Snakes *disturbing photos*

[True Patriot]

So. Went to work today after seeing to the morning routine. Everyone came to the door and greets me just like every day. Came home and found a snake, in the coop. With two tell tale lumps.

I know it did not get in through the coop. All hardware cloth is sandwiched between the plywood and the studs, there's no gaps in the human doors, they overlap the frame by at least 1". Which means it got in during the day, through the pop door. The only places partially open are under the run frame, I still need to finish the skirting. I know it's my fault, but I had to stay in a certain budget and the brooder was too small. I had to move them to the coop. Well, tomorrow morning another trip to tractor supply. Going to get more HC and patio pavers. I know I have to reinforce the bottom. Does anyone have any other suggestions as far as keeping snakes out. I'm defended pretty well against mammal and avian predators. Concrete, though I would love to put it all on a slab. Is not an option, I don't own the property. So whatever I do has to be removed at some point. I knew that losing some was likely to happen. Hopefully it won't be frequent.

By the way, the snake paid dearly for it's last meal.

 

[chicknmania]

What kind of snake is that? Looks like a ball python.

 

[mowin]

The only good snake is a dead snake.
Hope it enjoyed it's last meal.

Don't know if you figured it out, but I hate snakes.

 

[chicknmania]

The only good snake is a dead snake.
Hope it enjoyed it's last meal.

Don't know if you figured it out, but I hate snakes.

they probably don't think a whole lot of good thoughts about you either. Every creature on this earth has a purpose and deserves a chance to live. If it's eating your livestock, then ok if you have to, humanely dispatch it, but it's just following it's instincts.

 

[Bunnylady]

What kind of snake is that? Looks like a ball python.

Green Rat Snake, like this one that I call "the Rat Patrol."

I don't know if you can tell from the picture, but he's nearly 6 feet long. And yeah, he takes my eggs sometimes, but he earns his way in rodent control - he can get places even a cat can't.

 

[Fishkeeper]

Definitely not a ball python. That's a rat snake. You want those around, they prevent rodent infestations, plus it would take wide-scale extermination efforts to remove all the snakes from an area. If you managed to kill off all the snakes, you'd see an explosion of rodents, which in addition to potentially threatening small birds will pose a major illness risk to you. They're a vital part of the ecosystem. Any, and I mean any, wide-scale predator removal leads to ecological disaster.
In addition, despite the instinctive unease people often have for snakes, they are not evil. Like every other nonsapient animal on the planet, they are incapable of malice.
If you must kill a snake, decapitation by itself isn't a humane method, the head can stay alive for long periods of time. You have to completely crush the skull to destroy the brain. No matter what you think of snakes, they're living animals, and at the very least they deserve the respect of a clean death.

@Bunnylady that's a beauty! You'll never have a rat problem with that lovely hunter around. I've seen babies of this kind, but never one that large.

 

[Bunnylady]

@Bunnylady that's a beauty! You'll never have a rat problem with that lovely hunter around. I've seen babies of this kind, but never one that large.

I much prefer that to the Copperheads that are common as mud around here. Other than possibly giving someone a heart attack when they come across him, the Rat Patrol is harmless.

 

[Fishkeeper]

If I found that beauty, I'd probably try to pick him up. He'd probably immediately bite me, understandably so, but I'd try anyway.

 

[cjohnsd69]

I also had a snake problem...I live in the North East and have Black Rat Snakes.. They are great rodent control, although a large Rat Snake killed one of my broody hens who would not get off the nest box.. I had to rewire my entire coop....

 

[imnukensc]

If I found that beauty, I'd probably try to pick him up. He'd probably immediately bite me, understandably so, but I'd try anyway.

Probably not. Certainly can't speak for every rat snake out there, but every one I've ever handled (and there's been quite a few) have been very docile.