GRAPHIC WARNING: Raccoon attack part 2 SNAKES

[Oddyseous]

So, I posted earlier a week ago or so regarding losing 12 chickens in a single night to a raccoon attack. Since then we've been keeping our chickens locked in the hen house instead of letting what should be a secure chicken run area stay open, so in the evening we shut them in and in the morning we let them out.

Noticed some holes in the hen house I didn't see before so I patched those up. Made some good progress, felt like my chickens were safe, or safe enough for now.

Hours later I walk in to see a black snake or northern cottonmouth EATING ONE OF MY CHICKENS!

SO, I took a all metal snow shovel, pinned down it's head because it was too greedy to feel threatened by me and spit out my chicken. Then cut off the head. If this was a cottonmouth, which it looks like, it's one of the most poisonous snakes in the US.

Will my poor chickens ever get a break?

Attached are the before and after photos, it has no head in the after photos.

 

[Geena]

Unfortunately it seems like you never get a break when you have chickens. They seem to draw in every predator for miles around. That looks like a black rat snake.

 

[McChooky]

You need 1/2" hardware cloth around the bottom and sides if raccoons and snakes are killing your chickens. It'll keep both out. Sorry for your loss.

 

[the_kitchen__drawer]

So, I posted earlier a week ago or so regarding losing 12 chickens in a single night to a raccoon attack. Since then we've been keeping our chickens locked in the hen house instead of letting what should be a secure chicken run area stay open, so in the evening we shut them in and in the morning we let them out.

Noticed some holes in the hen house I didn't see before so I patched those up. Made some good progress, felt like my chickens were safe, or safe enough for now.

Hours later I walk in to see a black snake or northern cottonmouth EATING ONE OF MY CHICKENS!

SO, I took a all metal snow shovel, pinned down it's head because it was too greedy to feel threatened by me and spit out my chicken. Then cut off the head. If this was a cottonmouth, which it looks like, it's one of the most poisonous snakes in the US.

Will my poor chickens ever get a break?

Attached are the before and after photos, it has no head in the after photos.

Local snake guy, here, I appears to be a black rat snake. It’s young, hence the markings. They go from grey with black saddle patches to that smooth black. Can’t tell, but if It had a white neck/chin , that’s another rat snake signal. Moccosons dint really prefer bein away from their water

 

[Krisellen]

Definitely NOT a water moccasin - agree with the kitchen drawer that it's a black rat snake. They can get in a 1" hole - they love eggs but will take small chicks. Also, just because your chickens can roost up high doesn't mean a coon can't climb. Sleeping chickens are literally in a stupor state and therefore are extremely vulnerable in the dark.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Sorry for your losses and challenges. It takes nerves of steel, dogged determination, and sheer cussed stubbornness to be a chicken tender! Hang in there, you can do it!

 

[McChooky]

Snakes,rats and weasels can squeeze in openings bigger than 1/2". Good luck patching those holes! Sooner or later they all manage to find them.