Is there a way to keep snakes out of the coop?

[gumpsgirl]

In light of everyone's "snake in the coop" stories, I am curious to know if there is a way to keep these egg stealing pests out of the coop. Is there a way to do that? I would sure like to learn if there is one!

My DH works 36 hour shifts most of the time, so that leaves me here to take care of things by myself a lot. I don't mind snakes at a distance, but am not to keen about being trapped in a building with one at my feet, or any other part of my body for that matter!

If there is truly away to keep them out of the coop, I would be so very happy to learn about it!

 

[Liza]

Me too!

 

[ncgnance]

Its pretty easy...you shoot em.LOL just kidding. I don't know of a way to keep them out. I had a black snake 5' or so long. He/she made 3 trips to my coop that I know of. The last time I caught him/her in there, I went for the 22 mag. I shot at him/her 5 times, and missed 5 times. He/she never came back. I don't like to kill non poisonous snakes, but cannot let a snake eat up my profits.

 

[gumpsgirl]

I don't really want to use a gun, because I've never liked them and am pretty darn sure I am not a good shot! I'd be scared I would hit one of my chickens!

Is there something that smells that would keep the snakes at bay?

I know they won't cross a line of sulfur because it burns their bellies, but I don't believe that would be safe for the chickens!

 

[cluckychick]

My mom in law put hedge apples around the outside of her house. Its suppose to deter snakes. She is deathly afraid of them. She hasn't seen any near or in her house. Don't know if it's because of the hedge apples though.

 

[Liza]

What is a hedge apple? Where can I buy sulfur? I am thinking that maybe I can lay a line of surfur outside of the coop. I am not sure where my rat snake came in at but the darn thing scared me and the girls. It was up on the top rung of their roost right where they always sleep. I wanted to shoot it but husband talked me out of it, only because I did not want to blow a hole through the back of the coop, and HE took the snake out of the coop with a shovel and then killed it. Normally if we see a non vemonious snake we just let it go but when you see one in the coop with your girls the urge to kill over comes one!

 

[antiquebuff]

The guy at the feed store told me if I use sulfur and moth balls to be sure the snake is on the outside of the border line you put it on because if it is inside it will not cross the sulfur and will be trapped in you coop! Thats a bad thought!
How does he get in your coop? Are there holes that large or do you leave the chicken door open? I just want to be careful....When I went to feed this morning I saw a snake sliding away from the run..........
Good Luck

 

[chickiedoodle]

Oh oh oh! I do hope that there is something that can be done. I am so very afraid of snakes. Does having a raised house help? I know that they can climb some things but I don't know how well. If you put sulfur down, how often do you have to reapply?

 

[RoostersCrow]

Quote:
Hedge apple is a nickname for Osage Orange. Folks from the heartland know them that way...

We have loads of black snakes around and never have them in our coop. Our floor is concrete so that helps. All doors and windows are tight but... we have the birds door open all the time. I think having plenty of birds in your coop and run helps deter snakes. For the snakes to get into our coop they would have to go through all those birds. Chickens can be ferocious when you run them in a pack! Fifteen chickens, one snake, no contest!

 

[ilovemychickies]

This is going to sound kinda gross, but around here you can buy bottles of fox urine. Do you think that putting some fox urine around your coop would make the snakes go away? Just wonderin'.