SNAKE!!!!

[crchickens]

We have had pet snakes for many years. I wish we had more snakes outside, because they would eat some of the moles we have around. As long as they are constrictors, I have no problem with snakes living on our land. My husband built our coop very securely. It makes me sad that people kill snakes, because without them, rodents would take over the world!! Everything in balance. I don't kill spiders either, they keep the bug population down. It is the circle of life. We have only lived here for 7 months, and I have yet to see a snake, but my exploring teenagers have seen quite a few back by our stream. I am more worried about the fox who is stealing all of my neighbor's ducks!!

 

[PilotChick]

How much is meant by a "thick wide band" of sulpher? couple inches or couple of feet?

 

[Jebyballard]

She showed about 6 inches with her hands and said it needed to be as high as possible.

 

[lilacer]

About to get my new pullets and laying hens, so excited! My biggest concern is that we have a snake, either a gopher or rattle snake living under the green house which is attached to the chicken coop. I don't mind having the snake because I'm sure it is keeping the rodent population down, but will it go after my chickens and eggs? What can I do to keep him away from the eggs besides mothballs? Any ideas?

 

[Nambroth]

About to get my new pullets and laying hens, so excited! My biggest concern is that we have a snake, either a gopher or rattle snake living under the green house which is attached to the chicken coop. I don't mind having the snake because I'm sure it is keeping the rodent population down, but will it go after my chickens and eggs? What can I do to keep him away from the eggs besides mothballs? Any ideas?

This depends on how you are keeping your chickens. Will they have an enclosed run? What is the coop setup like?

 

[Jebyballard]

She also said that the chalk eggs will kill the snakes. They swallow them and then can't break them or digest them.

I'm all in favor of snakes and the whole "circle of life" theme- as I presume most people here are, orherwise they would not be fostering animals and chicks. However, the duty I have to protect my sweet- and rather expensive- flock dictates that I do my utmost to keep them alive. What good is an empty coop?

 

[lilacer]

thanks Nambroth,

The coop is enclosed. They have a fenced in run and 'grange' and a building to sleep in and boxes to lay. We shut the coop at night and they have roosters and places off the ground. I think they should be fine. They are a polish cross. Do you think they will always be skiddish?

 

[lilacer]

very true. I think the chickens would attach the snake if it tried to attack them. These Polish x araucana's are wild.

 

[bowtie]

You people who kill all snakes are ignorant....the proof is "dirtydozen"..

 

[Nambroth]

thanks Nambroth,

The coop is enclosed. They have a fenced in run and 'grange' and a building to sleep in and boxes to lay. We shut the coop at night and they have roosters and places off the ground. I think they should be fine. They are a polish cross. Do you think they will always be skiddish?

It sounds like you are doing good. Check your coop for cracks, hole, and other points of entry for a snake, and close these off with filler or hardware cloth. I have my enclosed run lined with hardware cloth in a skirt (L shaped) and nothing but the smallest of snakes has ever made it into the run, where my hens have promptly eaten them! A large snake could possibly climb my fencing and make it in, but it would have to 'run the gauntlet' through the chicken run to get access to the pop door (the only entry into the coop that is left open during the day) and I know my girls would not tolerate that. I've seen videos of chickens killing even large snakes. Anyhow, if you close the pop door again at night as I do, then the chances of a snake getting at your eggs is slim. Snakes generally are not a threat to adult, grown chickens. If you have chicks or young birds, snakes can take them, so it's best to protect them. When snakes kill an adult chicken, it is usually at night when the chicken is roosted/docile/cannot see the snake coming. Snakes are fast, but so are hens, and alert adult birds stand a far better chance (especially if there is more than one.. boy do they ever gang up on things sometimes!). So if you can keep them out of your coop, especially at night, you are likely not to have problems! As with all things, nothing is 100% for certain. As long as you take precautions you are unlikely to suffer from 'snake problems'. Honestly, on my predator radar, snakes are very low. I am far more concerned about raccoons, foxes, domestic dogs, mustelids, etc!

I do not have any Polish chickens but I have heard they can be skittish and flighty. That might work in your favor if you are worried about snakes.