What to do with snakes?

[kaprica9]

Finally got the bugger that has been living under the coop and stealing all the eggs. How? He ate a ceramic egg and couldn't get back out! Found him curled up in a nest box looking miserable. Now he's in a box on the porch looking miserable.

I really don't have the heart to kill him-but I've been told you can't release then or they come right back. Is this true? Anyone I can call to deal with the thing? It's just a little black racer. 3, maybe 4 feet in total.

 

[mulewagon]

I've read that you have to release them across running water, to be sure they won't come back. But consider whether the people across the river want an egg-eating snake!

Be aware that if you're hatching eggs, the snakes can also eat the chicks. So you'll want to snake-proof your coop (if possible!), and also have a plan for any more snakes you catch.

(It gets easier to kill them once you find them full of chicks...)

 

[gavinandallison]

Kill it is the only option.........

 

[foxypoproxy]

Just drive it somewhere far away and let it go it won't go that far to find you.
Ive never heard of snakes coming back unless you put them somewhere else in your yard.

 

[redhen]

Did he throw up the ceremic egg?
If you want to save him you need to make him throw it up....i think..
If he is going to suffer, the BEST, most HUMANE thing to do is just kill it... dont let it suffer.

 

[Ridgerunner]

There are differing opinions. Some people say that if a snake swallows a ceramic egg, golf ball, something like that, the fake egg will plug the snake's digestive system and it will die. Others say they have seen a snake vomit up the fake egg so it will not die. I don't know which is true.

In many states, it is illegal to kill a snake. You re not likely to get caught, and if it has been eating eggs, you may not get charged even if caught. I don't know your state laws, but here it is illegal. It may also be illegal to release the snake anywhere but on your own property. Again, I don't know your state laws.

Many people like snakes around because of the rodents they eat.

If you don't want to kill it, I suggest you call the game warden and chat with them. They can probably give you the best options for your area.

If you elect to release it, I'd take it a few miles from your home. I don't know how strong a snalkes homing instincts are so I don't know what distance you will have to go to make sure that one does not come back. But if you have one, you probably have more around. Oh, snakes can swim. Don't trust the one about running water.

Good luck!

 

[kaprica9]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys! Looks like we'll be making some calls about him tomorrow.

The egg is further towards his head then it was earlier, hopefully he can throw it up or something.

ETA: The coop is 100% anything proof, as the neighbors have said, it's built better then most people houses down here! However, we leave the door open during the day so they can range, which is when the snake got in. Is this really risky for chicks? We plan on letting the hens hatch their own. How likely are problems with snakes? No other predators so far, except the owls.

 

[dawg53]

 

[QuackerJackFarms]

Quote:
Hey Dawg, what's your opinion on the matter? You're giving us mixed messages.

 

[Darlene789]

Kill it wherever you found as it is necessary for the life of chickens..


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