Whats the best time to catch a snake?

[knjinnm]

Quote:
That's true but if the snakes are coming after eggs that means they have probably cleaned out most of the rodents.

Once more what kind of wire are you using to keep out pests? I suggest going to half inch hardware cloth, don't forget .... snakes can crawl up wire.

 

[dirtdoctor]

The plastic mesh that you cover your fruit trees with ... twist it in a roll, and drape it around on the ground make a circle around your hens... the snake will start going thru it and get all trapped up... Also Sticky boards will do the same thing... Get the big ones.. staple to a piece of wood on the ground.. snakes will crawl over it and get stuck. As for time? you will just to be vigilant. Tonight I was walking the property checking on all the pigs, dog, chicks, chickens and I found a huge gopher snake in the coop coiled next to a broody girl on eggs. I also found a handfull of kittens.. weaned and ready for collecting rats. YEAH!!

BTW the snakes thread themselves thru the mesh... (holes are about one inch square) then they get tangled and unable to free themselves... you just pickup the mesh.. take it WAy far away from the chickens and cut the mesh freeing the NON POISONOUS Snake.

 

[aprophet]

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I'm kina fond of eel pots they work much as minnow traps I have caught canebrakes,cottonmouths and black racers most times eggs have been used as bait ever so occasionally live mice have been used , depending on the size of snake sometimes I use glue boards

 

[dufus]

Quote:
That's true but if the snakes are coming after eggs that means they have probably cleaned out most of the rodents.

Once more what kind of wire are you using to keep out pests? I suggest going to half inch hardware cloth, don't forget .... snakes can crawl up wire.

snakes can crawl up wire????? which type wire???? i have part of my hen yard enclosed with chicken wire, and hardware cloth to about 3',,, can a snake climb the hardware cloth, and go through the chicken wire??????

 

[Anotherguywithchickens]

Quote:
That's true but if the snakes are coming after eggs that means they have probably cleaned out most of the rodents.

Once more what kind of wire are you using to keep out pests? I suggest going to half inch hardware cloth, don't forget .... snakes can crawl up wire.

I have lived here for about 2 years now and have yet to see a rodent. Hell there arnt any squirrels out here even. I have 1 yes 1 squirrel that ive been seeing the last few weeks, other than that one ive never seen another on my 20 acres. Im assuming thats from all the snakes, hawks, owls, raccoons, possums and coyotes that are all abundant .


I am using 1in chicken wire on 90% of my coop. Im thinking about running a sheet of tin all around the bottom, is that known to help?

 

[ck-newbe]

I spotted a rat snake around my coop yesterday at around 5pm. I am still trying to figure out if this snake is eatting eggs and needs to be relocated or if it was just passing through.

 

[Anotherguywithchickens]

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Id catch or kill it as soon as you see it. I bet it will be back.

 

[knjinnm]

Quote:
That's true but if the snakes are coming after eggs that means they have probably cleaned out most of the rodents.

Once more what kind of wire are you using to keep out pests? I suggest going to half inch hardware cloth, don't forget .... snakes can crawl up wire.

I have lived here for about 2 years now and have yet to see a rodent. Hell there arnt any squirrels out here even. I have 1 yes 1 squirrel that ive been seeing the last few weeks, other than that one ive never seen another on my 20 acres. Im assuming thats from all the snakes, hawks, owls, raccoons, possums and coyotes that are all abundant .


I am using 1in chicken wire on 90% of my coop. Im thinking about running a sheet of tin all around the bottom, is that known to help?

One inch chicken wire is too big, I know it looks small but if a snake or mouse can get its head through they will squeeze their body through.

The next time you go to one of the big box hardware stores look for the mesh that tile and stucco guys use before applying their material. It has small diamond shape openings that are very sharp. A friend near me used on their coop to deter coyotes, so far, two years, no attempted break-ins.

 

[Ole rooster]

Let me tell you how a rat snake can climb. One summer I was just a tad lazy putting the cover on my chimney. I also forgot to close my dampner. Now I live is a 1850's 2 story dog-trot log house. My chimney is stacked limestone about 25 feet high. That snake went up the chimney, down the flue and dropped into the fireplace. I heard him hit a nd went to see what in the dickens that was. There he/she was laying there and didn't know what to do. I caught it and put it out. Well actually I put him under the house. But can they climb and will look for any tiny opening to access wherever they want to go.

 

[Kudzu]

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They are yellow bellied water snakes, non poisonous.