Snake attack!!! need some advice

[Country Living Farm]

Ok, I just found one chick dead with two little blood marks and I am 4 chicks short. The chicks are housed in a 4X8 trailer with 2 foot sides and a top in a closed garage. I have found several rat snakes but did not think they were hurting the chicks just getting the rats in the area. WELL.....I THINK I AM WRONG!!! Is their something out their to deter snakes? Anyone have ideas of what I can do to protect them better.

Tks

 

[ChickBond 007]

Snakes will remain in the area until the food is gone. We try not to kill our snakes here on the farm, just find them a nice new pasture about 10 acres away from my chickens. If unable to do so, I'd employ a sharp hoe or sickle and "off with his head".

 

[tonini3059]

Yes, I would have to agree that you were incorrect, snakes are not that selective about what they eat, as long as they can swallow it. I think snakes are persecuted too much so I would say not to kill them, just relocate. I know there are laws and people that frown upon this but I do believe it would be better than killing. Plus I would think that you would not have to move them that far, "just down the road a bit." Hope this helps.

 

[CedarRidgeChicks]

Are you sure it wasn't a rat? I lost several young ducks to rats in the barn. Just a thought..

 

[Call_me _crazy]

There is a chemical called Snake Away you can get at most gardening or hardware stores!! It does not kill the snake, they just don't like the smell/taste so stay way from it. Not sure on the affects to the chicken though. It shouldn't have an affect ont he chickens if you put it around the outside perimiter of there housing! Make sure there are no snake inside the perimiter or else you will trap them in with the chickens.

 

[Country Living Farm]

I will look into the sanke away stuff. I am pretty sure it was not a rat. I went 4 short on chicks last night and another was dead. Unless the rats pulled 4 dead chicks up the wall and out, I thinking it had to be a snake

 

[Appaloosa Hill Farm]

Quote:
The Snake Away stuff does work well. BUT it's the same thing as moth balls and moth balls are much cheaper. Learned this from snake wranglers and from the guy at the store who sold Snake Away.

 

[Uppity Peon]

Whether the culprit was a snake or a rat, I'm sure the chicks can be secured at night in such a way as to keep predators out. If you can do that, the snake will have to turn its attention on the rats.

Eventually the chicks wil be too big and dangerous for the snake to call lunch.

 

[Jeox]

A rat snake's bite cannot leave two marks, as they have no fangs.
It was either something venomous, or a rat.

 

[Bridget399]

We use old milk jugs- poke holes in the bottom, fill them with moth balls and hang them around the coop. The rain doesn't dissolve them and the smell still gets out. Don't waste your money on Snake Away...