5th black snake today out of the coop- can’t find nest, getting atleast one every day for the past week.

[Purelychicks]

How do I get rid of them? Only one has attempted strangling a hen. They’re eating all the eggs and freaking the chickens out! Not to mention, it’s not fun sticking your hand in the nesting box and being bit or startled when you feel a snake.

 

[Vadard]

That’s a lot of snakes! All I know about rat snakes is that they can get through about anything except for hardware cloth (HWC). Put it everywhere you can and bury it around the perimeter if possible.

This will sound crazy, but does your coop have a corrugated metal roof? Years ago, I had one getting into my chicken tractor by going through the dern roof corrugations. I block those off now.

Failing all of that, kill ’em all. At least they’re coming to you.

You are killing them, right? Just asking because if you’re just turning them loose down the road a piece, you’re getting repeat business.

 

[Purelychicks]

That’s a lot of snakes! All I know about rat snakes is that they can get through about anything except for hardware cloth (HWC). Put it everywhere you can and bury it around the perimeter if possible.

This will sound crazy, but does your coop have a corrugated metal roof? Years ago, I had one getting into my chicken tractor by going through the dern roof corrugations. I block those off now.

Failing all of that, kill ’em all. At least they’re coming to you.

You are killing them, right? Just asking because if you’re just turning them loose down the road a piece, you’re getting repeat business.

We drive 3 miles down the road.. and let them out. We have mice problems In the coop aswell but can’t seem to rid them. The roof is Tin metal but sealed. We have caught them going through small holes and such before. Had a 6ft one last year get stuck in the door hole.

 

[DarJones]

There is a sizeable population of snakes in your area. I'm a lot more likely to kill an egg eating snake than to turn it loose to invade someone else's chicken coop.

 

[Purelychicks]

There is a sizeable population of snakes in your area. I'm a lot more likely to kill an egg eating snake than to turn it loose to invade someone else's chicken coop.

There’s not really anyone near us. We own a lot of acreage so we’re not turning them loose into someone else’s chicken coop but I’d feel bad because I’ve witnessed the black snakes eating copperheads before

 

[Vadard]

We drive 3 miles down the road.. and let them out. We have mice problems In the coop aswell but can’t seem to rid them. The roof is Tin metal but sealed. We have caught them going through small holes and such before. Had a 6ft one last year get stuck in the door hole.

Wow. I have no idea what the range of a rat snake is, but I’d be inclined to thin them out to see if it helps. Maybe kill every other one, at least?

Could be that the snakes came for your mice first, then found the eggs. So you have something like a fancy casino buffet for rat snakes going on now, attracting rat snakes from miles around.

All I know about varmints is that if you don’t kill them, they will eat you out of house and home. Good luck. I hope y’all find some answers.

 

[Purelychicks]

Wow. I have no idea what the range of a rat snake is, but I’d be inclined to thin them out to see if it helps. Maybe kill every other one, at least?

Could be that the snakes came for your mice first, then found the eggs. So you have something like a fancy casino buffet for rat snakes going on now, attracting rat snakes from miles around.

All I know about varmints is that if you don’t kill them, they will eat you out of house and home. Good luck. I hope y’all find some answers.

Saw a rat snake in my driveway today, AND a cotton mouth in my pond

 

[friednotscrambled]

Saw a rat snake in my driveway today, AND a cotton mouth in my pond

Three years ago I had an issue with black snakes... relocated them 5 miles away. No more since then, but have seen them within 200 yd of the house. Knock on wood they stay away.

We have copperheads and cottonmouths here too.. and plenty of other snake species.

 

[Rose_adamaj]

How do I get rid of them? Only one has attempted strangling a hen. They’re eating all the eggs and freaking the chickens out! Not to mention, it’s not fun sticking your hand in the nesting box and being bit or startled when you feel a snake.

I don’t know if you still have a problem, but snake traps are something to try. YouTube has videos. They look like minnow traps, put egg inside and wait for snake. They can be made from 2 liter bottles, hardware cloth, I’m sure you are only limited by your imagination. Pinterest might have more diy trap info. Good luck!

 

[Purelychicks]

I don’t know if you still have a problem, but snake traps are something to try. YouTube has videos. They look like minnow traps, put egg inside and wait for snake. They can be made from 2 liter bottles, hardware cloth, I’m sure you are only limited by your imagination. Pinterest might have more diy trap info. Good luck!

Relocated a total of 10 and no more since (hopefully.)