Snake in my pond

[neo71665]

I do allow a couple of king snakes to live around my sheds. I catch one in my chicken coop it's days are ending.

 

[Franklinridgefarms]

Swap out the wife!

I’m not the original poster on this topic, but that would not even be an option to even remotely consider. My wife and I both agree that killing snakes whenever possible is our preferred method dealing with snakes.

 

[centrarchid]

I’m not the original poster on this topic, but that would not even be an option to even remotely consider. My wife and I both agree that killing snakes whenever possible is our preferred method dealing with snakes.

Swap out farmers?

 

[Franklinridgefarms]

Swap out farmers?

Over snakes?

 

[centrarchid]

Over snakes?

Heck yes. It a choice

 

[Franklinridgefarms]

Heck yes. It a choice

I know a lot of farmers that let snakes be and a lot that don’t, it’s pretty evenly divided. I’m of the mindset that I don’t like them. Folks can do as they see fit about them. I just don’t think they are as beneficial and harmless to chickens as some would like to think. The last group of chickens we had we lost a lot of eggs a couple years ago. Around that time we also lost 2 or 3 hens and in a fairly short time. There was no blood nor feathers strewn about, just the dead birds laying in a unnatural stretched out manner with likely broken necks. As a small child around 40 years ago I remember my grandmother killed a snake that was coming towards some bantams we had at the time.

 

[centrarchid]

I know a lot of farmers that let snakes be and a lot that don’t, it’s pretty evenly divided. I’m of the mindset that I don’t like them. Folks can do as they see fit about them. I just don’t think they are as beneficial and harmless to chickens as some would like to think. The last group of chickens we had we lost a lot of eggs a couple years ago. Around that time we also lost 2 or 3 hens and in a fairly short time. There was no blood nor feathers strewn about, just the dead birds laying in a unnatural stretched out manner with likely broken necks. As a small child around 40 years ago I remember my grandmother killed a snake that was coming towards some bantams we had at the time.

Snakes of size are a pain. I relocate them when a problem. I have lost only eggs and some chicks to snakes. Not many of the lartter. Where I work water snakes are a much bigger problem than anyone here likely has. Some of those I kill. I do not like getting bitten repeatedly in rapid succession or have a snake kill many fish in a few minutes. I get bit a lot

 

[Birdmom2020]

I live in NC and just had a king snake making its way up a tree right beside my coop. Tried killing it with no luck and it took off and hasn't been back. I just recently moved from Ohio and was told to leave the king's bc they eat the copperheads and other poisonous ones. My husband is deathly afraid of snakes but I'm civil if they are. I'm deathly afraid if spiders instead. Which is kinda funny I live in a super wooded area filled with recluse and widows! I have been told by multiple (like 10-15) locals that if there's a king then there aren't any copperheads which is a good thing bc my kids run the yard like little wild animals!!

 

[Franklinridgefarms]

I live in NC and just had a king snake making its way up a tree right beside my coop. Tried killing it with no luck and it took off and hasn't been back. I just recently moved from Ohio and was told to leave the king's bc they eat the copperheads and other poisonous ones. My husband is deathly afraid of snakes but I'm civil if they are. I'm deathly afraid if spiders instead. Which is kinda funny I live in a super wooded area filled with recluse and widows! I have been told by multiple (like 10-15) locals that if there's a king then there aren't any copperheads which is a good thing bc my kids run the yard like little wild animals!!

I have always heard that the black rat snakes were beneficial like that too, but have also heard some say they have found copperheads close around them too. My opinion is that especially a bigger snake is a threat to chickens as well as to getting eggs.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I have always heard that the black rat snakes were beneficial like that too, but have also heard some say they have found copperheads close around them too. My opinion is that especially a bigger snake is a threat to chickens as well as to getting eggs.

Black rat snakes are welcome around my property and they are welcome to do their job of rat patrol and snake control as long as I don't see them in, near or around my hen house. I will not share my eggs with a snake. For some reason I have real strong feelings about that.