HUGE Black snake in chicken coop. Can’t Get him out

[Backroadlogic]

No, relocation at least a couple miles away would definitely do the trick...

I understand that snakes can do damage to a flock, but considering they only eat once every couple weeks on average (a snake's digestive system is very slow and 100% reliant on heat and UV which they aren't constantly getting unless in captivity with proper husbandry), a rat snake even this size shouldn't be a huge problem.

All the people saying that snakes do attempt to kill and eat prey too big for them, it really just doesnt happen that often. Young, inexperienced snakes might try (and fail) but as they grow older they NORMALLY learn not to waste their limited energy on prey too big for them. Because that's counterproductive to their survival. A starving, desperate snake might try.

Someone mentioned a dead chicken with a slimy head like a too small snake tried to eat it but couldn't. What likely happened is the snake was startled during the eating process and regurgitated the chicken to get away from perceived danger quickly.

These instances are outliers. It doesn't happen all that often. Because, again, snakes are not normally going to waste energy on prey that they physically can't eat, it's just too conterproductive to their survival.

By all means, nobody can stop you from dealing with snakes and other predators the way you personally want/choose to. But please educate yourself and at the very least TRY non-lethal methods. Trap, relocate and release is enough to deal with a single snake.

Depending on the state relocation can be illegal.

It's kind of cruel to relocate an animal. They have very high mortality rate being dropped into an area with unknown predators, pathogens, and competition from locals.

 

[TOMTE]

Depending on the state relocation can be illegal.

It's kind of cruel to relocate an animal. They have very high mortality rate being dropped into an area with unknown predators, pathogens, and competition from locals.

Right, that's something to keep in mind too that completely slipped mine. Definitely check if it's legal where you are to relocate a snake, though I can't imagine bringing it just down the road a ways would be an issue, legally. Disease and pathogens are a whole other thing. Like how you should never place a turtle near a pond if you're not 100% sure it's the turtle's native pond because of localized diseases, parasites etc that can spread to other animals that haven't encountered them before. Thank you for pointing that out!

 

[Birdsong 82]

OK, I was unavailable for a while, but to respond all of that relocation of certain animals is prohibited here. But I couldn’t say I would feel bad about dropping it off at the 4400 acre conservation area that’s on the main road as soon as I turn out of my gravel Drive. Which is why I end up with so much wildlife. I was concerned about killing my chickens because once it stretched out and tried to get away that thing had to be 10 foot long. I’ve never seen a black stake that big. Maybe it was a bit different than the black snakes I have out front that I don’t mess with. Because they’re not gigantic, they keep the mass population down. But I also don’t mess with them because I know black snakes will eat baby copperheads and copperheads can be very prevalent in the area
It would be really hard for me and it always is to try to take it animals life but if they’re putting my chicken life in immediate danger, I will, but if I can try to prevent it by other methods I will do that.

 

[Birdsong 82]

I mean, I have a huge black snake den at the other side of the yard near the garage and I’ve never thought twice about it. They’re more scared of me than I am for them really Because they’re not big enough to kill a full grown chicken and they stay in their den and slither the garage and take care of the mice for me. But I don’t think it came from that den because a long way away.
And it helps that I have bigger breeds. All my hens are at minimum 6 pounds and the roo is probably 10 at minimum . I like my big ladies. Lol

 

[puddle_drinker]

OK, I was unavailable for a while, but to respond all of that relocation of certain animals is prohibited here.

Something that has worked for me is to put the Black snake in "time out" for 4-5 days in an empty trash can with some water to drink. Then relocate the snake at least 300 feet away from the area you don't want it to be in. This worked for me, although I can't tell you why it worked.

In my experience, if you just relocate the snake 1000 feet from the coop when you evict it, it will return in a day or two. I discovered this when I relocated a Black snake from my coop to the back of my property and it was back two days later. The snake had a unique scar on his side so I knew it was the exact same snake. I've had this work on two other Black snakes since then.

I like my snakes and want to keep them on my property. I just want them to stay away from my eggs and baby chicks...

 

[McChooky]

I threaten to kill them and smack the ground with a switch or spray them with water hoses.That works with the quick learners.I haven't made any efforts to harm one or had to relocate it.If you don't intend to kill it at least make it afraid to hang around lol

 

[McChooky]

Something that has worked for me is to put the Black snake in "time out" for 4-5 days in an empty trash can with some water to drink. Then relocate the snake at least 300 feet away from the area you don't want it to be in. This worked for me, although I can't tell you why it worked.

In my experience, if you just relocate the snake 1000 feet from the coop when you evict it, it will return in a day or two. I discovered this when I relocated a Black snake from my coop to the back of my property and it was back two days later. The snake had a unique scar on his side so I knew it was the exact same snake. I've had this work on two other Black snakes since then.

I like my snakes and want to keep them on my property. I just want them to stay away from my eggs and baby chicks...

If someone threw me in a garbage can a couple days I wouldn't go back either lol

 

[Lazy Farmer]

Grab em and get rid of em. They will ruin egg production.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

So ..... is it gone?

 

[McChooky]

Even hear about the Canadian who caught a Lynx in his coop with his bare hands? THats not how most of us would catch a bob cat or a lynx but he it worked for him