How to keep snakes away from chicks

[blue_hydrangea_homestead]

Hello all,

I have 2.5 week old chicks and they were getting too big for their brooder. Yesterday was their first day in the “big run” and they all did fantastic during the day. I went to check on them at 9:30 last night and counted all five.

This morning, I went out there at 7:00 and found only four. Unfortunately the only thing I can suspect that got her was a snake. We have never seen snakes around our property, which obviously isnt to say they’re not there. But I had even *accidentally* left a few eggs outside from when I collected them yesterday, which would have been a much easier meal for the snake! I’m so distraught that I let this happen…

There was no evidence whatsoever, they were all huddled together in probably the safest corner of the run… but the snake still got one

Does anybody have any methods of keeping snakes away that actually works? I know I can google snake repellent but I don’t really like using chemicals in my yard, I have chickens and a dog who gets into EVERYTHING.

I would really love some input!

And yes, the chicks are going in a secure brooder tonight to sleep! Nothing can get them in there!

 

[thecatumbrella]

Do you have a picture of your pen? Depending on the size of the snakes in your area, you might need to go down to 1/4" or 1/8" hardware cloth to keep them out on the walls and skirting.

 

[blue_hydrangea_homestead]

Do you have a picture of your pen? Depending on the size of the snakes in your area, you might need to go down to 1/4" or 1/8" hardware cloth to keep them out on the walls and skirting.

So it’s a run that we built onto the back of our shed, so it has an existing roof. I thought it was pretty secure but obviously there’s multiple ways a snake could get in just about anything… I use 1/4” hardware cloth as well…

 

[thecatumbrella]

Is the hardware cloth only on the walls? Or do you have it running along the ground outside as a skirt? What about the roof? Are there gaps where it meets the walls? Doorways are also weak points if they're not tightly fitted and framed in.

 

[blue_hydrangea_homestead]

Is the hardware cloth only on the walls? Or do you have it running along the ground outside as a skirt? What about the roof? Are there gaps where it meets the walls? Doorways are also weak points if they're not tightly fitted and framed in.

It’s all over, there’s one small spot that I need to make more secure, but still at that, the snakes in my area are usually pretty large… it would be pretty impressive honestly if a snake of that size could get OUT with a chick on its belly

 

[blue_hydrangea_homestead]

It’s all over, there’s one small spot that I need to make more secure, but still at that, the snakes in my area are usually pretty large… it would be pretty impressive honestly if a snake of that size could get OUT with a chick in its belly