It is an Eastern Garter snake and it won't be a threat to your chickens unless they are very small (chicks). Garter snakes prefer to eat toads, but snakes in general will eat what they can fit, or partially fit, in their mouth, which is the case for most reptiles. I would not worry about this snake unless you have small chicks. It is highly likely the snake would be on the menu if your roo or adult hens get a crack at it.
I've seen garter snakes up to 4 feet and this time of year, to about a month back, they have been giving birth so there are many little ones about. Even a box turtle is a threat to a small chick, as is big bullfrog, but we should not kill reptiles. Just catch it and move it away next time. Not saying it won't come back though - or another may come along. Garter snakes are common.
They are not hard to handle as they are not inherently nasty tempered, as some snakes are, but they will bite you, so please capture them responsibly which requires you distract with one hand while capturing behind the head with the other hand, or hold their head down (gently) with an object like a light stick or pole and pick them up behind the head, and support their body, when you pick them up. It is best to place them quickly in a bag or box and close it up. To release, just open the container quickly and move away.
You can also pick them up by the tip of their tail but you must hold them away from your body and quickly place them in a container when using this method. It is not comfortable for anybody to have their body weight held up by just one point of contact, and that include snakes, nor would you like it if the snake bites you because he can reach some part of your body. They are not poisonous. VA only has only one poisonous snake that you are likely to encounter reguarly and that is a copperhead. There are eastern rattlesnakes in the mountains but it is not likely you will run into one of those. They are not common. There are no water moccasins - but water snakes in general have a nasty disposition.
I've seen garter snakes up to 4 feet and this time of year, to about a month back, they have been giving birth so there are many little ones about. Even a box turtle is a threat to a small chick, as is big bullfrog, but we should not kill reptiles. Just catch it and move it away next time. Not saying it won't come back though - or another may come along. Garter snakes are common.
They are not hard to handle as they are not inherently nasty tempered, as some snakes are, but they will bite you, so please capture them responsibly which requires you distract with one hand while capturing behind the head with the other hand, or hold their head down (gently) with an object like a light stick or pole and pick them up behind the head, and support their body, when you pick them up. It is best to place them quickly in a bag or box and close it up. To release, just open the container quickly and move away.
You can also pick them up by the tip of their tail but you must hold them away from your body and quickly place them in a container when using this method. It is not comfortable for anybody to have their body weight held up by just one point of contact, and that include snakes, nor would you like it if the snake bites you because he can reach some part of your body. They are not poisonous. VA only has only one poisonous snake that you are likely to encounter reguarly and that is a copperhead. There are eastern rattlesnakes in the mountains but it is not likely you will run into one of those. They are not common. There are no water moccasins - but water snakes in general have a nasty disposition.
