Will black snakes harm my chickens and chicks?

[hefalumpmom]

I love snakes, especially black rat and all types of king snakes. Where I am we don't have any rattlesnakes or cottonmouths. We do have some copperheads. Here in Missouri there is a $500 fine for killing snakes (unless protecting yourself, family, or your stock). I found a nearly 5' black snake in the poop catcher of my coop when I went to get eggs today. There were two eggs in the coop and no bulges in the snake. I have heard that black snakes will eat copperheads. I much prefer the docile and harmless black snake to copperheads, so I try to let them be. They also eat mice and other varmits. The hens didn't seem distressed by its presence at all, but they went crazy over an 18" milk snake this spring (I had to rescue the poor thing from a ring of squawking hens before they pecked it). I don't have any chicks, but I think I'll put up some wire with smaller openings just to be on the safe side. If it becomes a nuisance, I will relocate it. I know most people don't like snakes, but they really can be valuable.

 

[RareDuck]

A black snake killed a month old duckling on me this year. It was wrapped around her and would not let go till I grabbed it with pliers and swung it. I dislike snakes but so far have not killed one on purpose but that may change. There are 2 kinds of snakes around here black and copperheads. I have swept copperheads out the door and away from the house many times. Never had one bite me or any of my animals though they have attacked the broom. My dogs have enough sense to bark and stay out of reach. A good cat is a much more efficient killer of mice and rats. I have had cats in the same room with baby birds in open top boxes and the cats never tried to harm them. Wild birds were not afraid of them either. A good barn cat will wipe out lots more rodents than a snake and can kill them quicker and some cats will kill small snakes too. Cats are affectionate wonderful pets and I like them much better than snakes.

 

[Txchicky]

Knock on wood, we haven't had a snake problem this year. I think it is due to our hawk population that lives in our pasture. We had an armadillo that our Rottweiller took care if. I can tell you though, if I catch a snake in my yard, it will meet a 20gu. Slug or a shovel.

 

[Triple Willow]

Knock on wood, we haven't had a snake problem this year. I think it is due to our hawk population that lives in our pasture. We had an armadillo that our Rottweiller took care if. I can tell you though, if I catch a snake in my yard, it will meet a 20gu. Slug or a shovel.

We don't have armadillos yet, well a very very few have been seen - so they say. Do they bother chickens? I bet they love eggs.

 

[ghostwolf211]

Where I live we have a problem with Copperheads and Rattlesnakes....Sometimes living in PA has its challenges....But that's why I love living here....Nobody complains when you shoot them

 

[Triple Willow]

I love snakes, especially black rat and all types of king snakes.  Where I am we don't have any rattlesnakes or cottonmouths.  We do have some copperheads.  Here in Missouri there is a $500 fine for killing snakes (unless protecting yourself, family, or your stock).  I found a nearly 5' black snake in the poop catcher of my coop when I went to get eggs today.  There were two eggs in the coop and no bulges in the snake.  I have heard that black snakes will eat copperheads.  I much prefer the docile and harmless black snake to copperheads, so I try to let them be.  They also eat mice and other varmits.  The hens didn't seem distressed by its presence at all, but they went crazy over an 18" milk snake this spring (I had to rescue the poor thing from a ring of squawking hens before they pecked it).  I don't have any chicks, but I think I'll put up some wire with smaller openings just to be on the safe side.  If it becomes a nuisance, I will relocate it.  I know most people don't like snakes, but they really can be valuable.

I can't get over states where it is against the law to kill snakes. Amazing! Anyhow, it is the *king snakes* that kill other snakes (and each other), not what most people call a "black snake" which is actually the black rat snake. Rat snakes will actually den up with copperheads. I have seen a "community den" with black rat snakes, gray rat snakes, garter snakes and a copperhead coming and going from the same den. A king snake will not do that. In Missouri I believe you do have the black king snake and unless you know snakes pretty well they are hard to tell apart. I still have a hard time telling a black rat snake from a black king snake. From what I understand, after a snake eats eggs it breaks the eggs inside of its self. I suppose they flex the same muscles that they use to constrict small animals. Good luck on the snake situation.

 

[Triple Willow]

A black snake killed a month old duckling on me this year. It was wrapped around her and would not let go till I grabbed it with pliers and swung it. I dislike snakes but so far have not killed one on purpose but that may change. There are 2 kinds of snakes around here black and copperheads. I have swept copperheads out the door and away from the house many times. Never had one bite me or any of my animals though they have attacked the broom. My dogs have enough sense to bark and stay out of reach. A good cat is a much more efficient killer of mice and rats. I have had cats in the same room with baby birds in open top boxes and the cats never tried to harm them. Wild birds were not afraid of them either. A good barn cat will wipe out lots more rodents than a snake and can kill them quicker and some cats will kill small snakes too. Cats are affectionate wonderful pets and I like them much better than snakes. 

Don't be fooled into thinking that your dog will always see the snake before it is in striking range. I had a dog get bit by a copperhead while in his kennel. It got him in his throat and he almost died. A knot swelled up and was hanging from his throat the size of a grapefruit. It was cutting off his breathing. My nephews also had a dog bit by a copperhead. The dog went into convulsions and they had to shoot it.

 

[Triple Willow]

Where I live we have a problem with Copperheads and Rattlesnakes....Sometimes living in PA has its challenges....But that's why I love living here....Nobody complains when you shoot them

Where I live people complain if you don't kill them! LOL

 

[hefalumpmom]

You are correct. We do have a speckled king snake (what we call salt and pepper snakes) that can be anywhere from heavily patterned with spots to solid black. I thought they were the ones that ate other snakes (thus the name king???), but I came across some videos claiming to show (perhaps misidentified) black snakes doing it too. Here is a pic of a smaller black snake we had a few weeks ago. This one was probably only 3-3 1/2'. I just shooed it into the woods. I just found it funny that my girls made this huge squawking fuss over an 18" milk snake and completely ignored these much bigger ones. Guess they saw the smaller one as potential prey and the bigger ones as no prey but no threat?? The ducks and goose sure didn't like it though!

 

[hefalumpmom]

Awww. I am sorry to hear about your duckling. All mine are too big for pretty much any snake we have around here. We have a few copperheads too, but they haven't posed a problem. I just relocate them if they are too close to the house. Thankfully we don't have rattlesnakes around here. Missouri has 5 of them, but I have never, ever seen one. Don't really want to either!