How to reinforce 1/2 hardware cloth against snakes?

[gunhoney]

Our coop has 16ga galvanized hardware cloth, but it is 1/2”. We have a ton of black snakes on our property.

I have a few ideas which may be more cost effective than replacing it totally with 1/4”. Would metal window screens fastened along the outside of the mesh work to keep out the baby king snakes? The mesh would provide the structural rigidity but the screen would prevent them from entering totally.
Also is the 2x4 welded wire appropriate for the apron against snakes? I know they will climb, which we are going to reinforce all gaps with 1/4 hardware cloth. I just don’t ever want to deal with relocating a snake from INSIDE the coop!
Thank you!

 

[mowin]

If a snake fit through the 1/2" HC, it's a snack. My gals would be all over that little thing.

 

[aart]

Would metal window screens fastened along the outside of the mesh work to keep out the baby king snakes? The mesh would provide the structural rigidity but the screen would prevent them from entering totally.

Yep, would keep some bugs out too.
But where are these 1/2" HC covered openings you want to re-enforce?
Have you had snakes get thru them?
Some pics would help here.

 

[mviera101]

Yesterday morning when my son let the girls out, they were in the process of relocating a snake. They were fighting over pieces of it and it was fully relocated before I came out. It was a young glass snake that made it through the 1/2 wire mesh. I felt bad because they keep the rats away and are no bother to the chickens. They were definitely protecting their turf very aggressively I might add.

 

[Mtnboomer]

Unless you have young chicks, even an 8ft black snake is not going to swallow an adult chicken and is of little threat. In fact, they will keep the rodents away from your feed which is likely what is attracting them.
They will steal eggs, but their metabolism is slow and I am willing to sacrifice an occasional egg for the benefits they provide. My hens are also protective and do not tolerate a snake in their area.
They will fit through 2"x4" welded wire as well as climb it. As stated before, any snake that fits through 1/2" HC is nothing but a snack to a chicken.
I catch black snakes every year and place them in my garage, well house, and wood shed (all adjacent to my coop) so they get a safe place to live and easy meals of mice and in return i get depletion of the rodent population.