Snakes & Chickens Question

[oklahorselover]

I need everyone's imput. This year has been an awfull year for us with snakes.We have killed 6 copperheads, 2 rattlesnakes,2 chicken snakes & tonight a water moccosin. A guy hubby works with told him that when he had chickens he seemed to have more snakes than when he didn't have them.My question is this. Do chickens draw snakes ? I live in Oklahoma. This guy told hubby that when he got rid of his chickens, the snakes left to. I hate the thought of getting rid of my chickens as I love them, but I freak at the thought of any of my horse's getting bit. The hen house is next to the horse barn.
Any advice / imput is greatly appriciated.

Thanks

 

[Knight Hawk Ranch]

The snakes are not drawn to the chickens but the rodents their feed draws. Get rid of the rodents, chances are the snakes will go too.

 

[River Lizard]

I'd be interested in seeing photos of these snakes you're saying are Copperhead, Cottonmouth and chicken snakes(not sure what a chicken snake is), something just doesn't sit right with me on how many "snakes of concern" were around your place.

I've seen a ton of Northern Water Snakes killed because people believe they're Cottonmouths. Once you've seen an adult Cottonmouth and an adult Northern Water, you'd never ID them wrong again and if you ever see them swimming it's easy to ID the difference.....a Cottonmouth's whole body floats on the surface whereas that's not true with a Northern Water snake, only the head and a small section behind the head is at the surface.
The quickest way to ID a questionable snake is the head ( IMO ) Triangle shaped...be careful, oblong shaped...harmless.

 

[captdave2612]

Knight Hawk Ranch has it right on the money. One thing that has worked for us in the past is goats. They don’t like snakes and they will stomp them to death. But if you get rid of the food most of the snakes will leave.

River Lizard, They live in prime area for all of the venomous snake’s habitat, and the chicken snake is also called the rat snake.

 

[oklahorselover]

Quote:
Trust me, I know the difference in a copperhead vs a non threatening snake.The color & head shape give them away.Have killed way to many in the 22 years I've lived here. Oklahoma is known for their copperheads. I call a long black non ventimus snake a chicken snake. The ones who go after your chicken eggs.I have a book on snakes & when I moved here I studied it to learn the bad ones & good ones.Water moccosin / cottenmouth, same snake in Okla.

 

[oklahorselover]

Quote:
Thank You. As far as getting rid of snake food, we live on a 102 acre ranch.Mice are everywhere. My cat is lazy "but I love him" He does get a few here & there. When hubby told me what this guy said about chickens drawing snakes, I questioned that as I had never heard of that, but hey what do I know. That's why I came here for answers. Actually I would love to have a goat.They are adorable & eat weeds & stuff

Less weed eating

 

[kikescove.com]

Guineas are also anti-snake. The flock will surround it and shred it in a heartbeat.

My wife was in th epool withthe kids one day and a rattlesnake happened by. She felt trapped and they weren't going to leave the pool. (Yeah I know). She hated the guineas until that day. The flock fed by and when they noticed the snake, it was gmae on. They surrounded that snake and ripped it apart. My wife liked the guineas from that day one.

You can poison the mice and that will cut down on your feed bill, and the snakes.

I recommend th ebait bars. The mice will mouth di-con and carry it around and stash it everywhere. The bars they actually have to chew and in the process ingest it. Less likely to get in your horsefeed, and everything else that way.