Rat snake

[nancykay2kay]

Well.... you are only human.... It is a good lesson to pay attention to the clues around you.... I myself have been guilty.

If it is a snake, it is likely inside the coop hidden. They generally don't go far from their food sources.... Be careful while hunting it.... I would use a pitchfork and a shovel. .... kind of excitement is only good in short increments. LOL. They bite if given the chance... don't let it get you.

There was no attempt to eat the chicken. I am pretty sure the snake isn't in the coop. One chick goes in the coop and up to the roost, the other two stayed out all night last night but tonight they finally went in. I used spray foam wood screws to fill in any crevices. I would hate to have the girls go in there and shut the door and have a repeat of Sunday night. I have raked and cleaned the coop. They don't have a problem with it in the daytime.

 

[happyfrenchman]

I have had snakes kill smaller birds before.... it looked like the snake tried to swallow the bird, but was unable to. The bird was dead nonetheless and the snake was pretty close by when I found it. So snakes can definitely do what you describe. Hopefully you have excluded it from your coop and you will have no further issues with it.

 

[techbsmith]

I am going to need a therapist before this is over. How much peanut butter do you use and what if the mice aren't dead? By the way, thanks for your reply.

It doesn't take much peanut butter - just a smear or two, they will smell it and try to get to it - then fall in and drown. If the rodents aren't dead, I guess you could either turn them loose or finish them off. I'd opt for the second

 

[lazy gardener]

If the spray foam can be reached by your chickens, they will eat it. And if it is urethane foam, that stuff would be toxic, I'm guessing, especially if it is "fresh".

Any varmint caught by me is killed by me. In most areas it is illegal to release a varmint that you have caught anywhere else but on your own property. Having been caught once makes the critter more trap wary, so it becomes even more of a nuisance: You now have a critter that is habituated to hanging around human habitation, and preying on domestic animals, and can't be trapped. Releasing such an animal near some one else's home is not a good idea.

 

[nancykay2kay]

If they aren't wanting to go back in there, I would think there is a good chance the culprit is still in there. If there is a 1/2 crack that would be plenty big for a small maybe adolescent weasel. Bite marks on the thigh were the only injury? If that's the case there may have been a different cause of death and then something scavenging.

I have had snakes kill smaller birds before.... it looked like the snake tried to swallow the bird, but was unable to. The bird was dead nonetheless and the snake was pretty close by when I found it. So snakes can definitely do what you describe. Hopefully you have excluded it from your coop and you will have no further issues with it.

The two hens that refused to go in the coop at night went inside . . .finally . . . and everything was okay this morning. I used spray foam yesterday to shore up any crevices. I did put a bucket of water/peanut butter out and did not catch a mouse, put a lid on it and will try it again tonight. That is not my first choice for catching mice but a dead chicken calls for desperate measures. I don't want mice to attract predators. I haven't seen any weasels in central Texas. I have been more concerned with airborne predators. These are my first chickens so there is a learning curve. They are about half grown and really picky eaters. Maybe going into the coop at night won't be such an issue soon.

 

[happyfrenchman]

Some people will immediately suspect a "weasel". I (living near Macon Ga.) have thankfully never encountered a weasel and I know very little about them. They are apparently bad news.

Snakes and hawks I know pretty well. They have been my main predators. Snakes are in some way connected to rodents but not just.... For rodents, I have a few cats and I also put out a bait station with some bait cakes in it and that will kill your rats/mice without subjecting them to the drowning pool. They generally eat some, go off and die, and that is that. Snakes will hide but will generally return so keep your eyes peeled. Your birds are evidently young... young birds are vulnerable to a lot more than older birds... hawks love youngsters. Snakes,,,, anything would eat a chicken, will doubly eat a young chicken. I find that it is helpful to train the birds to come when you call them. You do this by keeping them hungry and then, giving them a treat, usually in the same area, an area that is convenient for you. (I do mine in front of their coop) You put the treat in a can and shake it, then give it to them. They will get to where they will come when you shake the can. Can be handy. Picky eaters mean they are not that hungry. Which is ok. But for getting more control of them treats can be handy. Mine will come running when they see me, which is somewhat inconvenient, but if I need to put them in. (say a strange dog was in the front yard and I want them in.....) keeping them on the hungry side, I open the door, throw the scratch inside the coop and within two minutes, they are all inside.

