Black Racer snake around my coops. Need Advice!

[Teresaann24]

I hate snakes!

One was by my coop today I knew it was a black racer I think it may have aten one of my plastic eggs from my nests. My brother tried to kill it but he struck it once and it was gone!!

Would this snake be able to eat my 4 week old ducklings? or my adult chickens? Will it come back?

 

[panner123]

If it ate the plastic egg, it won't be back. They will eat eggs given the chance. They will eat baby ducks and chicks, a full size chicken won't be bothered. The chickens might even have it for a snack.

 

[halo]

Black racers are neat snakes. I had one in my barn last year; never bothered any chicks or eggs (that I know of, anyway).

 

[redhen]

aww! they are harmless snakes.. dont kill it.
But if it ate a plastic egg its a goner anyway....

 

[iajewel]

Moscovy ducks eat snakes .. keep one in your coop

 

[blackcat0229]

Dear Snaked,

It will eat anything it can get in its mouth (so, relatively small things) that is warm & protein. And some things like nest eggs that it thinks are. Poor snake, if it ate the nest egg - terminal tummy ache. I prefer snakes to rats or possums. I've always loved having a black snake in the corn crib - less mice!

Believe it or not, there is a "snake repellent granule" that can be spread in areas if your chickens can't get to it. My ex-father-in-law used to do that service alot here in central Ohio. He owned a pest control business.

Otherwise, the best other thing you can do is keep any weeds or bushes back away from your coop area. Snakes usually don't like wide open areas - puts them at risk to be owl or hawk snake snack!

Good luck. The only good part about it being a snake "problem" is - once it eats, it will not eat again for a week. One egg, one mouse, one chick will keep a snake happy for a week. Unlike raccoons who will be back tomorrow night!

Blackcat0229

 

[fancbrd4me02]

You should rejoice in the natural rodent control that a snake provides. Next time, (as long as you are certain it is not a venomous snake), you should shoo it into an empty garbage can, and take it to a part of your property where you have rodent problems, like a barn. Let the snake loose there. To keep the snakes from eating your eggs, fill in gaps & places the sankes could enter thru.

 

[Teresaann24]

thank you all for your replies

I just hate snakes I didn't wanna kill it I don't think my brother killed it because it was gone in a blink of an eye.

I just do not have a good past with snakes I have been bitten by one on the foot and had one attack one of my chihuahuas a few years ago!

I am about 100% sure it ate my plastic egg.

So do you think it could kill and eat my 4 week old swedish ducklings? They are pretty big and its head was quite small.

 

[fancbrd4me02]

I think your runner ducklings would be safe from all but the largest snakes (would have to be a very large snake to eat a 4 week runner)at 4 weeks. I would worry more about other larger predators like hawks and racoons getting the ducks at this point.