Snakes In My Hay!!! O.O

[EmilyChickens]

Hello BYCers! Y'all are always so helpful with my questions, so I have a tougher one today. I have been selling my chicken eggs for a couple of years now.. so I have more customers, which is great.... but now I have less eggs, I know the cause of it, I just don't know how to get rid of "Him". My chickens love to lay eggs in my hay bales (I have 2 horses and a pony, I'll also be getting some goats. So I have A LOT of hay). I have black rat snakes living IN the hay, they love it. I catch at least 5 in a year. I'm wondering if there's some sort of trap, that won't hurt the snakes

, so that I can relocate them. I've only been getting 1-3 eggs a day, unlike my normal 8-10 a day on really good days, that's how many "Big Daddy" is eating. Yes, my father has named this monstrous 7-8 foot Black Rat Snake Big Daddy. So if y'all know any solutions please tell me. I'm starting to lose my egg customers

 

[6of6chicks]

Saw this thread a while ago for building a snake trap:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/515899/best-way-ive-found-yet-to-deal-with-snake-problems

That said - please DO NOT RELOCATE the snake yourself. That's just dumping your problem on someone else, plus it is disrupting whatever ecosystem you dump the snake into. Not to mention it is also most likely illegal to relocate the animal yourself. If you live in Texas I can assure you it is illegal to relocate wildlife without a license or permit.

Please call animal control or a relocation specialist to take the snake away once you catch it.

 

[EmilyChickens]

@6of6chicks Thank You! I live in a very "Vacant-ish" area of New Jersey, if you would, so I don't think I'll have to worry about relocation. I usually just release them out at the far corner of my property (I live on 27 acres of forest). The thread you posted should really help! I'll have to try the traps, although do you know anything that could go in the small spaces of hay bales, where my hens lay (I'll block off the area so the hens won't lay there for that point in time)?