I have no experience with automatic doors, but I have my share of snakes -- ranging from wiggly little garter snakes to bull snakes that have, on occasion, been almost 5 feet long.
I've found snakes in plenty of places, including a box of dishes being stored in the garage and curled around the water heater pipes in my basement (old farmhouses have plenty of charm and lots of ways for critters to get inside).
But I have no problems with snakes in or by the coops. My coops are secure; the runs and ventilation windows have hardware cloth; all chickens, ducks and geese are housed at night with double-latched doors; and feed is stored in metal garbage cans to deter opportunistic, unwanted diners. Spilled feed is an open invitation to countless wild things.
The only snake-caused casualty has been a nest of baby robins in a shrub by the house; as soon as I realized what it was doing, that bull snake was relocated to the far edge of the property. There, it probably feasted on mice in the barn.
My chickens deal with the few mice that get into the coops. I have live traps for mice that get indoors -- fall harvest time brings an influx looking for food and shelter. But mice found my house attractive long before I had chickens.
The last mouse I saw outdoors was in the beak of one of my Iowa Blues, who was playing keep away to prevent others from taking her prized snack.
Mice and snakes are always a possibility, but I hope you don't let that overshadow the joys of having chickens. I spent part of yesterday's unseasonably warm, sunny afternoon just sitting in the yard, watching my birds. Two of my younger girls jumped onto my lap and hung out with me. Priceless!
Welcome to BYC! Let us know when that brooder has babies in it!
I've found snakes in plenty of places, including a box of dishes being stored in the garage and curled around the water heater pipes in my basement (old farmhouses have plenty of charm and lots of ways for critters to get inside).
But I have no problems with snakes in or by the coops. My coops are secure; the runs and ventilation windows have hardware cloth; all chickens, ducks and geese are housed at night with double-latched doors; and feed is stored in metal garbage cans to deter opportunistic, unwanted diners. Spilled feed is an open invitation to countless wild things.
The only snake-caused casualty has been a nest of baby robins in a shrub by the house; as soon as I realized what it was doing, that bull snake was relocated to the far edge of the property. There, it probably feasted on mice in the barn.
My chickens deal with the few mice that get into the coops. I have live traps for mice that get indoors -- fall harvest time brings an influx looking for food and shelter. But mice found my house attractive long before I had chickens.
The last mouse I saw outdoors was in the beak of one of my Iowa Blues, who was playing keep away to prevent others from taking her prized snack.
Mice and snakes are always a possibility, but I hope you don't let that overshadow the joys of having chickens. I spent part of yesterday's unseasonably warm, sunny afternoon just sitting in the yard, watching my birds. Two of my younger girls jumped onto my lap and hung out with me. Priceless!
Welcome to BYC! Let us know when that brooder has babies in it!
We're so happy you've decided to join us 
