Snake info - Bull snake

[Wildsky]

We have a resident bull snake, he was around last year - even up on our patio - I caught him and let him go at the end of our drive way - well he's back in our front yard, I saw him this afternoon.
What kind of danger does he pose for my chickens and baby chicks etc...?
The snake is about 3 feet long.

 

[chickflick]

Sorry, wildsky, don't know anything about snakes... but hopefully some one will come along that knows.....

 

[dacjohns]

A quick search indicated that bull snakes will eat eggs.

I had a black snake of some sort (I'm not much of a herptitologist) after eggs under the banty. Pulled it off real quick. I think it had started on an egg because one came out from under the hen with it. All eggs were accounted for. The little hen just sat there. No alarm or anything. I just happened to go in the coop and saw the snake with its head under the hen.

 

[Buckguy20]

It will eat eggs and baby chicks but will pose no harm to you. Once it finds a place for an easy meal (Henhouse) it will come back everytime it gets hungry.

 

[Wildsky]

Thank you!

I can afford to lose a few eggs if need be... the hen house is in the back yard, closed at night and at least 100yards from where the snake was in the front, I also have a horse and goat right next to the chickens and I have heard that snakes stay away from the sound of horse hooves beating on the ground (?)

 

[shaky]

Bullsnakes are wary of large animals, as you'd expect, but they are mostly concerned with mice and rats. Yeah, they'll take a chick, rarely an egg, but I'd rather the snakes clean out the rats than be overrun. The snakes come for rodents. Most likely it's not the same snake as you saw last, but they do have territories, or a sort, so it could be.
A relative had a resident bullsnake come through the barn among the cows on occasion, but they are better than rat traps.
They like cover, like tall grass, or at least shrubbery, so a flat dirt yard is not usually their cup of tea.

 

[patandchickens]

What everyone else said. They are a miniscule risk to your eggs or any chicks that are outdoors, probably next to no risk to your hens, and can be major help in controlling the rodent population. Plus they're cool snakes. They can get *really* long!

Pat, sadly living in a nearly snake-free latitude these days, oh well

 

[Wildsky]

Oh Good - he can have all the mice and rats he can find!

I bet thats why last year he - or a close look-a-like was up on our patio. We had two (at least) mice which we had to trap and get rid of.

 

[CatAteBird]

SNAKES!!!

Got to love them... but, I just killed two last night (black chicken snake).. One was 4ft long and devouring my baby silkie... So, I did some research online and I am going to Lowes today and buying some Snake Away and some Sulphur to spread around my coops. I am so mad

I know they are good for rats and mice, but when they start killing my babies.. IT'S ON.... They messed with the wrong person...

 

[Chickaroo!]

Snakes may be good for mice/rats, but so are CATS. I'd personally rather get a cat or two and let them keep the mice/rat population down and kill the snakes. I hate snakes. They're just freaky. They can move, but have no legs....spooky and scary!!!