't mind. I like having the black snakes around. But, like any predator, they will always take an easy and safe food source over hunting. It's just nature.

It's ok. One things for sure that snake will not be eating any more eggs.

 

[RedDrgn]

I've been losing about 3 eggs every other day. I couldn't relocate him because we already have a ton of black snakes; I think that he just moved into the area from where a neighbor is clearing brush. The big black snake is still down in the barn; I saw him there yesterday while I was getting hay. There is no way to block him from the coop - how would the chickens get in and out?
Since we dispatched him, I'm back to 3-4 eggs every day. We had been down to only getting eggs every other day.

and No, I don't have eggs to support the local snake population. If it was a bad year and there was little/no food for him to support himself, I wouldn't mind. I like having the black snakes around. But, like any predator, they will always take an easy and safe food source over hunting. It's just nature.

I was thinking you had a coop door that you closed up at night. Snakes typically weasel in during the night, so if the door was shut, there would've had to be another hole. I'm surprised the chickens didn't have a go at him, though. They definitely do not take kindly to snakes.

 

[dainerra]

no, we don't see too many snakes around here at night. He strolled in sometime after I checked water at 10am.

The birds will eat the little snakes but this guy is a little bigger than them. I've been wondering if he is the one who got one of my 8 week chicks a couple weeks ago. I thought it was a hawk but this guy is definitely big enough!

 

[RedDrgn]

no, we don't see too many snakes around here at night. He strolled in sometime after I checked water at 10am.

The birds will eat the little snakes but this guy is a little bigger than them. I've been wondering if he is the one who got one of my 8 week chicks a couple weeks ago. I thought it was a hawk but this guy is definitely big enough!

An adult black snake will eat just about anything that it can catch, subdue, and fit in its mouth. It's certainly possible that it (or one of the others you mentioned having around) got ate your chick.

 

[dainerra]

well, I doubt it was "barn snake" he's been there for about 3 years now and he leaves my birds alone, that's why we get along so well.

I didn't know this guy was hanging around until he got caught in the hen house. Only 2 places that earn a death sentence - in my hen house and in MY house. lol