Snakes

[Allen Miles]

I was looking in a nest box and found a large (to me at least) snake coiled on the nest. It was at least 4-1/2 feet long and I nearly had a heart attack. Fortunately I looked before reaching in. I locked him/her in the coop, made a few phone calls, and got some help to get it out. Obviously no eggs that day. Does anyone have wisdom to share about future snakes trying to intrude on the nests?

 

[yinzerchick]

We don't have a big snake problem here, but I've heard people put glass eggs in the nest boxes, and when the snake eats them...well, that's the end of the snake I guess.

I've only come across about 3-4 snakes and only 1 was in a nest box. (they all showed up within about 2 weeks of eachother) I relocated each of them to an area about 1/2 mile from us, and never saw any more since then. That was 2 years ago. No doubt I will be covered in snakes tomorrow for saying that.

I got 5 guineas about 4-5 months ago. They're suppose to keep snakes at bay, eat fire ants and ticks too. Although...as noisy and nasty as they can be, sometimes I think I'd rather deal with the snakes, fire ants and ticks. Other people love guineas...I don't mind them, when they're not around. lol

Good luck! Oh, and if you have copperheads, I've read black snakes will keep them away, so I'd rather have the black snakes than the copperheads which is why I did the relocation thing.

 

[Attila the Hen]

I encountered the same situation 2 years ago. I tossed the snake over the fence which was probably a useless gesture but I don't think it came back. It had also eaten a marble egg, I think, because I never saw that again either. It is against the law to kill black snakes because they are beneficial to the environment and are said to kill and eat poinsonous snakes.

We had a bad problem with snakes last year and relocated them all some distance away which included a highway they would have to cross to return. I understand they will return if possible.
One of the snakes got through the chicken wire and ate a chick. (I put in hardwire after that). The snakes don't seem to bother the older chickens but did eat eggs. Once the chicks grew up the snake problem wasn't present. We will have to see how it goes this year. Had to cut a black snake out of bird netting this weekend. That was fun................ I found it accidentally and we have relocated it also.

 

[Allen Miles]

I like the suggestion about putting artificial eggs in the nesting box. I honestly am afraid of snakes (even non-poisonous which something like 90+% in SC are). I also bought some snake repellent which I scattered around the fence area so will see what that does as well even though not many people thought it worked