How do you get rid of snakes?

[Its Just Us Chickens]

I've tried snake away (a powder with EO's) and I've tried lime. There's still a big black snake getting in the coop. Is there anything else that works well?

 

[easttxchick]

Yes there is, but I know how many people feel about my solution to a snake problem(and it ain't relocating them).
All I can tell you is that I have NEVER seen it again.

 

[PhilErvin]

An old man told me the other day that he caught a small Rattler and let it go in the canyon behind his house which is close to my house and an area where my son hangs out. I said "YOU TURNED IT LOOSE?"

I wanted to tell him that I thought he was AN IDIOT!!

But I was at the Barber shop and didn't want to cause a scene.
I have NO PROBLEM killing ANY KIND of SNAKE!!! I know that some are beneficial but my wife would have a coronary if she saw a snake at our house.

 

[ottovan]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/61044_photo0047.jpg
This rat snake popped into my quail coop right as I was collecting eggs.
This is the first one I'm had to kill, my mom's already killed 3 this year and one got away.
This snake killed a silkie and a quail, didn't eat them just put mouth around head.
Our electric fence doesn't work well when raining and the snakes always seem to come out after the storm. Thank goodness it doesn't rain too much here in south texas.

 

[Opa]

Quote:
I've never relocated a snake in my life. On a few occasions I've relocated myself in a big hurry. I agree that there is only one effective method of dealing with snake and it doesn't require a moving company.

 

[Mark & Nique]

Here's a link to an animal control website that has some good and frank advice.

http://www.aaanimalcontrol.com/Professional-Trapper/howtogetridofsnakes.htm

Good luck on getting rid of the snakes!

 

[twister]

I have heard of putting moth balls around the area...but i have never tried it NOR do I know if they have any effects for the birds... personally, i relocate snakes ( non venomous).

Never had an issue w. venomous ones tho..... ughhhhh!


editted to add: i just read the link on snake removal and it said that mothballs will contaminate the environment...so nix my previous 'hearsay' advise!

 

[ottovan]

Quote:
He might still be in the coop. Once they've had a taste of chicken they want to stay til all the chickens are gone. We've always found them either in the coop still or very close by. You might want to get an ax and start look in and around the coop esp. if you have a lot of places for them to hide. My brother suggested a shotgun but not sure how that would turn out!

 

[dirtdoctor]

Snakes love buildings, coops and such, I would recommend getting the plastic bird netting that you put on the fruit trees, roll it up or scrunch it up and put zip ties to hold in in a twist, nail that around the area of entrance, snakes start winding themselves thru the plastic holes, and soon are trapped. then the chickens get the final say. you can staple it up of hang it, a barrier of about 6 inches is normally sufficient to trap a snake.
Even small snakes get trapped in it, STICKY boards work wonders as well, put a mouse in a small wire box, and let the snake smell it wander over the sticky board and viola!! you have a snake trapped. Buy the Sticky boards from a online trap or pest control supplier, GOOGLE bulk Sticky boards. BUGSPRAY.com is great for that stuff.

I trap wild pests for a living
Jack

 

[dirtdoctor]

Quote:
Phil, We should have a bit of edumcation about snakes, just killing them cause they are on the ground probably is not the best thing for your estate and such, did you know that a vole, (read field mouse) prairie voles etc,, all of them,.. will mate 4 hours after delivering a whopping 8-15 babies, and every 17-20 or so days they will reach breeding maturity now look at them numbers and you have a serious rodent problem. Snakes have a purpose. So keeping them all away and dead might leave you with something much worse. Rattlers are everywhere, frankly relocating them away from living areas is fine with me, BUT if it is near my house, it will most likely turn in to a nice hat band. other snakes should be allowed to forage for them rodentia, and keep breeding.

As for kids and adults playing around snakes,,,, nothing but a good awareness and education about snake behavior will really help the comfort level. Most rattlers will WARN you.. hehehe that is why God put that thing on their tails. So be aware, educated, and stomp out ignorance.