new to chickens

[Jelira]

Hello I am in NC, and I want to have a few chickens for fresh eggs, but I am terrified of snakes and I fear that chickens will attract them. My worst nightmare would be getting some eggs and fiding a snake in the nesting box. I am originally from the North and have been in NC for little over a year, so I am not very familiar with all the snakes around here, but I know there are a few.
I also have 2 German Shepard running around the yard.
Any advice?
Thanks
Jelira

 

[sourland]

Spilled feed might attract rodents that would attract snakes, but the chickens per se should not attract snakes.

 

[Lamaremybabies]

Hello Jelira,

While snakes can be an issue with chicken owners especially in your area, Building your coop correctly can minimize the risk of one getting in. I highly recommend reading up on the chicken predators in your area, and ways to keep them out of the coop. Also if you do decide to get chickens start small with some easy breeds. I'd recommend sexlinks red or black, they're easy to take care of, very friendly, and great egg layers.

Now your Shepards could be an issue, when (if) you get chicks introduce them but don't let them have access to touching. This will show you how they handle a bird that can trigger their prey drive. You may just need to make sure that the dogs can't get in the pen an the chickens can't get out without you letting them.

 

[drumstick diva]

get some guineas, I hear they are great at mobbing snakes and persuading them to leave. They also love to eat ticks. What's not to like?

 

[blackdust951]

hi

 

[rjohns39]

Hi and welcome to BYC You've already gotten good advice about snakes, personally I wouldn't worry about them as the worst of the egg eaters (rat snake) is your best friend for other reasons... Again, welcome and we're so happy you joined us

 

[Kiki]

Welcome to Backyardchickens.com aka BYC!
We are glad you joined our flock.

This video will help you learn how to navigate this site:

 

[Jelira]

Hello Jelira,

While snakes can be an issue with chicken owners especially in your area, Building your coop correctly can minimize the risk of one getting in. I highly recommend reading up on the chicken predators in your area, and ways to keep them out of the coop. Also if you do decide to get chickens start small with some easy breeds. I'd recommend sexlinks red or black, they're easy to take care of, very friendly, and great egg layers.

Now your Shepards could be an issue, when (if) you get chicks introduce them but don't let them have access to touching. This will show you how they handle a bird that can trigger their prey drive. You may just need to make sure that the dogs can't get in the pen an the chickens can't get out without you letting them.

Thanks

 

[Jelira]

get some guineas, I hear they are great at mobbing snakes and persuading them to leave. They also love to eat ticks. What's not to like?

Thank you, I have never eaten their eggs, do they taste like the chickens? Plus they could be noisy no?

 

[Jelira]

Hi and welcome to BYC You've already gotten good advice about snakes, personally I wouldn't worry about them as the worst of the egg eaters (rat snake) is your best friend for other reasons... Again, welcome and we're so happy you joined us

Thank you for the warm welcome. I know that black snakes are good, I just have a unreasonable fear of them. I already encounter one once under my deck once. She was standing like a cobra looking directly at me. Needless to say I didn't use the deck for a long time after that. Now we live in another house with a bigger yard. My neighbor mentioned that he recently encounter one, like 4 feet long (he is my next door neighbor). My consolation is that my dogs running around might scare them.