Snake ate one of my babies

[Attila the Hen]

I know I am repeating myself but I think it is worth it in this case. I had 3 chicks about 4 weeks old. I kept them in the bathroom but put them out in the closed coop for a break. I walked the dogs and came back in 15 minutes. In that short amount of time a black King snake had eaten one of the babies. A neighbor came and caught it and relocated it some distance away. The snake was about 6 feet long and we splent about 30 minutes together while I told it how lucky it was to still be alive.

The coop was closed but I think the snake came under the door. It doesn't seem to present a danger to my full grown birds, but probably accounts for fewer eggs recently.

I have created another space that is next to the back door so I can keep an eye on the babies when I put them outside. I don't think chickens belong in the bathroom but it is the safest place--when we remember to close the door and the toilet seat.

 

[tinydancer87]

Snakes!

My parents' had a real problem one year with corn snakes. Every day there was a 5-7 footer, climbing on the perches or in the nests eating eggs. My brother painted a stripe on one with blue spray paint and relocated it about 5 miles away. A week later it was in the coop again. They also ate some turkey poults that year. Once they find a food source, they don't stray too far away. In this instance, I think the snake was living under the coop bedding (deep litter).

 

[Attila the Hen]

That is an incredible story about the painted snake finding its way back from 5 miles away!!!!!!!!
I know the snake has a purpose and eats poisonous snakes but I may kill it if I see it again. Not my nature, but they are my birds.
Someone told me to put mothballs around the base of the coop.

 

[Jubilee1111]

Not that this has anything to do with your snake issue, Attila the Hen... but my current competition dog was born in Blue Ridge almost 5 years ago I'm humming It's a small world

 

[Attila the Hen]

Well, it's a great place snakes and all.