Rat snakes are very aggressive and they get huge. I have one in my barn that is over 8' long. I caught him and turned him loose in there years ago when he was 7' or so and he was a total hand full. I actually released him into the barn to help with the rats and never really gave any thought to him attacking my chickens and so far so good. I know if he wanted he could easily take any bantam at anytime and I do worry about it but thought the benefits out weight the negatives.
I'm really sorry to hear about your loss but I wonder if your RIR might have attacked him first. I know that once they are cornered... someone is going to get bitten! I just wonder if your bird might have jumped him then once the snake struck back it would have wrapped the bird instintively in defense. I can't imagine a snake killing a bird of that size to try and eat it.
Please don't think I am trying to take up for the snake. LOL If he had taken my neighbors pigeon and killed one of my chickens he would be on my list for sure!!! I am just trying to make sense of it.
One thing I can tell you for sure....he is going to get a LOT bigger than 2 or 3 feet!!! Especially if he is eating well! If mine starts taking birds I truly dread the day I am going to have to face off with him again. He was so thick he about twisted out of my hands. I'm not scared of snakes but he really had me nervous.
Good luck to you...you might want to take care of him now before he gets any bigger. Again...I am very sorry for your loss. That would have been a horrible scene to have to witness.
James
I'm really sorry to hear about your loss but I wonder if your RIR might have attacked him first. I know that once they are cornered... someone is going to get bitten! I just wonder if your bird might have jumped him then once the snake struck back it would have wrapped the bird instintively in defense. I can't imagine a snake killing a bird of that size to try and eat it.
Please don't think I am trying to take up for the snake. LOL If he had taken my neighbors pigeon and killed one of my chickens he would be on my list for sure!!! I am just trying to make sense of it.
One thing I can tell you for sure....he is going to get a LOT bigger than 2 or 3 feet!!! Especially if he is eating well! If mine starts taking birds I truly dread the day I am going to have to face off with him again. He was so thick he about twisted out of my hands. I'm not scared of snakes but he really had me nervous.
Good luck to you...you might want to take care of him now before he gets any bigger. Again...I am very sorry for your loss. That would have been a horrible scene to have to witness.
James