Our first death by snake

[The Chaotic Coop]

Figured y’all would be a good venting party, as most people just think of chickens as, well, chickens.. they’re our little buddies and I’ve grown really attached to all of them.

Woke up this morning to a junior chicken with a totally wet head and neck, she didn’t make it through the fight. I’m assuming a snake tried to get her and gave up.

We’ll be picking through every inch of the coop to see where the culprit could’ve gotten in. Any more suggestions? I’m just sick about it and I’m terrified I’ll wake up to another one gone

 

[Henriettamom919]

I'm so sorry! I'm very attached to my girls, too! We understand

The only suggestion I have, assuming the beast came in at ground level, is electric fence around the base of the coop? We only have insect eating snakes here in the Pacific northwest but I've seen others suggest it.

Best of luck finding the point of entry and protecting your babies!

 

[The Chaotic Coop]

I'm so sorry! I'm very attached to my girls, too! We understand

The only suggestion I have, assuming the beast came in at ground level, is electric fence around the base of the coop? We only have insect eating snakes here in the Pacific northwest but I've seen others suggest it.

Best of luck finding the point of entry and protecting your babies!

That’s a great suggestion, I’d never thought of that!! Yes, I am so horribly sad.. this was one of my favorite little buddies. Not that they all aren’t, but it’s just a crapper it had to be this one

 

[Henriettamom919]

That’s a great suggestion, I’d never thought of that!! Yes, I am so horribly sad.. this was one of my favorite little buddies. Not that they all aren’t, but it’s just a crapper it had to be this one

I read somewhere when I got my first three chickens that it's *always* the favorite whenever anything bad happens. My sweet Henrietta was bullied pretty badly a couple months after we got them and it just broke my heart. I'd be devastated if something happened to her that she didn't survive.

I'm sorry you lost your sweety, I completely understand your grief

 

[The Chaotic Coop]

I read somewhere when I got my first three chickens that it's *always* the favorite whenever anything bad happens. My sweet Henrietta was bullied pretty badly a couple months after we got them and it just broke my heart. I'd be devastated if something happened to her that she didn't survive.

I'm sorry you lost your sweety, I completely understand your grief

Thanks for that!!

 

[drumstick diva]

So very sorry -

 

[The Chaotic Coop]

So very sorry -

Thank you, I certainly do not take losses well! I’ll be ok.

 

[Miks]

I’m so very sorry you lost you sweet buddy. I have a favorite that we almost lost as a chick. She fought hard and survived so naturally she became my favorite (but I love them all too)!

One day while free ranging in the garden I looked up and she was running off with a snake in her mouth about 14” long! The other two gens were trying to take it from her but she ran. She downed that snake and I was so afraid it would hurt her because she ate it while it was alive. She was fine but that’s been my only encounter with snakes and hens. I think the snake was a black racer or rat snake.

I did build their palace (coop) on pavers and filled the base with sand. So far no snakes or other critter activity in the coop. Ive only had them a year and I’ve learned so much in 12 months. I also put a Wyze camera in the coop to make sure they are safe. It does a great job and was only a $25 investment. Maybe a bit over the top but it brings me comfort to be able to check in on them!

Please let us know if you figure out how it got in. Again, I’m so very sorry for your loss.

 

[Punkybrewster]

I had a turkey poult killed by a snake. Found it dead with its head and neck wet too. The snake gave up because it was too big to eat. Later in the day the snake came back to try again! It was a big 6 foot black snake. We caught it and relocated it about a mile down the road in a corn field.
Ive heard sprinkling moth balls around the outside of the coop and run helps keep the snakes out. Never tried it but some people swear by it. May be something to try?

 

[Doobly]

So sorry about your sweetheart.