Organic sulfur powder to deter snakes?

[Cj Tracker]

I read about sulfur being an excellent snake deterrent. I have a few small chicks, 6 weeks, and wanted to sprinkle some around the coop. I saw the crazy warning about toxic fumes and chance of fire. Coop obviously has lots of wood and shavings for bedding.. Anyone use this?
I added a pic

 

[aart]

Well, just don't let it catch on fire.
It may be deter snakes....and other pests too.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I'm still struggling with what "organic" Sulphur is. Organic compounds contain carbon. Elemental Sulphur does not.

Here is the MSDS for Sulphur Powder. Its ignition temp is about 450F, and can flash over around 405F. You don't typically see those temperatures except inside your oven, or in front of a torch.

That said, just like flour dust, finely powdered sulphur, suspended in the air, can develop a static charge significant enough to flash over. Its rare to get the ratios perfect, but it can happen. Oh, and where it burns, it gives off some REALLY noxious stuff. Hydrogen Sulfide. VERY BAD. Good for making Sulpheric acid, not good for breathing.

If it burns, put it out with water from a hose at the furthest distance you can manage, upwind if possible.

Pure sulphur can also combine with all kinds of common, and uncommon, substances in all sorts of ways at relatively normal temperatures and conditions.

Wear a mask when applying, keep it away from places the birds are likely to dustbathe in it, and keep a pressurized water source handy. Best to apply on humid days. It can be used safely and responsibly - my grandfather kept one of those rubber things you use for getting snot out of bay's noses full of the stuff, and would gently apply some in corners, cracks, and crevices to control bugs.

 

[Cj Tracker]

I'm still struggling with what "organic" Sulphur is. Organic compounds contain carbon. Elemental Sulphur does not.

Here is the MSDS for Sulphur Powder. Its ignition temp is about 450F, and can flash over around 405F. You don't typically see those temperatures except inside your oven, or in front of a torch.

That said, just like flour dust, finely powdered sulphur, suspended in the air, can develop a static charge significant enough to flash over. Its rare to get the ratios perfect, but it can happen. Oh, and where it burns, it gives off some REALLY noxious stuff. Hydrogen Sulfide. VERY BAD. Good for making Sulpheric acid, not good for breathing.

If it burns, put it out with water from a hose at the furthest distance you can manage, upwind if possible.

Pure sulphur can also combine with all kinds of common, and uncommon, substances in all sorts of ways at relatively normal temperatures and conditions.

Wear a mask when applying, keep it away from places the birds are likely to dustbathe in it, and keep a pressurized water source handy. Best to apply on humid days. It can be used safely and responsibly - my grandfather kept one of those rubber things you use for getting snot out of bay's noses full of the stuff, and would gently apply some in corners, cracks, and crevices to control bugs.

I was trying to understand the chemistry of it and did a little experiment with a lighter in a controlled area and didn't get a combustible reaction (but don't try this at home kids!) Atmosphere combustion is something concerning but yes I was wondering with the sunlight cooking on it what may happen.
So tonight I didn't entirely make a perimeter but I did add some to the exterior corners of the run where I've seen snakes.
I would like to have my chicks in the smaller enclosed area in the run that has hardware cloth dug into the ground, foot out and 3 feet up but after that it has 2" welded wire that a snake could climb into.
I did feel a scratchiness in my mouth and throat.. Didn't wear mask since I was careful not to stir up when applying but yup sure didn't take much to irritate.
Thanks for the responses!! If anyone does use it regularly I would like to hear from them as well.

 

[TallGirl]

I'm new to posting but not new to the forum. I have spent hours and gained so much insight from so many of you! I joined today in hopes that something that I learned yesterday may help some of y'all like you have helped me!

This is something that I had sort of heard about in passing but until yesterday it didn't really click in my brain. Bird netting, if left loose, will catch snakes and prevent them from getting into the coop!

Last night I went out to check my bunnies and quail and up on top of the coop wrapped around a tree and completely tangled in bird netting was a big ol' (4.5') Texas Rat Snake. It's head was caught in the extra netting that I had kind of bunched up around the tree. I had planned to trim off the excess but just hadn't gotten around to it yet. I am so glad I didn't.

After that discovery and after the hour or so it took me to get up the guts to get the snake out of the netting, I started researching. Although, from what I can find, it doesn't appear to be very widely known, for those that do know and use it, swear by its effectiveness. I am going to add my name to that list and I plan to go get more netting to put around the base of my coop tomorrow. The key, from what I understand, is leaving it sort of loose and bunched up so that the snakes scales will catch on it.

Most of the info I found on this that addressed it in a purposeful way (not just a gardener talking about finding a snake caught in it as a random event) was from a forum for people who have the big bird houses up on poles for Martins or Bluebirds. They wrap it loosely up on the pole to prevent the snakes from getting to the eggs and newly hatched chicks.

The netting that I have is the 1/2" netting that is designed to go over fruit trees to protect the fruit from being eaten by the birds. I think I paid $14 for a 15'x20' roll of it.

I hope this helps someone save one of their beautiful flock!