I'm torn about these snakes.. (photo included)

[barred-rocks-rock]

pretty snake

 

[Big Red Roo]

I'm sorry guys but I just cant do snakes. Good or bad. I found a big black in my house one time. I did not think I would ever catch my breath. If I find one around the place its going to die of lead poisoning.

 

[MalloryBranchFarm]

I have always been of the 'live and let live' mind-set, but I'm having a hard time coexisting with snakes. They come into the nest boxes at any time of the day and scare me and the hens. The hens won't lay when there is a snake hidden in the straw beneath them. I have thought it over and decided that I can't let the snakes get too comfortable. It's like feeding pigeons in a city park - the more food you put out, the more pigeons you get, because the pigeons are sensing 'hey, this is a good place to hang out and raise a family,' due to all the readily available food. Same thing with the snakes. They are living in the wild, but our chickens are domesticated and being kept by us. The snake only sees a easily obtained meal, always placed in the same spot at around the same time everyday. If I don't deter the snakes, they'll be setting up house and raising lots of little snakes. It is nature in action, but as our side of the equation isn't exactly 'natural' we must set some road blocks i.e. keeping area cut back, removing obvious hiding places, removing snakes if necessary. I try not to kill snakes, but sometimes you can't get a good look at the head or see enough of it to identify it as venomous or not and you know if it gets away it will hide somewhere else and possibly bite the next person who finds it (your child, for example). In those instances, I feel I can't take a chance leaving a dangerous snake around the house. We have a swamp and pond on the property and there are cottonmouths and banded water snakes that mimic them in coloration. Usually, it's rat snakes in the coop.

I am wondering however, if snakes coming to the hen house is a seasonal thing. We've found most 'pests' to be seasonal around the farm house. There is the season of giant garden spiders hanging across every window, the season of blue green beetles in the water trough. I haven't had my hen house for a full year yet, so I am hoping the snakes are a seasonal thing. If they are, I will try to look the other way when I see the ones I can identify as safe. If anyone knows about this, please let me know. Thanks

 

[Eggs4Sale]

Snakes are definitely seasonal here in the desert. They are cold-blooded and rely on the heat of the sun to warm them enough to even move, so when it gets cool at night, they won't be out and about, and once it's cool during the day, we shouldn't see them at all, unless they're really desperate.

I've lived here in this little farmhouse for 11 years, and I have never seen so many snakes. We would come across one every once in a while and it was always a big occasion, run and get the kids, get the camera, and I'd write down sightings in my snake I.D. book. This past week I've seen more snakes than ever. I don't know why. I can't think of anything that's different here.

We will always have snakes because our house is not on the ground, so they have quite a large home for themselves down there. We will always have hens laying eggs on the patio in a bucket or on the ground, they just do and I gave up trying to stop them. At least I can use my dryer now!

We don't have cottonmouths or water snakes here, but if I saw a rattlesnake or cottonmouth, I think I'd have the kids packed and moving into a new home before my DH got home from work.

 

[gypsy2621]

Typically high snake infestation is a good indicator there are/were a rodent infestation. its a supply and demand type situation. more mice voles, rats more snakes.
when feeding is good most all animals wiill be more productive.

As for snakes feeding their young, no they do not do that. once the eggs or live babies are born they are on their own. they fend for themselves right off the bat.
Mothers usually leave the nest after the eggs are laid so they wont eat their own eggs or hatching offspring.

If you want to rehome them , please put them in a huge box with air holes and ship them to me , they are a beautiful snake.

I love snakes but the startle factor is a huge issue lol. as long as I see them first all is good but I truely hate either stepping on or having them poke their little beady faces out at me when I least expect it.
I always jump ,squeal and laugh like an idiot after.

 

[rufus]

I have heard that snakes come out when there are earthquakes, and we did have that shake last week. Maybe there is something to that.

When it starts cooling down, they will come out at night and lay on the highway to stay warm. Becareful walking at night.

Rufus

 

[dave3877]

as the owner of a ball python, a corn snake, and a few other reptiles i am glad to see your tolerance of the good old bull snake. id leave himbe but be proactive about the safety of your eggs. good idea on the elevated nest boxes and clearing of the bs around the place. bull snakes are good snakes

 

[19Dawn76]

I know there are snakes where I live. The area is very rural and they are around. They have to be. The rule around here is - We know you are here but if we SEE you then you loose your head. If a snake is so brave/dumb to be seen then it is a DEAD snake.

 

[River Lizard]

Quote:

 

[kikescove.com]

I've killed a lot of them. Its a constant battle/balance between mice, rattlesnakes and bullsnakes. Bullsnakes are often the answer to rattlers and the mice, but they are hell on baby chicks and eggs. So far I have had some serious losses to them.