More Snake Questions

[2boxers]

A week or two ago, we killed two snakes in our coop, snakes that were eating all of the eggs. For a few days after that we got no eggs because my husband's Mossburg scared the fooey out of the girls. Then for a few days, we got a good amount of eggs. Now, not so much again.

They aren't molting. My girls are not eating eggs (no shell bits or anything laying around.) Could I have another secret snake? The two snakes we killed had been in business for a couple of days prior to my discovering them. Do snakes leave any clues when they visit? Is there some way I can look for evidence of a snake, or do I have to open the coop door and get the fooey scared outta me again before I can be certain?

 

[lisahaschickens]

my advice is to make the coop 100% snake-proof. That's your only guarantee. Snakes can get through the tiniest spaces, so you have to really lock things up tightly. I am a huge snake lover so I hate to hear about the killing of snakes, but I understand that they were eating your eggs. However, I do think it will continue to be a problem for you unless you snake-proof the coop. You probably wouldn't know they've been there unless you catch them in the act... they don't leave anything behind and they swallow the eggs whole, so no shell or anything.

 

[Judy]

They leave trails in flour, if you can figure out how to set that up.

 

[Rising_Phoenix]

you may find shed skin is they are hanging out around the coop. or maybe some droppings

 

[Chicks R Friends NOT Food]

I would look for shed skin, poo that is obviously not belonging to birds, and check maybe in the hay or under... whatever is in the coop that a snake could hide under. You may discover a culprit.

 

[edb]

A farmer told me he put plastic eggs out near his coop in small cages. The snakes swallows the imitation eggs and gets stuck in the cages(THE EGG INSIDE THE SNAKE WONT BREAK OR GO THROUGH THE WIRE). He said that he catches several snakes every year like that.

 

[2boxers]

Would those plastic Easter eggs work? Does it matter if they are colored? I really do freak out over snakes, but at the moment, it's just making me angry. Just imagining that there is some slithery thing down there sneaking away with my ladies' hard work...Grrr.

 

[deerman]

Quote:

Hardboil eggs work better. Now it will not kill the snake, they will not throw it back up either.

 

[LynneP]

And search the rafters, they often sleep indoors and raid when you are no longer in the coop. Must be terrifying for your hens. Bag it and relocate...

 

[Bridget399]

I LOVE that expanding foam! I have had many black rat snakes in my house, and have had success with the foam. It's cheap and easy to use.
I've been trying to prevent them from coming into my coop, too. I stapled hardware cloth over any gaps (even the tiniest ones) and spray foamed over top. Once it's dried you can use a box cutter to cut off access. Let us know what works for you.