What kind of snake is this? (FL)

[Ariel91]

My fiancé came home to find this snake dead in our front yard. We have a great big barn owl that lives across the street, he might have killed it but we're not sure. Wouldn't he have eaten it if it had been him? Anyway, does anyone have any idea what kind of snake this is? We live in central FL.

 

[dawg53]

It is a yellow rat snake, aka chicken snake. I've lost a quite a few chicks, pullets and cockerals to this snake.

 

[Ariel91]

Yikes! D:
Any advice on how to keep them away? It was right by the fence and our neighbor has some huge free roam roosters, any chance they were the ones who killed it?

 

[Roxannemc]

I think there is a good chance they killed it.

 

[jentralala]

Kinda surprised they didn't eat it though! My chickens looooove snake, although the cat has caught and eaten most of them in the surrounding area.