Found this in the coup this morning

[Dwen]

yeah, yikes is right!




He was coiled beneath the woodchips there.

 

[dracoe19]

I have had a snake go into my coop before and take my eggs. He also took out some of those pesky mice in there too! He looks like a black king snake not poisonous which is good. Those guys are always nice to keep around for rodent issue but it's definetly a surprise when they are in a coop!

 

[BirdyMe]

Whoah!!! Nice!! I love that first picture!!

 

[Dwen]

I like snakes, just not surprise snakes.

He must have snuck in last night while the chickens were free ranging the yard, because the only way for a snake with his girth to bypass all the hardware cloth would be to go up the ramp and through the chicken door.
I'm wondering if he didn't sleep under a chicken last night because there's one girl who loves to spend the night in that exact spot. "Ooooh, waarm!"

 

[cecosugi]

Oh...creepy. I really don't like snakes.

 

[Loki0]

I like snakes, just not surprise snakes.

He must have snuck in last night while the chickens were free ranging the yard, because the only way for a snake with his girth to bypass all the hardware cloth would be to go up the ramp and through the chicken door.
I'm wondering if he didn't sleep under a chicken last night because there's one girl who loves to spend the night in that exact spot. "Ooooh, waarm!"

Maybe he made friends with that chicken? I bet that chicken was a bit startled. "What's that slithering thing doing in my nest? Since he's not bothering me, I guess I'll leave him alone."

 

[Oregon Blues]

He'll be keeping the mice down. As long as he isn't big enough to swallow eggs, he's a good addition to the coop.

 

[locke2121]

Yep...they really do a number on mice and small rats. Wrap your coop in some 1/4 to 1/2 inch hardware cloth...he won't be able to get back in...and may hang around awhile to keep the rodent population down!

 

[okherp]

He looks like a black king snake not poisonous which is good.

He's actually a black rat snake, still nonvenomous and very beneficial, assuming you don't have young chicks.

 

[Mommy 2 Wee Ones]

Was putting my chickens to bed last night (because the silly things wanted to play late 8:15 pm, and they were all out but the Mama's & their babies. Went back at 8:30 pm) And my pullets were under the coop, so I grabbed one, put her away & went back for the other two, when your picture(2 feet of it) slithered by the left side of me. I nearly jumped the fence. I grabbed the other two pullets & put them away, and ran to the house to get my hubby.
So tonight I made sure everyone was locked up well before dark, and I was checking the ground every few seconds.

As long as my chicks are secure, I am fine, but I do not want to see a snake that close again!