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Guinea fowl are great pest deterrents! We have chickens and rarely see a snake - have seen them eat some baby copperheads where they dug them in a remote leaf pile, but rarely see a snake. THEN I get fresh eggs too! Would love to have Guineas, but they are rather noisy, and my neighbors might not appreciate them. (we only have 2.5 acres).

The best thing you can do for your babies is teach them DON'T touch. We practiced with rubber snakes. Not to make them afraid, just to teach them - walk away and get a big person. Keep their immediate play area picked up from snaked hidey holes - rocks, large toys that kids can move that will sit for long periods undisturbed etc. Snakes will typically not hang in areas that are "active", and will look for a way out if they have one, so if the kiddos are taught to walk away, that is great.

I have been told that a snake will not cross copper.... never tried it, but a friend used to run copper wire around their chicken coop and swore by it.

For the spidey and other arachnids, we used to use cedar shavings on our yard perimeter to help with fleas. Worked pretty darn good - our neighbors in our old postage stamp lot neighborhood did not treat their yard, but we did, a losing battle backing up to them not treating and the woods. When we started putting cedar shavings on the perimeter monthly noticed a huge difference. Also use a product called Cedarcide on kids and critters to help deter skeeters and flies - smells a bit like a clean hamster cage, but works pretty good and isn't sticky or DEET filled like the other products.

Enjoy your sticks!