Hen Battling a Black Rat Snake

[Franklinridgefarms]

The eastern rat snakes are constrictors.They can kill a hen by suffocating them once they wrap around them in a nest box.

Yes, or even on a roost.

 

[centrarchid]

The interesting part is the interaction, not the dead horse..........

 

[McChooky]

Would have been interesting to seen their interaction for sure.

 

[Roosterinthecity]

So…just wondering…why didn’t you join the fight and kill the snake?
Be more like Deadpool rather than Batman. The snake will probably come back. Best to eliminate it.

 

[mowin]

And that's why they make
.22cal snake shot.

 

[Penpal]

We have black rat snakes. They can get to 5 feet long, but I only saw one once and it was a baby, about 5 inches long. They eat baby mice, so I let it be. That was 20 years ago, never aw another, only garter snakes.

Glad your hen is alright.

 

[centrarchid]

I have never lost a chicken more than 1/3 grown to a Black Rat Snake. This is over many years with many chickens and ever-present Black Rat Snakes during warmer months of the year. Otherwise, the losses to snakes have been minimal. Typically, I collect larger snakes and move them far away. Smaller snakes are left be.

The interesting part is how the hen attempted to protect clutch and she was comparatively quite while doing so. Chickens not protecting clutch / nest sites make a lot more noise.

 

[centrarchid]

Would have been interesting to seen their interaction for sure.

You did but did not recognize it

 

[McChooky]

You did but did not recognize it

Maybe I should have just said I'd liked to seen a picture of hen sorry! I only saw pictures of the snake and eggs.

 

[Windrider]

Maybe I should have just said I'd liked to seen a picture of hen sorry! I only saw pictures of the snake and eggs.

I think he meant that you missed the link to the video in his first post, that showed the hen battling the snake. It was very interesting.