Reptile & Amphibian Forums

There is a man on one of my poultry lists that has a black ratsnake that is getting into his chickens. Is there anyone near or in New Midway which is northern Frederick County Maryland that could give a hand, would be great. He is not a herp person but doesn't want to to kill the snake.

Thanks!
Nina

He is most likely eatting the rodents that are in the coop and not the chickens/chicks/eggs.

Black rats are not venomous. Try catching the snake and letting it go somewhere else on the farm. They are great rodent catchers.

TC

I don't know but everytime I got a call on gray rat snake in chicken coops they are full of eggs or chicks. It seems like an easy meal for them.

Hopefully someone close by can get the snake before he changes his mind. I used to keep chickens all the time and would find black rats in there once in a while, even found two in the throws of passion once. I never lost any poultry including eggs and chicks to them all though I lost poultry to every thing else. I was always convinced they were there for the mice.

Hi,

I am in Harford County, but I am actually planning to be in Montgomery County almost all day on Sunday the 27th. Frederick County is just a little ways off. If it is still a problem I could swing by and relocate it for him. All I would need is a good set of directions or an exact address (I can use a FreCounty Map, and permission to be there. I can't promise that I can make it there, but the chances are better than good. Let me know ASAP.

Dewey Vasses
Teacher/Herper