Okay, I admit my usual method of "repelling" chicken snakes involves a three-prong rake and a machete . . .

But, recently I had two hens setting and their eggs kept disappearing. In spite of checking the hen house at all hours day and night, I never could catch that darn snake. Finally, a friend turned me on to a website that swore chicken snakes hate limes. Tho I was highly skeptical, I was ready to try anything to save my chicks-to-be, so I started cutting up a couple of limes every few days and scattering the pieces around inside the hen house and nests. No more eggs disappeared! Until I got forgetful and let it go about 5 days without fresh lime - then another egg went bye-bye. I got back with the program and never lost another one.

Now the fast-growing chicks are in the chicken yard with one of the mamas, and I have continued the lime program around the perimeter of the fence with good results. I'm convinced it works.

Once the babies are grown, I'll go back to simply killing the offenders when I find them, but in the meanwhile limes are cheap enough.

Just wanted to share this. I was amazed that something so simple and organic really works.