Is this snake in my coop harmful

[SilverBirds]

Wasn't trying to sound snooty - I apologize. It's a Western Rat Snake. Looking for eggies. Great rodent control, loves to climb. You can relocate with soft tongs or call a local snake relocator.

Agreed, rat snake. You can see that he's already eaten a few eggs. Generally, they are not a huge threat to adult chickens, but if he feels threated and bites the wound could become infected. Eggs and chicks are the target prey in the coop. Once a snake has found a reliable food source it will keep coming back. You need to figure out how it got in and close the gap.

 

[Belovedturkey]

Agreed, rat snake. You can see that he's already eaten a few eggs. Generally, they are not a huge threat to adult chickens, but if he feels threated and bites the wound could become infected. Eggs and chicks are the target prey in the coop. Once a snake has found a reliable food source it will keep coming back. You need to figure out how it got in and close the gap.

Will do, and I’ll take him out and collect eggs more often

 

[Ridgerunner]

would a rat snake be able to climb up a metal sheet or through a hole on the side of a metal building

Yes. When I was across the state line from you in Arkansas I had a coop where one wall was corrugated sheeting like yours. My rat snakes were solid black, not patterned like that one, but I saw a few climbing that wall.

 

[Belovedturkey]

Yes. When I was across the state line from you in Arkansas I had a coop where one wall was corrugated sheeting like yours. My rat snakes were solid black, not patterned like that one, but I saw a few climbing that wall.

Ok thank you

 

[Ifitaintbroke]

If the head is smaller at the nose than at the jaw, it is poisonous. That snake looks big enough to eat an egg, but not a grown chicken, though those eggs look pretty big.

Not true. Coral snakes have a slim head, and neurotoxin venom. Brown water snakes have a triangular head but are harmless. Not sure where that myth originated. It is true that pit vipers have a triangular head head, and most people think of rattlesnakes when someone says "snake!".

 

[Ifitaintbroke]

Rat snakes can get very large and sometimes will attempt to eat something far too large for them. They can very easily kill one of your hens. Snakes are immensely strong, and it would only take a minute for him to strangle a chicken.

 

[Ifitaintbroke]

Once a snake has found a reliable food source it will keep coming back. You need to figure out how it got in and close the gap.

Yes, they absolutely will. I had the biggest timber I ever saw in my life come right up to my coops, last year. Chased him off, and he was back in less than 5 minutes.

 

[FrostRanger]

Not true. Coral snakes have a slim head, and neurotoxin venom. Brown water snakes have a triangular head but are harmless. Not sure where that myth originated. It is true that pit vipers have a triangular head head, and most people think of rattlesnakes when someone says "snake!".

So that rule only applies to snakes in the States and coral snakes are the exception. Otherwise, pretty much every other venomous snake in the States is going to be a viper of some kind and those do have triangular heads. Outside the States all bets are off and this rule will not apply at all

 

[Ifitaintbroke]

So that rule only applies to snakes in the States and coral snakes are the exception. Otherwise, pretty much every other venomous snake in the States is going to be a viper of some kind and those do have triangular heads. Outside the States all bets are off and this rule will not apply at all

Kind of, yes. If it's not a coral snake, and doesn't have a triangular head, it's most likely fine. But the flip side is not true. Many non-venomous snakes have that head shape, and get killed because of it. Also, the cottonmouth does not have as pronounced of a pit viper head, as some of the others. Would not want to misidentify one of those.

 

[FrostRanger]

Fair point, it's better to know the species of snake you're dealing with, but it is a good quick and dirty rule to tip one off if a snake *might* be venomous