CleverThoughts Posted November 20, 2015 Share Posted November 20, 2015 Anyone had issues with grass snakes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted November 20, 2015 Share Posted November 20, 2015 No. Have you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ursula123 Posted November 20, 2015 Share Posted November 20, 2015 Had an Adder in the garden last year, but nowhere near the chooks, get them occasionally. I did find sparkle my black star with a slow worm on Sunday - she swallowed then it came back up and OH and I managed to rescue it, she was not a happy chicken as I had taken away her worm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CleverThoughts Posted November 20, 2015 Author Share Posted November 20, 2015 Should of elaborated a bit more. I live in Surrey, and have a big plot of land next to woods. Could there be issues with grass snakes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 20, 2015 Share Posted November 20, 2015 I doubt it, they won't be a danger to the flock, and if the birds try to attack a grass snake, it will exude a really stinky 'milk' that will put them off. I certainly wouldn't let it deter you from getting hens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ursula123 Posted November 20, 2015 Share Posted November 20, 2015 We have a wood behind us and I have never seen a grass snake, we get the adders occasionally because we live close to the beach and they are in the sand dunes here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CleverThoughts Posted November 20, 2015 Author Share Posted November 20, 2015 We have a wood behind us and I have never seen a grass snake, we get the adders occasionally because we live close to the beach and they are in the sand dunes here. Are adders a coastal snake, or would I find them in Surrey to? Any danger to chicks and chickens? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 20, 2015 Share Posted November 20, 2015 You'll find them loads of places where there's warm grass cover, but they usually keep away from built up area. I'd worry more about foxes and rats if you're near a wood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ursula123 Posted November 20, 2015 Share Posted November 20, 2015 My FIL who is an 80 year old farmer and lives about 5 miles from us has only seen a couple in his lifetime, so not a problem. We do have foxes in the wood but not been a problem for us, our neighbour had a rat infestation under her shed but a few bait stations and traps sorted it out. I would not let it worry you, we only really see them due to the dunes and maybe disturbance from tourists etc, they look for somewhere quieter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted November 20, 2015 Share Posted November 20, 2015 My mum has BIG grass snakes that live in the orchard with the chickens and lay and incubate their eggs in the muck heap just a few meters from where the chooks live and she's never had any problems Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 20, 2015 Share Posted November 20, 2015 I have slow worms in the compost, and mice too - love seeing them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted November 21, 2015 Share Posted November 21, 2015 Our chickens had a little snake surrounded. It was coiled up and hissing frantically so I scattered some corn for them to draw them away and give it a chance to escape. I have no doubt they would have tried to eat it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted November 21, 2015 Share Posted November 21, 2015 They'll only have tried once; my understanding is that they have a bitter exude. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted November 22, 2015 Share Posted November 22, 2015 sorry not a snake fan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
