I HATE snakes and need best advise on how to keep them away from coop

[Chicken Coop Cop]

I have been told to put moth balls all around boundary. I know there is no sure way to keep them out but any adivce would be helpful. Thanks

 

[Bi0sC0mp]

they make a repellent called snake away works great lowes should carry it and what kind of snakes are you talking about also

 

[CrowinKing]

I heard lime works!! Never tried it!

 

[Chicken Coop Cop]

Just starting to "snake proof" coop, I have cooperheads, black snakes, all varietys... That's my concern, I just don't know what the coop will attact. I figured my best bet would be to pre-treat before I put the chics in the coop. Snake away has a mothball odor and a friend states she keeps Timber Rattler's away with moth balls.

 

[msrma7670]

Greetings from GEORGIA

IF you have lots of money to burn snake away is great, moth balls would hurt your chickens.
If you want to keep snakes away it is very simple create a good coop that is four sided and a small door off the ground for the birds to hop through.
Beyond that it is just common sense feed the chickens just right so there is no spillage of feed. This will atract the mice/rats which will in turn bring snakes knocking at your door. No mice/rats no snakes if you do get one it is more of luck he happened upon them most snakes do not go after eggs as there first choice, they will little peeps so protect them a snake will not kill what it can not eat unlike it's best friend humans.
I love snakes my self I keep two pythons in my bedroom and the dog, cat, and chickens all stay outside, even the kids lizard is outside. People have trouble with snakes alot of times from over feeding the animals and spilling around the yard which attracts the rodents.
Kill the rodens and you kill the snake problem.

 

[Chicken Coop Cop]

True, I am deep in the woods and I don't have a mice problem yet.. I think maybe that's why I was so hesitant on even raising chickens for eggs. My friend has made a lasso out of pvc and cord--she rounds the snakes up and takes them off. I just don't have the strength to save a snake.... I have let the black ones go but I'm really bad with the poision snakes. I'm just searching for good ideas and preventatives, but being realistic I know everything you say is true. Thanks Peach!

 

[firebugfab]

sulfur (comes in powder form at the feed or hardware store)

 

[estpr13]

What kind of snakes? My hens have killed and eaten 5 or more small gardner snakes this spring. The lady I received my Delawares from stated that her Dellies had a free for all over some small rattlers. When I was growing up my grandma would get rattlers and black snakes out of the hen house because they would swallow eggs then roll around and break them. She showed me a 6 foot or so black snake with an egg inside. Other than an egg or small chick the snakes will not bother the hens. The hens on the other hand tend to go crazy. Perhaps faux eggs that cannot be broken?
I've never had to deal with them.

 

[Wraith]

Quote:
Poisonous ones need to go. I used to think it was cool to let them "serve their purpose" but once I had kids I realized it was foolish to allow them on my small piece of land.

 

[Clark]

Hello you might try that red bark looking mulch a friend of ours' swears by it Gurl!