Are Gopher Snakes a Threat? (pics of the big guy)

[Atomic Ranch]

A snake the size of this guy will not even attempt a grown bird...He or she might have a hard enough time in not being harassed by the birds. Enjoy having it around, you'll see less vermin in your coop, that's for sure

I think many people on the forum just dislike predators of any size or shape, and are going to tell you to watch your birds, your kids, your car, your dogs, kids, and for heavens sake, lock up the house since they might just move right in! Think about the size of that snakes head and the size of a fullgrown chicken...it (even with its tiny reptilian brain) will know it cannot swallow a whole chicken. I had pet snakes, and they'd refuse food if said food was much bigger than what they had been able to swallow easily before...I think you'll be fine.

Lol... that's true... and snakes have that fear factor. DB even slept with his feet tucked securely last night.

Feeling somewhat better again, and I would agree that they would go for an easier target. Which there are plenty of! Crawling with gophers and ground squirrels this time of year, and the tree it had slithered up is a notorious rat highway. Yes, little tiny head compared to body girth, and even with unhinged jaws I'd figure a tennis ball would be tough. I'll keep an eye out, though, and if I see it near the coop again (which it very much was), I'll try to relocate him into the hills behind me.

 

[Atomic Ranch]

I have had rat snakes that size swallow or try to swallow a few of my five month old Silkies. I don't know about gophers however. Any rat snake I see, gets relocated to woods further away from the farm. I also use small hardware cloth on my cages to keep them from squeezing in.

Hmm, rat snakes are about the same size I think. I've got hardware cloth on the coop, and once the door is closed nothing can get in. But they hunt in the day, and the door is open. To cloth the run would be ideal, but super expensive. Maybe there's a place I can buy in bulk.

Just noticing your sig-- what would you recommend as a good mini-cow for milk?

 

[NYboy]

Do a search of chickens killed by snake , over 400 threads.

 

[Kara515]

I have had rat snakes that size swallow or try to swallow a few of my five month old Silkies. I don't know about gophers however. Any rat snake I see, gets relocated to woods further away from the farm. I also use small hardware cloth on my cages to keep them from squeezing in.

I am glad to see this as I have been wondering about this very thing! I have a problem with rats but I have relocated the 4 foot rat snakes to the far side of the property because I was afraid they would go after my eggs or even my bantam chickens.

 

[Atomic Ranch]

That's a beautiful snake. It certainly might try to take a chick if presented the opportunity; however chickens will peck at anything that isn't bolted down, and in some cases even things that are bolted down.

I'm sorry! I didn't see your comment earlier! I think it's really pretty, too. After the initial startle (I was looking at my camera screen of photos I had taken elsewhere in the garden, and didn't see the snake until I was a yard away), I was like, "woah!..... coooool...". Then I thought of the coop.

Considering it's covered in spots, I can imagine they'd be pretty entertained by it.

 

[Atomic Ranch]

Do a search of chickens killed by snake , over 400 threads.

I believe you! I'll do some more reading. Posted this because it was a bit urgent at the time.

 

[Atomic Ranch]

I am glad to see this as I have been wondering about this very thing! I have a problem with rats but I have relocated the 4 foot rat snakes to the far side of the property because I was afraid they would go after my eggs or even my bantam chickens.

Dumb question-- how do you handle a snake? If it comes around again, I'm going to try to pick it up and put him in a bin and hike into the hills to his new home. Gloves, long-sleeves, behind the head? Slowly? Lol... I've never dealt with one of respectable size before.

 

[Ibicella]

They do eat eggs and chicks, yes. Though it may be completely uninterested in such and just be passing through. It can be a predator, but it may well be more interested in hunting mice and rats around your place.

I personally wouldn't kill it. I'd let it be and keep an eye out.

 

[Jaxon4141]

Dumb question-- how do you handle a snake? If it comes around again, I'm going to try to pick it up and put him in a bin and hike into the hills to his new home. Gloves, long-sleeves, behind the head? Slowly? Lol... I've never dealt with one of respectable size before.

You can try and move the gopher snake (it's not a rat snake), but snakes develop territories and will travel great distances to come back to were they live. They have established dens and a hunting territory just like most large predators. You can read about snakes on this forum, but remember that most people are deathly afraid of them and will claim feats that are impossible for them to do. If you do an internet search and read about what they really eat you will find that it's not a threat to a full grown chicken. If your chicks are not out free ranging then I doubt they are in any danger. If it does go into to the coop and there are no adult chickens present it will probably eat eggs, but that would be a very occasional occurrence, not something that would happen all the time. It will eat more gopher, rats and other rodents than it will ever eat eggs. As for catching a snake, use a long stick and pin it behind the head. Once you have the head pinned down reach down with you other hand pick it up just behind the head. Do not worry about the rest of its body, just pay attention to the head. It will eventually rap it self around your arm. The bite from this type of snake does not hurt very much. They have many small teeth for holding onto prey, but nothing that will do any real damage. Just wear gloves. I have a few large blue racer that live on my land and they have never bother my chicken or eggs. They eat the rodents that I am definitely not fond of. I consider them my allies.

 

[Atomic Ranch]

You can try and move the gopher snake (it's not a rat snake), but snakes develop territories and will travel great distances to come back to were they live. They have established dens and a hunting territory just like most large predators. You can read about snakes on this forum, but remember that most people are deathly afraid of them and will claim feats that are impossible for them to do. If you do an internet search and read about what they really eat you will find that it's not a threat to a full grown chicken. If your chicks are not out free ranging then I doubt they are in any danger. If it does go into to the coop and there are no adult chickens present it will probably eat eggs, but that would be a very occasional occurrence, not something that would happen all the time. It will eat more gopher, rats and other rodents than it will ever eat eggs. As for catching a snake, use a long stick and pin it behind the head. Once you have the head pinned down reach down with you other hand pick it up just behind the head. Do not worry about the rest of its body, just pay attention to the head. It will eventually rap it self around your arm. The bite from this type of snake does not hurt very much. They have many small teeth for holding onto prey, but nothing that will do any real damage. Just wear gloves. I have a few large blue racer that live on my land and they have never bother my chicken or eggs. They eat the rodents that I am definitely not fond of. I consider them my allies.

I figured it was... pretty distinctive markings

I keep my dozen in a run in the day and secure coop at night. Since these snakes appear to be daytime hunters, I was concerned. But I haven't seen it again since, and you have an excellent point about established territories. It's probably been around and I've just never seen it. I have noticed a reduction in the rodent population this spring as well, so for now, I'll just keep an eye out.

Thanks for your advice!