"Spanking" a snake?!!?

[babalubird]

Darn, wish I'd seen your thread about 2 weeks ago. We found a rat snake in the ducks' bathing dish in our chicken coop w/the lump of a baby chick in its stomach. It killed me to do him in with a 4x4 but I didn't know there was an alternative. I'd rather live and let live as I know the snakes have made a big dent in our rat/mouse problem we used to have around here.

Well, hopefully you've saved some future lives on our farm. Thanks.

Connie

 

[anderson8505]

Aversion therapy may work. Please keep us updated!

I'll also try this on the neighborhood kids, they're so annoying during the summer.

 

[juliaaa]

Quote:
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

 

[RHRanch]

wood&feathers :

Phooey - thread title should read "Spanking"!

I have had problems off and on all summer with a black rat snake stealing eggs, in one case losing several wooden fakes to it. The culprit must have vomited those, 'cause I finally caught him today. He was curled up practically under my broody hen. No egg lumps real or fake, so I put him in a pillowcase and called Jim Harrison at the Kentucky Reptile Zoo. I know the research is getting more and more down on relocating adult reptiles and wanted to see if he wanted this one.

Since my girls are all adults that won't fit in the snake, and it is a good nonpoisonous rodent control, I went ahead with a new plan. He suggested putting it in a bucket or garbage can and beating on the can loudly (not shaking it). Then I released it up in the garden about 500 ft from the coop.

Thus far the sample sizes are really small, but promising. The idea is to train wild adult snakes to avoid places like chicken coops with aversion therapy. I guess I am conducting our own little experiment. I know if I find it eating eggs again in a couple weeks it will be relocated further - I can't chance it eating chicks in 3 weeks. But I am curious to see what happens.

LOL - Tell me something I already didn't know and havn't been doing for years!!! I have been telling folks that snakes will avoid places where they have been captured, and even taking them a short distance seems to keep them from returning anytime soon! Vindication at last! (maybe) But seriously, we have been doing this for over 20yrs, and it seems to work.​

 

[Miss Lydia]

Quote:
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

X2

 

[BorderKelpie]

Quote:
I have to know if this works!! I will definatly try it if you have success!

 

[wood&feathers]

don't feel too bad, babalubird. If I had chicks right now I would have either relocated or humanely killed the snake. I have been observing this one around our place all summer, and just hadn't caught him in the act yet. I assume this trick only works if the snake is caught in the coop. He did NOT appear freshly fed and was probably waiting for dark to eat some eggs. I assume he knew the hen would attack him in the daylight - I am certain they would kill it, even if it was too big for them to eat. It has now been a full 24 hours, and hasn't returned... we'll see.

The funny thing was, I was cleaning their bedding with a litter scoop. When I pulled off the top layer of straw, the snake was underneath. It didn't seem to wake much after I brushed/bumped it with the scoop - I think maybe it was accustomed to being walked on in there. Really made the grab easy.

 

[wood&feathers]

<UPDATE>

Well, here it is 2 weeks later... spanking didn't work on this one. I think it was the same individual.

Last night my dog went off at the door, and we ran out to the coop to hear my broody squawking. I opened the lid and found the same (I think) large black rat snake in the broody box, on the far side. No eggs lost. Bagged him and this time relocated to a friend's barn far far away.

I might try this trick again sometime when I don't have a hen due to raise chicks.

 

[dufus]

you are using the wrong method, ''banging on the bucket''. next time, load 5- 3'' magnums in your shot gun, and shoot the bucket. this will solve the problem once and for all.

 

[suki'smom]

"you are using the wrong method, ''banging on the bucket''. next time, load 5- 3'' magnums in your shot gun, and shoot the bucket. this will solve the problem once and for all."

LOL! Until the next one comes along...