WHAT CAN A SNAKE SWALLOW?

[blmack]

How big do my chicks have to get before a snake cannot swallow them? We have FL pine snakes and rat snakes. Probably others.

 

[mohillbilly]

snakes can eat full grown chickens but usually wont unless they are a python, they eat anything including deer down in Florida.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

I've mostly lost eggs to snakes, and a couple of chicks. They were about 5 or 6 weeks old when I found them dead in the coop half covered in wet yuck. I've never lost adult chickens to a snake, but we don't have huge ones here in Va. I most commonly see copperheads (which I kill on site) and black snakes (which I let go unless I catch them sucking down eggs). Good luck.

 

[blmack]

Thank you. I had my 2 week old chicks out in the coop yesterday and a 4ft long FL pine snake was on the top of their outside area, which we covered with fencing to keep the hawks out. I was out there with them and looked up and there it was, right above me. The chicks were all in the coop at the time so I rushed and shut both doors thinking that it couldn't get in the there. The snake continued across the top of the enclosure towards the coop. My son-in-was trying to get the snake with a broom handle so he could fling it off the top and away from the coop but couldn't get it. I was in a total panic on the cell phone with my husband who was trying to get me to calm down and listen to him. The snake got to the roof line of the coop dropped down and disappeared. Then I was terrified because I had just locked my chicks in and I was sure that the snake was in there. So my daughter and I opened the doors of the coop and started calling for the chicks; some of them came out but went right back in. I am phobic about snakes so I was afraid to go in the dark coop where the snake could drop down on me. I went in once but I was shaking so badly that my daughter took over. She would run in, shoo some out the door and I would catch them and put them in the pet carrier that I used to transport them outside. The chicks were scared because we were running at them and grabbing them up rather roughly. We finally got all 12 of them in the pet carrier. My son-in -law went into the coop but we never found the snake. We looked everywhere for a long time. So it is still out there, this horrible threat to my chick-babies. They are back in my house in their cardboard box. My husband has promised to snake proof the coop the next time he is home (he is a long haul truck driver). Thanks for listening.

 

[blmack]

We are in the panhandle of FL. As far as I know we don't have escaped pythons slithering around up here. Thanks for responding.

 

[wilbilt]

Snakes eat other snakes, too. We once disturbed a gopher snake about 2 feet long when moving a woodpile. Due to our interruption, it began regurgitating its last meal.

It disgorged a garter snake that was longer than it was.

 

[OldGuy43]

I know this isn't what you asked, but the Florida Pine Snake is not poisonous. Just grab it and throw it. The worst that can happen, even if you do get bitten is a minor infection. Their preferred prey includes birds and eggs, so you probably won't want to keep it around.

 

[halo]

Had a pine snake here one time, scared the living crap outta me. They rattle their tails like rattlesnakes and arent afraid to put up a fight. They're tough.

 

[solanaskyes]

Generally speaking, a snake can swallow anything twice the size of it's head.

 

[mohillbilly]

Had a pine snake here one time, scared the living crap outta me. They rattle their tails like rattlesnakes and arent afraid to put up a fight. They're tough.

none seem tough to my 22 or my hoe