Rat Snakes

[Triple Willow]

You can put gravel down like a pathway around your coop/run. Snakes do not like slithering on the gravel. So far this year we have relocated 4 rat snakes. I don't mind them on the property, but don't want them in my coop. We also have copper heads, which we do kill and then feed to the chickens once the head is gone. They see to like it and since I have 3 kids on top of the 50 odd chickens and the 2 dozen rabbits, I will not tolerate a venomous snake, but the non venomous? They can just slither their happy butts (tails, whatever) elsewhere. And for those of you who can't tell the difference, look at it's head. A poisinous snake will have a more pointed nose and you will be able to see the venom sacks where the neck and head come together.

I have heard that about gravel too but I don't find it to be true. A couple days ago I saw one crawling across my driveway. I have seen them several times crossing gravel roads. The best way to catch them is with bird netting or a trap designed with an entrance like a minnow trap (very effective). The only way to avoid them is with hardware cloth and seal all cracks and holes big enough they can get through including holes in the ground. And don't forget they are excellent climbers.

 

[Triple Willow]

You can put gravel down like a pathway around your coop/run. Snakes do not like slithering on the gravel. So far this year we have relocated 4 rat snakes. I don't mind them on the property, but don't want them in my coop. We also have copper heads, which we do kill and then feed to the chickens once the head is gone. They see to like it and since I have 3 kids on top of the 50 odd chickens and the 2 dozen rabbits, I will not tolerate a venomous snake, but the non venomous? They can just slither their happy butts (tails, whatever) elsewhere. And for those of you who can't tell the difference, look at it's head. A poisinous snake will have a more pointed nose and you will be able to see the venom sacks where the neck and head come together.

Check out this copperhead video! http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/08/15/ever-seen-a-decapitated-copperhead-bite-itself/

 

[Sjisty]

We have been having a lot of snakes lately. Since it has rained every day for the past month and a half, I wonder if they are on the move to find dryer/higher ground. In the 7 years we've had chickens, I have never seen as many snakes as we have in these last 3-4 weeks. So far the count is two 7-foot rat snakes (5 missing chicks and who knows how many eggs) in the last 2 weeks. This year so far we've killed 4 huge rat snakes and 1 eastern diamondback rattler, about 5 feet long.

We have the usual hawks and coyotes, too, and a 7-9 foot alligator once. Why does everything have to like chicken????

 

[nova022]

Chickens do seem to be on everyone's menu. I have noticed the relationship to the rain as well. I usually find the snakes after a heavy rain. I think they origionally come in for shelter and keep returning for an easy meal.

 

[Triple Willow]

We have been having a lot of snakes lately.  Since it has rained every day for the past month and a half, I wonder if they are on the move to find dryer/higher ground.  In the 7 years we've had chickens, I have never seen as many snakes as we have in these last 3-4 weeks.  So far the count is two 7-foot rat snakes (5 missing chicks and who knows how many eggs) in the last 2 weeks.  This year so far we've killed 4 huge rat snakes and 1 eastern diamondback rattler, about 5 feet long.

We have the usual hawks and coyotes, too, and a 7-9 foot alligator once.  Why does everything have to like chicken????

Years ago a had several captive/pet snakes (for my nephew). I noticed that when it was getting ready to rain the snakes would get real active. I figured it had something to do with the change in the atmosphere, pressure or something. I don't know, unless they were watching the weather report on the news with me. LOL

 

[animals1981]

yes a pig will kill snakes but the more hertige kind with the tusks that are good at foraging they will kill snakes of 8 feet if its just a rat snake.



Also wild turkey have been recorded killing 6 foot snakes. If you are in florida though careful what you are killing you don't want snakes with venom around so you might be killing what is killing the venomouse snakes. Just a thought.

 

[ACPerm]

An old cattleman's secret to keeping snakes away is to keep geese.

Snakes hate them and geese will pursue snakes and kill them if they can.

I'm not sure if it will be 100% effective for you at night if the geese are somewhere in the dark.

If the geese are in the same shed as the chicks with the light on you shouldn't be getting any snakes in there.

 

[Highcotton]

Quote:
Well, I guess everything tastes like chicken anyway.

 

[ChicKat]

An old cattleman's secret to keeping snakes away is to keep geese.

Snakes hate them and geese will pursue snakes and kill them if they can.

I'm not sure if it will be 100% effective for you at night if the geese are somewhere in the dark.

If the geese are in the same shed as the chicks with the light on you shouldn't be getting any snakes in there.

Welcome to BYC forum.

Wow that is an interesting idea.....yay for geese.

 

[ChicKat]

I have been battling rat snakes all summer. At first I just relocated them to the woods across the street, but that does not seem to work for long so now I drive the down the road. I dont mind them eating an occasional egg in exchange for rodent control, but now that I have chicks I don't want to take the chance that the snake can get to them.

Nova022-
amazing pictures IMO... are you both holding the snake & photographing in the last one?? Like your avatar too...is that an egg skelter? :O)