Yup rat snakes I think some folks call em corn snakes they are red to brown and have a checkered belly.Real long and skinny,don't get me wrong I hate rats too if only the snakes would stick with them,they can't eat any bigger than a biddy,but they will strangle a grown chicken.I sure love my dog, he hates everything I do my kids think its funny to sik him on BIG roaches,he'll get them then rub his nose in the dirt and yack,I can't imagine the taste,especially the 'stinkers' when the dog gets a hold of one a those and pops it, well there goes the company. Clear the room.I've got one special dark hen,super tame, and we got her to fire hunt.At night get the hen,flashlight, a good patch of roaches, get her ready and turn on the flashlight, in no time she'll be so full you can feel her crop crawling with them.I started this when she was a baby,healthiest bird on the yard.Good fun on a Friday night. Anyways I'm having a hard time getting pics on here all of a sudden.oh well.
I have had birds roosting on front porch that consumed June Beetles until about midnight. Some stags would keep working June Beetles on ground in yard a good 45 minutes after all other birds on roost. Sun would be down for a good 20 minutes before hawking stopped.