uggghhhhh Huge snake in the barn yikes!!!

[the4heathernsmom]

Well I killed my first snake of the season. Hubby had killed a couple but not this close to the house. Oldest son came from the barn screaming "Momma snake momma snake" I am thinking ok a little copperhead better get him while he is little. Nope I go to check it out, wobbling on my bad leg, machete in one hand hoe in the other. Huge snake of unknown variety is hanging and intertwining with the rafters up above his head looming and bobbing yuck ok not a job for momma so we holler for daddy. When I start hollering he comes with the shotgun. Now my roof is somewhat peppered with tiny holes but the culprit was shot and it looked to be a water mocassin but when it finally dropped to the ground it was an oddly colored and patterned rat or chicken snake....in excess of 6' long!!!!! Sorry but he had to go for the heart attack factor lol and I have poultry everywhere!!! Well upon further investigation there was a perfect round ball.....ok he got one of my eggs from the chicken house.....nope he ate a golf ball from the chicken house !!!!!!!!!!! Whew we will be on the lookout up above now instead of just below!

 

[Katy]

Quote:
I don't mind the rat snakes, even if they steal an egg now and again. They help keep the rat and mouse population down. They do more good than harm.

 

[sourland]

Amen on the good from rat snakes!

 

[RM44]

Wow. He ate a golf ball? I wonder if that would have killed him anyway? Can they pass something like that? I doublt they'd be able to digest it.

I love snakes personally, but I understand killing them to protect your chickens, chicks, eggs, etc. And I do understand that some folks just have a fear of them. I hate squirrels. They tear up my bird feeders, tease my cats. I've been known to take out a squirrel every now and then. And I smile when I do it!

 

[drumstick diva]

" Heart attack factor," boy we think alike.

 

[the4heathernsmom]

Don't think me some savage reptile killer please lol !!!! I know they are beneficial and had I known it was a rat snake I may not have had hubby kill it. I don't mind losing an occasional egg and keeping my barn free of mice would be good BUT a snake that big ummmm no.....it could have eaten a whole chicken which I would mind greatly. He would have died anyhow from the golfball, they cannot digest it so we probably saved him from an agonizing death. We have copperheads and water moccasins so if it looks venomous it gets chopped or shot. Sorry but has to be that way with four kids running around. I love the garter/garden snakes though, they get free range and are excellent at keeping bugs, tiny voles/moles, little critters at bay. Also not so frightening or scary when gardening or walking through the pasture. Lizards too!!! I just don't do snakes well at least not that size!

 

[kevin99nc]

I just killed my first snake tonight. It was a rat snake also but it was 5'2" long with my 13 week old polish in his mouth.

 

[dawg53]

Glad you killed the snake, it wouldve been after your chickens next. I've had rat snakes eat my chicks and try to constrict one of my full grown buff orpington hens. The snakes are dead of course.

 

[cw]

some black snakes will kill your venous snakes, like copperheads, water mocasians etc..
you being in east texas google indago snake, youll find those are very god snakes to have around

 

[TwistedSerpent]

Kingsnakes too some farmers pay to have dumped on their land, they will readily take down and eat any other snake they come across, including anything venomous.