Work on your rat issue if you have one.... but also keep an eye out for a chicken snake will be attracted to the eggs too. Work on sealing up your coop. Getting your birds a little more organized..... there are a lot of things you can do.

 

[nancykay2kay]

If the spray foam can be reached by your chickens, they will eat it. And if it is urethane foam, that stuff would be toxic, I'm guessing, especially if it is "fresh".

Any varmint caught by me is killed by me. In most areas it is illegal to release a varmint that you have caught anywhere else but on your own property. Having been caught once makes the critter more trap wary, so it becomes even more of a nuisance: You now have a critter that is habituated to hanging around human habitation, and preying on domestic animals, and can't be trapped. Releasing such an animal near some one else's home is not a good idea.

The foam was removed from the coop before the chickens were allowed back inside. If I had caught a mouse in the bucket my plan was to remove him about half a mile down the road to the Colorado River Reserve. I am sure there are a lot of critters that would like them, dead or alive. They could make new friends or become someones supper. I appreciate your concern.

It doesn't take much peanut butter - just a smear or two, they will smell it and try to get to it - then fall in and drown. If the rodents aren't dead, I guess you could either turn them loose or finish them off. I'd opt for the second

It doesn't take much peanut butter - just a smear or two, they will smell it and try to get to it - then fall in and drown. If the rodents aren't dead, I guess you could either turn them loose or finish them off. I'd opt for the second

I didn't catch anything last night. I used liberal peanut butter and six inches of water in a five gallon bucket. It was buy the coop and a trailer tongue made a natural bridge to the top. I had a plan that I would take the bucket to the Colorado River Nature Preserve, dead or alive the mice would be a hit with any number of critters. I will try again tonight.

 

[nancykay2kay]

It doesn't take much peanut butter - just a smear or two, they will smell it and try to get to it - then fall in and drown. If the rodents aren't dead, I guess you could either turn them loose or finish them off. I'd opt for the second

Got him. He was a little longer than two feet, more like four. I didn't catch any mice but the snake was on the roof of the chicken coop, trying to get in. It may not have been the one I saw so there may be another one. There is no sign of mice but I am going to leave the bucket out one more night.

 

[happyfrenchman]

Bravo..... you got him. As you say, there might be more. He is not after rodents. Your coop is very small and most of the rodents probably live outside it same as the snake. If he is not dead, I would take him for a very long ride. You have probably learned a great deal through this adventure. Welcome to the wonderful world of chickenry.

 

[nancykay2kay]

Some people will immediately suspect a "weasel". I (living near Macon Ga.) have thankfully never encountered a weasel and I know very little about them. They are apparently bad news.

Snakes and hawks I know pretty well. They have been my main predators. Snakes are in some way connected to rodents but not just.... For rodents, I have a few cats and I also put out a bait station with some bait cakes in it and that will kill your rats/mice without subjecting them to the drowning pool. They generally eat some, go off and die, and that is that. Snakes will hide but will generally return so keep your eyes peeled. Your birds are evidently young... young birds are vulnerable to a lot more than older birds... hawks love youngsters. Snakes,,,, anything would eat a chicken, will doubly eat a young chicken. I find that it is helpful to train the birds to come when you call them. You do this by keeping them hungry and then, giving them a treat, usually in the same area, an area that is convenient for you. (I do mine in front of their coop) You put the treat in a can and shake it, then give it to them. They will get to where they will come when you shake the can. Can be handy. Picky eaters mean they are not that hungry. Which is ok. But for getting more control of them treats can be handy. Mine will come running when they see me, which is somewhat inconvenient, but if I need to put them in. (say a strange dog was in the front yard and I want them in.....) keeping them on the hungry side, I open the door, throw the scratch inside the coop and within two minutes, they are all inside.

Work on your rat issue if you have one.... but also keep an eye out for a chicken snake will be attracted to the eggs too. Work on sealing up your coop. Getting your birds a little more organized..... there are a lot of things you can do.

Unfortunately a rat got your chicken

Bravo..... you got him. As you say, there might be more. He is not after rodents. Your coop is very small and most of the rodents probably live outside it same as the snake. If he is not dead, I would take him for a very long ride. You have probably learned a great deal through this adventure. Welcome to the wonderful world of chickenry.

Oh, he is very dead. I think he has friends but the good news is that he couldn't get in the coop. Yes, the coop is small and they have an eight by thirty foot run. I wonder when the "wonderful" is supposed to start. I am getting very discouraged. Thanks for your support and information.