Some back ground info for those who are looking at me as "the senseless snake killer" I live on 6+ plus wooded acres with a very nice creek that runs year round across the property.
I do know the benefit to non-poisonous snakes; that being said, I do not go out into the woods looking for kills. I do not kill any that I see basking in the sun near the creek or rocks. I do understand and respect nature, if not I would have never moved to the country.
But, if one (or two) are in the run they get the death penalty.
When people take on the responsibility of keeping animals, they have taken on the responsibility of not only making sure they have a dry clean home, fresh water and healthy feed. But as with any pets or animals that have been penned, you have taken on the implied responsibility of their safety and the safety of their chicks and eggs. Can black snake eat a full grown bird? Probably not. Can a black snake stress a bird? absolutely!
I don't only consider the chicks and eggs, but if one poisonous or not, is coiled under a coop ramp and 2 y.o. DS tries to pet it...it will bite. Poisonous, no. Still have teeth? yes.
That then brings out the argument, be a better parent....don't even go there.
Last night it was dark, it was raining. My light caught the colorful copperhead on the ramp nosing the door, and a secondary snake on the ramp with it.
Side note, I'm also a soldier and have been to Iraq twice, I took out the primary target and took the second target of opportunity. Clean kills both, no needless pain and suffering.
This post was met as warning to folks who have chickens and what they might find at night...or day for that matter... as an educational purpose. It was not posted to get into some debate on the ethics of killing snakes. That debate would be better served In some other forum. Personally, the debate on killing whales, for research or not, would be better served; but not on a chicken forum labeled for predators and pest, which ANY snake in my coop or run constitutes both.
