Chicken snakes can be dangerous; however, they are not venomous and will only attack by biting or striking a person if they feel threatened. The term "chicken snake" is a nickname for the species, which is known as the "Texas Rat Snake."
The reason for the name "chicken snake" came from the location of the snakes. They were often found near livestock and in particular around chickens because they love to eat chicken eggs.
The chicken snake though not exceedingly dangerous to humans is to quite dangerous to animals because it will attack prey, such as baby chicks and mice or rats. This snake is also adept at scaling tall walls including brick walls on the sides of commercial buildings.
