help! snake!

[Al's Chicks]

A black rat snake is in the tree stalking a cardinal's nest. I've tried to knock it with the broom but it just moves up the tree. My 6 week old chicks and 4 week old guinea's are in small pens about a hundred yard away. What should I do? Will the snake get my chicks? How do I get rid of it? Argh....this thing totally has me rattled!!

 

[cjeanean]

Climb up there at catch it!!!

I don't know, other than to a) catch it and kill it, they aren't venomous (right?) or b) get a gun and shoot it!

If you DO decide to climb up there and try to get it, please make sure you have someone on the ground who can videotape it

 

[Al's Chicks]

That's funny!

I was hoping for some nice trick to get it away that didn't involve me touching it!!
I tried to shoot it with a b.b. gun but only had 1 pellet. I can't find the extra b.b.'s.

 

[chicken+quail=luv]

Act like a chicken and peck at it, so it's afraid of your chickens.

I would probably bring my chickens and guinea fowl inside and cuddle with them until it goes away, but that's just me.

I would somehow catch it, put it in a huge bag or something, tie it, and bring it to an animal facility. Or just shoot it.

 

[Al's Chicks]

Now the snake is gone and I have no idea where it is. My poor chicks would hate me if I brought them back inside. It's been raining here for days and they were so happy to go out this afternoon.