SNAKE!!! How do I get it out of my run? Help ASAP appreciated!

[6of6chicks]

My first snake - Boo!!

Here's my problem: I can't get him out of the run!! I opened the door, then tried to use a hose & rake to shoo it in the direction of freedom. After 20 minutes he finally slithered over there, and then slithered RIGHT PAST the door - back into the opposite corner.

I have no idea how he got in - he can't seem to remember either. Where he's sitting looks like a gap in the hardware cloth, but it is totally block off (that part is just out of the picture). So how do I get him out? Is there any way to lure him out??

I am REALLY hoping he is just a yellow-belly water snake and NOT a moccasin. I'm not near water, but we have had pouring rain for give days straight, so not unheard of that he could be a moccasin? Holy potatoes. I try not to kill snakes unless absolutely necessary, but I'm also not going to get close enough to find out if he's harmless.

Here he is:





My chickens don't seem to care about the snake. They ran right over him (he didn't react). I managed to get four of them in the coop, but the other two are so panicked by all the fuss (hose & rakes), that I can't catch them. So they're running around in there with the snake.

HELP!! (whimper, whimper). And please don't say kill it - ONLY because if there's a chance that's a moccasin I'm not going near it. I routinely have copperheads in my yard and I know enough to give them their space. I just want him OUT of my run!! Help!!

 

[6of6chicks]

Please help!! I'm looking at this chart and looking at the pictures trying to figure out what it is:

http://ufwildlife.ifas.ufl.edu/water_moccasin_watersnake_comparison.shtml

I don't mind trying to flush him out IF he's harmless. I don't like snakes AT ALL, but I respect their spot in the ecosystem so I am REALLY trying to be eco & green & whatever. Usually I leave the snakes alone. But this one is STUCK in my run with TWO of my chickens.

I've scared myself silly by googling pictures of cotton mouths and now I'm scared to go in there!! Animal control is a JOKE for me because I live outside city limits. I'm not sure they'd even come for a rattlesnake curled up on my pillow. I can go in there and try to introduce it to the shovel, but that's insanely dangerous if it's venomous. I don't have a gun. I can't spray anything (like wasp spray) because my girls are still loose in there - I don't even know if that would work anyway.

Sorry about the typos I'm just really freaked out after seeing those pictures.

Is there some way to lure it out?? Please, please, someone tell me how to get it out of there!!

 

[ChookRanger]

My first suggestion would be to get a stick with a "Y" at the end and pin him down. However, the next step would be to grab him behind the head and carry him out, and it takes a bit of experience and a cool hand to do that. You might want to look for a service called "Critter Control". They will charge you a small fee to catch and release him. I don't know if you have them in your area, so if not, try calling a pet store that sells reptiles and see if you can get some advice/help. Good luck!

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

You can fashion a "noose" style catch pole with a little rigging that you could use to get around him, tighten it up and move him all at a safe distance from your body.

 

[6of6chicks]

Thank you for your help. I may have to go the exterminator route. I was trying to avoid that because they're expensive, but I'm starting to get desperate enough!!

I have NEVER seen this type of snake in the yard before. I'm rural Texas, so I get plenty of snakes - usually copperheads, misc. harmless earth/brown/rat snakes, & the occasional king snake. Once a 6 ft. giant black snake that slithered out from the fence line, looked at me (while I held my breath), and then slithered back through the fence & on its way.

It didn't even occur to me that this could be a moccasin. That's what makes me scared.

Right now the door to the run is wide open. My silly chickens are strutting around in there (oblivious to the open door - usually they stampede for it), and the snake is hunkered down by a log.

UUUGGHHH - doesn't help that it is pouring rain!!!

 

[B-Goock]

If it's a viper then the head should be triangular shaped similar to those other venomous snakes you've seen.

You could make a pole with a loop on the end. A piece of pvc pipe with the string secured on the end by tying the string in a hole you drill in the pipe then feed the other end of string up the pvc pipe and out the "handle" end. Get the loop at the secured end around the snake and pull the string on the handle end to close up the loop.
(use pipe small enough the snake can't go in it towards your hands)

Look up one of those alligator wrangler guys and you can see the type of pole I mean.

 

[6of6chicks]

We finally got it out of there (I called a friend for help). Lots of banging with the rake and shooting it with the hose - he finally slithered out the door.

We are completely on the fence as to whether or not this was a moccasin or a harmless rat or water snake. The tail was blunt, but that could be because it was cut off at some point. The head was a little too triangular for our comfort, with a thin neck, but we couldn't see any pits on its head. Body wise it looked more moccasin, but it didn't act like it. I was banging with the rake (pushing it around even) and it never reared up at me or opened its mouth. The chickens stepped on its face and it didn't react. It just acted scared and tried to hide. Most likely harmless, but uncertain enough to make me VERY unhappy!

I also found where it got in. There is a tiny opening where the run meet the carport concrete. Tiny - as in 3/4 of an inch. I had trouble with those spots when building the run because I couldn't bury the hardware cloth - I had to weigh it down on the carport with concrete blocks. I am now spending the rest of the day pouring concrete to completely close off any gaps between the run and the carport. Wasn't exactly what I planned to do today, but I guess that's chicken life!

I am also COMPLETELY rethinking putting grass or straw in the run. I was sold on trying it after reading that awesome thread on coop bedding. The whole carport is covered with grass I cut yesterday (drying out). But I could barely see this snake on bare dirt - the thought of one hiding under grass or straw is freaking me out! I think my girls are just going to have to be happy with plain old dirt in the run!

Thanks for the help. Happens to everyone, I know, but freaky when it's your turn.

 

[ChookRanger]

From what I've read, moccasins will coil and open their mouth when threatened. Showing the inside of the mouth, which is white(hence the name "cottonmouth"). Also in the picture his eyes looked round. Vipers have triangular eyes with a vertical pupil. I don't think it would be easy to identify a snake like this without capturing or subduing it because there are other species that look very similar.

If you think snakes might be a problem in future you could make a device like B-Goock suggests or you could get a reach and grab thingy so you wont have to rake out any snakes again.

I'm glad you got your problem solved.

I like to use fresh grass in my chook's run because it looks nice, smells nice, and they like it.

 

[StopSayingCheep]

I'm pretty new to the whole chicken game. I have 1 swedish flower cock, 4 swedish hens, an old english game hen and 28 other assorted varieties. My rooster is an absolute gargantuan standing almost 3' tall. I constantly find dead black snakes. I'm guessing he's killing them?

 

[ChookRanger]

3 feet tall? Are you sure he's not an ostrich? It might be him or it might be a team effort of your whole flock. Either way I'd like to see a picture of your huge rooster and his girls of course.