Rat Snake Killing my Chickens!

[veebeebee]

Caught ANOTHER snake trying to get in the coop tonight. This is a smaller one but same kind, Yellow rat snake. It couldn’t get in thankfully since we fortified the coop but damn...wish they didn’t kill 2 chickens. I would happily let them coexist but can’t risk it. I
relocated to a nice wooded area along the water.

 

[happyfrenchman]

What you described was classic snake killing pullets. Most BYC members have been there and done that too... Welcome....

The snakes....They grab the pullet and strangle it, then they try to swallow them, hence the sliming of the head and shoulders.... they will kill each one and try to swallow it, with no more success with any of them, and they will all be dead. Usually the snake does not go far and often times there is more than one of them. So search inside your coop thoroughly any time this happens. I kill them if they do damage like that..... Sometimes I just take them for a long drive out into the swamp if I find them out and around. Depends. Yours, I would be killing. That picture of you with the snake from earlier... those are the ones that wind up inside your coop.

 

[strawberry69]

I came home one evening to a rat snake in the actual process of devouring my silkie and it was still daylight. I was freaking out needless to say but it was his last meal.

 

[Butterscotchbitesfinger]

You didn't mean to tell us that one of those amazing, beautiful, wonderful, snakes that people like Steve Irwin was always blabbering about would harm a poor defenseless chicken??? Yea, if that is your intent then, good job.

Steave Erwin was my grandmas cousin

 

[Sberrie]

I know I'm late to this thread but I just lost a 10 week old splash maran. Found her this morning with her head and neck feathers wet looking. Went out tonight to check on the chicks and found two black snakes in the coop. One on a perch with the older girls and another trying to get up to the chicks. Unfortunately I wasnt able to get both so I'm very nervous for their safety.

 

[ColtHandorf]

Like I mentioned in your other thread, I'd pull everything out of the house. I had multiple rat snakes living under the pine shavings.

 

[Joev1973]

CCI never visit the coop without it

 

[Clucktown]

I, too, live in Charleston, SC, and never considered the rat snakes a threat to my bantam flock until I received a call from my mother in law early this morning telling me 2 of my beloved hens were dead. After she described the wet head, but no other trauma to the bodies, I told her to look for a snake inside the coop. She then saw it right away. We were camping 5 hours away, so had to ask a neighbor to assist. I couldn't believe that one would even try to eat a hen and that it would act as a constrictor.

My kids and I are devestated and headed home to bury Brownie and Blueberry. I think the snake was in there when my mother in law locked the coop the previous night, and they all endured a night of terror. The coop fan was knocked over, etc. I have always been a snake lover, but no more. Something has trigered a major uptick in the snake population this year. A month or so ago I caught one trying to eat the baby wrens in the bird box on our porch. I beat it down just in time and my husband relocated it. 2 days later, another came and ate 4 out of 5 baby wrens. I was devestated, but tried to remember nature is cruel at times. Now, I will be the cruel one the next time I see a rat snake in my back yard.

 

[goldysgirl]

I wanted to share this story about a huge yellow rat snake that killed 2 of my pullets last week so others are informed and aware that this could happen...as I had zero clue a rat snake would strangle my babies!

About 4 weeks ago I found a large 5+Ft yellow rat snake in my coop. There were 2 eggs in the nesting box so luckily I caught it before it got them. I pulled the snake out and put it in our shed which has rats and mice so it would eat THEM and not my eggs. Did not see it again and was not missing any eggs.

Last week Wednesday, I just intergrated my 11 week old brahma pullets (4) with my other 2 chickens. There was (still is) tension and one was bullying the babies constantly. I figured it is chicken life and they are asserting their pecking order.

Thursday morning I checked the coop and found 1 pullet dead in the bottom run! I freaked!! She was in the center of the run (8x10) just below their coop door. So I knew it couldnt be a predator from outside like a raccoon or fox. There was no visible injuries at all. Her eyes were open and neck out-stretched. Weird thing was her head and neck were slimey and wet looking with what seems like a little white goo on her. The rest of her body was dry.

