BIG problem with snakes what do I do !!!!!

[wildrooster1]

go out there and yep a snake so after the huge panic attack and the hr it took to get it killed go out there not even 2 hrs later and ANOTHER snake. oh I am so scared to get eggs anymore. for about 2 weeks my eggs have dwindled down to just a few a day. now i know why. is there anything i can do. please help !!

 

[Cacique500]

...also works on spiders...

On a more serious note...I'm in the process of installing 1/2" hardware cloth around the entire coop/run to prevent any snake issues with my little ones... Maybe try the fake egg (Cracker Barrel sells white ceramic eggs and brown ceramic eggs)?

 

[Teila]

Even though this is a very serious subject I confess to

@ Cacique500's solution.

 

[LovePolish2]

...also works on spiders...

On a more serious note...I'm in the process of installing 1/2" hardware cloth around the entire coop/run to prevent any snake issues with my little ones... Maybe try the fake egg (Cracker Barrel sells white ceramic eggs and brown ceramic eggs)?

 

[ocap]

I have heard of snakes swallowing fake eggs and dying because they could not brake them after swallowing. There is a pistol that uses 410 shotgun shells and is the best snake gun. I am always looking where I step knowing that they are most dangerous when stepped on.

 

[centrarchid]

Can you make it so snakes cannot climb into the nests after eggs? I have always had snakes but number of eggs they consumed never amounted to much. A snake can consume only so many eggs before it must hunker down and process them.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I’ve had a 5’ black snake take 4 eggs at a time from under a broody, digest them, then come back for more two or three days later. If you’re only getting a few eggs a day, that becomes noticeable. Or it sounds like the OP has more than one snake visiting,

Snakes are hard. They can climb really well, get through some pretty small holes, and might visit any time day or night. When my eggs drop from 9 a day average to maybe 5 a day every few days, I suspect a snake. I have had them swallow golf balls and not be able to get back out through the hole they came in. I’m retired so when I suspect a snake is visiting I drop into the coop a lot during the day to try to catch it. I also gather all eggs and don’t leave any in the coop overnight, except when I have a broody.

I’m not sure I believe a snake swallowing a golf ball or ceramic egg will actually kill it. I’ve read they can regurgitate bones and other indigestible parts of their prey. I read that over the internet so I don’t know how reliable it really is.

When I had that snake eating eggs out from under the broody, I put plastic Easter eggs under her, filled with sand and glued shut. That snake did not touch them. I did not try golf balls.

I have not tried this, but someone posted photos on here of their method to trap snakes. They put a minnow trap with eggs as bait along the trail the snake was suspecting of using.

Another method I have not tried is to take some plastic bird netting and twist/tangle that around the coop, again trying to put it where the snake is traveling. The idea is that the snake gets tangled up in it and can’t get away. As I said, I haven’t tried that.

Good luck with your snakes. I usually don’t bother non-venomous snakes too small to eat eggs or baby chicks, but I do get upset when my chicks or eggs get eaten. As long as they stay away from my eggs and chicks I appreciate the mice and such the snakes can eat.

 

[centrarchid]

I do nothing to control snakes yet they cause no problems. If OP's snake abundance high, then determine why. It is wrong time of year for close proximity to hibernacula to be reason for abundance. What alternative prey types are abundant that might support lots of snakes. First to consider is rodents, if rodents highly abundant, then look into ways to control them. A reduced prey base will cause snakes to decline in number or move on.

 

[wildrooster1]

lost 3 of my babys yesterday,one look like it was have swollowed then spit up and found fang marks on the others,i hope i catch this snake before i loose to many,any more ideas would be greatly appreiated

WildRooster1