snake just ate my chicken

[WildWorks]

Quote: I think it must have been a bumper year for snakes to thrive and with chicken smell in the air, its gonna attract predators. I also think that the fireant population is way down, i dont know why, but im not complaining, this might have also helped snakes to make a comeback?

 

[7L Farm]

Everything kills a chicken, those black snakes are not called "chicken" snakes as a joke....lol....i caught one on my porch last year, grabbed him and transported him down the road a mile, he was back the next week, so i killled him, once they find eggs, they will not stop. Raccoons are terrible also, since the fur industry has gone down the tubes, their population has gone out of control, if you have a raccoon problem, help out the environment and shoot them, if legal where you live. Fox, bobcats, and coyotes will all take an easy meal when they can, where i live you can take action to protect your livestock and it also helps control their populations which have also gone out of control. We can even kill hawks and owls if they are a problem and everyone knows they dont have anything preying on them. I guess it just comes down to what you can and cant live with.

Agree!! I protect whats mine . I work hard at raising my birds I'm not gonna let something eat them or my eggs & relocate it . No way!!

 

[carolinasculpture]

Hi! Was checking out this thread because I have had a bumper crop of snakes this summer as well. Never had any in the coop before, but a small 5'ish one was in there while we were away and chicken sitter "scared it off" a few times until we got home and relocated him. Had a couple of weeks with no snakes that I could see...but eggs kept disappearing. One day saw a large snake poo in the coop. Few days later, finally got him. BIG rat snake. Relocated him and then had another snake back in each day for 3 days in a row. Relocated those 3 snakes, all about the size of the first. Then came back from re-homing one of the snakes and found another there right away!!! Decided enough was enough! Completely cleaned out coop to rout out mice. Got rid of ALL wood chips everywhere. Have sweet PDZ on poop board and sprinkled on the floor. Thin layer of hay inside the door as a "door mat" and nest pads in the boxes. Put down Snake Away or something like that, 8" swath at the door, chicken door and the window. No snakes since...still holdin' my breath! Don't mind the mouse control at all...but don't like finding wet hens!

Question...will a roo go after a snake?

Thanks!

 

[debluvachook]

Here's a picture of the python that made me buy a new chook house. It couldn't get out of the little gap it had squeezed in once it had a large plymouth rock pullet in its belly! This python and another couple of big ones have lived in my roof for years and they usually take possums (which I have everywhere). It even laid eggs which hatched in my compost heap. Anyway after this I bought a brand new chicken coop and when that was finnished I completely refurbished this old one to try and make it rat and snake proof. Deb.

 

[conny63malies]

Here's a picture of the python that made me buy a new chook house. It couldn't get out of the little gap it had squeezed in once it had a large plymouth rock pullet in its belly! This python and another couple of big ones have lived in my roof for years and they usually take possums (which I have everywhere). It even laid eggs which hatched in my compost heap. Anyway after this I bought a brand new chicken coop and when that was finnished I completely refurbished this old one to try and make it rat and snake proof. Deb.

Pretty sure they are not native to the US. By letting them hang around you might and up with a breeding population. They can squeeze through any hole the size of their head, even if it is 2-3 ft off the ground.. BTW a 6ft python can kill a small child.

 

[cmb19]

Pretty sure they are not native to the US. By letting them hang around you might and up with a breeding population. They can squeeze through any hole the size of their head, even if it is 2-3 ft off the ground.. BTW a 6ft python can kill a small child.

That appears to be a carpet python...native to Australia, which is where that poster is from.
Even if that was in the US, it's unlikely a breeding population would ever become established.

 

[Pretty-Poultry]

Have you tried any of those snake reppellors on the market? I have heard they work well, but I can't be 100% sure. Also, if it is very dry where you live, snakes are attracted to any sources of water, including the water for your chooks. I

 

[chickengeorgeto]

...I just hate when people kill snakes simply because they are snakes... I just think it would be cool if more people believed in catch and release...

You teach the snakes to catch and release my chickens, and I'll start catching and releasing snakes. Deal?

 

[chickengeorgeto]

When i was a kid, we came home one night and had a snake on the ceiling, no lie, if a snake can get any traction, it can climb walls with ease!!!

I have never seen a snake on my ceiling but I did find a shed shakes' skin on top of my living room curtains.

I agree that if a snake can get traction it can climb walls (or curtains) with ease.

 

[conny63malies]

That appears to be a carpet python...native to Australia, which is where that poster is from.
Even if that was in the US, it's unlikely a breeding population would ever become established.

I dont know. They have African Rock, burmese... breeding population in Florida. I dont see why there wouldnt be a chance for the carpets down there. Or other southern areas for that matter.