rat or king snake, which is worse?

[allison finch]

IMHO, ratsnakes are worse than kingsnakes. Rats will eat more eggs than kings. While kings will eat eggs, they much prefer moving prey (yes, chicks are on the diet). Rat snakes are much better climbers than kings allowing them easier access to nest boxes and roosts. AND, king snakes EAT rat snakes!! That makes them better.

 

[ranchhand]

Given the choice, I'll take the snake every time.

 

[paparootzi]

Well, I guess I'll try not to worry about it TOO much then, since I haven't had any losses. This probably may have been going on for a while at night ... I just wasn't aware of it. (I usually get the door shut as soon as they go up around dusk.) I truly believe some of the larger predators like coons and coyotes could not get in with the chickens at night, but rats and snakes, however, just seem to fit through some pretty tight sqeezes. (Even get in some tightly locked up houses somehow.) I'm just going to be a little "jumpy" about the whole snake thing for a while and very cautious about picking up things that one could be hiding under!

 

[paparootzi]

Quote:
Oh my goodness, I hope TN doesn't get those monster rats!
By the way, Ken, congrats on FL beating TN! At least we didn't get beat as bad as some thought!