First thing I thought was my bully chicken killed her for sure! Somehow spooked her and bullied her to death. I chalked the wet head up to morning dew. I thought about the possibility of a snake but quickly told myself “no way, we don’t have giant constrictors in Charleston SC!!”

I kicked the bully out of the coop that day and let her free range. That night I put her in the shed so she would be safe from the foxes and raccoons that frequent the yard.

At 3am on Friday morning I checked the coop (I’m obsessed) ...another pullet DEAD! I freaked out! Wtff?!!
I Pulled her body out and noticed IMMEDIATELY the same exact signs...wet, slimey head and neck, white goo, eyes open, no visible injuries. The bully chicken IS IN THE SHED! It’s not her!!!

I come inside and starting searching this site for answers. I found others have posted about the slimey, wet head and neck etc. I read posts for hours learning it most likely was a snake! A RAT SNAKE!

That morning, my husband and I fortified the coop. Any gap was covered by 1/4” hardware cloth, chicken wire around coop was covered with it too. Put spray foam and window foam seals in gaps around doors. I mean it’s legit secure I believe!

I had read on a forum once a snake finds a food source it will continue to come back. The snake will come at dusk when they go to roost. The chickens fall into their trance like slumber and the snake will select one, strangle it, and try to swallow it head first. Depending on snake vs chicken size difference, It will most likely not be able to get past the chickens shoulders causing it to regurgitate the body. But the snake will not learn it cannot eat “that” particular prey and will try and try again.

SO I WAITED...WATCHING THE COOP LIKE A HAWK...low and behold!!! Guess who comes out from under the shed at 9pm. Barely any light out but I could see it thanks the my solar spotlight on the coop! JUST LIKE PEOPLE SAID...it
Came back like clockwork. Trying on the 3rd night to murder another chicken! It couldn’t get in but it was trying! It was going through the chicken wire and small gap in door. It was as round as one of those mini coke cans. The hole was less than an inch!

Well...the snake is no longer around and so far...no more deaths! I love animals...I understand they need to survive and it’s instinct. I don’t blame the snake 100%...I blame myself for not being aware and informed.

IF YOU HAVE RAT SNAKES...They don’t just try to eat eggs and chicks. They may try to eat larger pray. I never have ever had this problem in the 5 years Ive had chickens. But every year I learn more about keeping backyard chickens and thank this website and all the other chicken people for their info and knowledge!!

Keep your babies safe and hope at least one person learns from my experience and doesn’t lose any of thier flock!

Take care V

I found a 6 foot rat snake hanging out in the coop one day. The ladies were worried. I took it across the yard and released it and never saw it in the coop again, but I wondered if it would try took take an adult large fowl hen or just the eggs. I guess you never know. Thanks for the warning!

 

[goldysgirl]

Hi again! By no means do I mean this thread to persuade people to kill rat snakes. I love snakes! I have never killed one (well I ran over one crossing the road once but it was as long as the road and I had no choice...still feel bad).

Just letting people know my experience and how I handled it. We have many more rat snakes in the yard as I find their shedded skins...this particular one went rogue I guess. Eyes were bigger than its stomach!

The hole was so small. Couldnt believe it could fit through it.

Here’s a snake I caught a few weeks ago. Let is loose in the shed.

I am pro snake, too. Really pro everything non-invasive, except for mosquitos and ticks...I haven't been able to come up with any benefit for those disease ridden buggars (although I am sure someone could probably come up with something)...and bees and wasps building in and on my home (I am allergic). I think it is good to try to do everything you can on your end to prevent having to kill snakes. I love that snakes are so beneficial for controlling rats and mice and diseases associated with having too many of them. I also support catch, relocation away from other homes, and release when legal to do so.