What kind of snakes will hurt chickens?

[cookinmom]

We've seen a black snake and a corn snake so far in our yard so far this year. I've read stories of them getting in chickencoops, but other than eating eggs, are they any other danger?

 

[speckledhen]

Usually, the smaller birds are more in danger from the constrictor types of snakes, however, a snake will often try to swallow a bird that is too large and will succeed in killing it, even though he has to spit it back out because it's too big. That would be the main thing with something like rat snake.

 

[rooster-red]

I agee, and the black snake probably is a rat snake, give the area you live in.

 

[Yonaton]

The black snake was probably a black racer (no markings whatsoever on them), if it was, the bird would have to be pretty small (less than 3 weeks old) to be able to eat it. If it had any other markings *at all* or colors, than more than likely a rat snake, and since rat snakes can get pretty big (up to 7 feet or so...I've caught a couple that were 6 feet) even 4 week old jersey giant chicks can be in danger. Just use hardware cloth on the bottom half of any fencing you have and you should be good to go.