Do snakes dig holes ???

[scflock]

scflock, what did you use for the floors ?

I raised all the coops at least 14 inches off the ground, framed with 2x4s, floored with 5/8 inch plywood, sealed edges, then covered with linoleum
Love that username btw

 

[SAMnELLA]

Thankyou, scflock. I know we can't raise ours. So I'll have to figure something out for the floor. Meanwhile I keep checking for new holes. I have the same holes and tunnels around the edge of the barn.

 

[scflock]

Thankyou, scflock. I know we can't raise ours. So I'll have to figure something out for the floor. Meanwhile I keep checking for new holes. I have the same holes and tunnels around the edge of the barn.

I really do think that is mice. I had a big problem with it when I first started, but now I have bigger coops and room for large pens, so it was easy for me to just go bigger. Mice will come from everywhere. If you have feeders sitting on the ground, they will dig right up under them. They are opportunistic, and will go after anything that is easy to get to. The main thing is keeping free sources of food away from them, like keeping feeders off the ground etc...
I'm sorry I can't be of more help, but I'll bet if you went to the predators forum there will be plenty of people that will have other ideas. Good Luck

 

[SAMnELLA]

FOUND the culprit !!! A snake, not sure what kind, but we shot it and opened it up....sure enough there was the poor chick ! ! We got him !!!

Hope theres no more. But there prob. will be.

 

[SAMnELLA]

x

 

[enola]

Did you take pictures? If not google snakes native to your area, you may see him there. There are threads on here about using minnow traps to catch snakes. Some people also lay plastic netting around where snakes travel to catch them.

But, your main problem is the mice. They are making the tunnels the snake is using for access to your chicks.

 

[enola]

...... Well we posted at the same time!

 

[enola]

Looks like a rat snake. But a picture of his body would help.

 

[SAMnELLA]

OK it's gross but....

 

[enola]

Pretty sure that is a rat snake.

I think snakes are beautiful. But, not in the chicken coop. I have a pet corn snake, right beside the chair I am sitting in while posting this.

If you have more snakes, the only way to get rid of them and keep them away, is get rid of your mouse population. Snakes will not hang around if there are not mice to eat.