I've had a black snake in my henhouse or in a local tree in the summer for several years. My hens and ducks live together in a fenced in area. I also have electric wire on the fence. My snake is gentle and could not hurt the grown chickens. She does occasionally eat an egg - I break an egg occasionally. She is now about 5 feet long and does an excellent job of keeping mice out of the chicken house. Leave her be even if you don't like snakes. Keep your newly hatched chicks in a spot the snake can't get at.