Mr. Not so welcomed friend Kill or not?

[keirys]

To my knowledge black racers(which is what this particular one appears to be) don't go for anything much larger than a small rabbit. But they eat a lot of small things and will clean your nest boxes out. I would get rid of it if I were in your situation.

Ahh I see

 

[Mtn Laurel]

My cat takes care of any and all mice. An egg eating snake would have to go - either by relocation or the axe.

 

[Canieldonrad]

An egg eating snake would have to go - either by relocation or the axe.

Blunt object of various utility always does the trick for me. Whatever is in arms reach; preferably not fist or foot.

 

[Sjisty]

The day the rat snake got my hatching chicks, I used an axe - many times.

 

[Sparrow]

Guys....come on. Would you bludgeon to death a marauding raccoon or oppossum? Neighbor dog? Didn't think so. This is a beautiful, BIG Black Rat Snake. This is an animal that has survived the wild for many years, and is just picking up an obnoxious habit of eating eggs. He does not deserve to be tortured by being chopped to death. And yes, it is torture, as reptiles do not die as quickly as mammals when massive trauma is suffered. If he keeps eating your eggs, kindly move him farther away to a suitable location where he can be safe as well. This is not an animal that will return to your coops to maul your birds the way SO many other creatures...including lovable dogs....will.

I'd personally love to have this snake. It's a shame you don't live closer, or I'd catch him for you!

 

[spikennipper]

Luckily we don't get this problem in the UK but if it did happen to me I would try and snake proof my pen, difficult I know, and collect the eggs as soon as possible after they are laid, chickens usually lay at the same time each day so you will know when to get them, now that it has fed well chances are it will not return for a while, killing it will not really solve the problem, it may with that particular snake but I am sure there are many others waiting to do the same thing, we could never eradicate all predators from harming our eggs/chickens though killing seems to give us a sense of satisfaction it is better to spend that time and energy on predator proofing your pens until you find something that works.

 

[kemclaughlin]

I would attempt a relocation. I don't think you need to kill it, it's not really dangerous, but you don't want it eating your eggs. And as it gets warmer, they can eat a lot.

 

[4 the Birds]

If you capture it then I would relocate it a few miles away off into the woods. Let nature and predators live. It is best to fortify and protect your livestock and let nature take its course without deciding what deserves to live.

 

[bobbi-j]

Guys....come on. Would you bludgeon to death a marauding raccoon or oppossum? Neighbor dog? Didn't think so. You're right - I wouldn't. I'd shoot them instead. Along with the snake if it were eating my eggs or newly-hatched chicks. This is a beautiful, BIG Black Rat Snake. I will agree that it is beautiful. This is an animal that has survived the wild for many years, and is just picking up an obnoxious habit of eating eggs. He does not deserve to be tortured by being chopped to death. And yes, it is torture, as reptiles do not die as quickly as mammals when massive trauma is suffered. If he keeps eating your eggs, kindly move him farther away to a suitable location where he can be safe as well. This is not an animal that will return to your coops to maul your birds the way SO many other creatures...including lovable dogs....will.

I'd personally love to have this snake. It's a shame you don't live closer, or I'd catch him for you!

 

[Canieldonrad]

I'm just of the opinion that we actually have a snake problem here, in my immediate location. We have a man made lake just over a hill and we have a lot of mice/rats/opossums/raccoons/rabbits. And they seem to make the snake population a bit too healthy.