Not so fast!

[Callous Gallus]

The first day I installed my flock to coop I had a visitor! It’s had me worried this may become habit. As this was the fourth snake I saw on property in 5 days, but only one I noticed at coop.
I walked him / her / they /their (I didn’t check the undercarriage) to the back a few acres and haven’t had a visitor since.
Maybe the increased activity around the birds is deterring.
the parties were 2 black rat snake, one yellow rat snake and a king snake.
Fingers crossed nobody is breaching the maximum security henitetary.
That is all.

 

[DobieLover]

Gorgeous snake!
I'm glad that you moved him/her/it on instead of killing it. Your set up looks very well reinforced so I would just let them stay. They will hunt the rodents that are attracted to your setup and help control their populations.

 

[dawg53]

The first day I installed my flock to coop I had a visitor! It’s had me worried this may become habit. As this was the fourth snake I saw on property in 5 days, but only one I noticed at coop.
I walked him / her / they /their (I didn’t check the undercarriage) to the back a few acres and haven’t had a visitor since.
Maybe the increased activity around the birds is deterring.
the parties were 2 black rat snake, one yellow rat snake and a king snake.
Fingers crossed nobody is breaching the maximum security henitetary.
That is all.

I have experience with yellow rat snakes. They will eat chicks, regurgitate pullets and cockerals, and will drag an adult Buff Orpington hen off the roost at night and try to kill it. They go after chickens day or night.
Kill them.

 

[Callous Gallus]

I have experience with yellow rat snakes. They will eat chicks, regurgitate pullets and cockerals, and will drag an adult Buff Orpington hen off the roost at night and try to kill it. They go after chickens day or night.
Kill them.

Good to know.
The area has been free of snakes for a few weeks now. I do range the birds briefly (~1.5hrs daily) under supervision with the dispatch weapon at hand. if it becomes a problem, the problem will be solved.
Until then it can enjoy the seemingly dozens of young rabbits that have sprung up everywhere.

 

[50-45-1]

I agree with DobieLover.
Your setup looks very secure.
Dont kill the snakes that will keep your rodent population down.
I find it best to live in harmony with natural preditors when possible for this very reason.
I have blue racers and a weasel that work on rodents, but also a secure coop that protect my chickens from them.
Mice and rat infestations are disgusting and hard to irradicate.
WOW! to you for picking up that snake!

 

[Kiki]

Would you please take a few more pictures of your coop?
I'd like to see the whole set up.

 

[Callous Gallus]

Would you please take a few more pictures of your coop?
I'd like to see the whole set up.

All coop design credit should go to @Chook-A-Holic and his great plan and material list here https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/permanent-hoop-coop-guide.47818/

I was able to use one less cattle panel and the end walls are paneled, those are the only real differences. the very top of my end walls are not paneled.

My Roost, dropppings board and nest box are an experiment as this is my first time with chickens. as the weather here is hot summer mild winter there are just two half walls for draft protection. May tarp the other long side in winter. We’ll see.

image 1 has no tarp yet
2 has tarp no “draft board / huddle area
3 has draft boards visible in background.

i built in in 6 not full speed days at ~$950 cost.
Tanks for the interest in the build!

Again please see link to the original designer, great tutorial and may thanks due to @Chook-A-Holic