Snake in the coop

[RaptorMom]

I found this fella in the coop this morning. I'm thinking it is an Eastern milksnake? It seems pretty small to be eating eggs; I assume it's there for the mice (which I don't really mind). Could he be a problem for the chickens, though?

 

[swamphiker]

I agree that it looks like an Eastern milksnake. It does look to small to be able to eat eggs. I wouldn't worry about it with your adult chickens, though it could be a threat to chicks.

Folks have different feelings about snakes. I have a number of rat snakes (which are significantly larger than milksnakes) around my coop. They occasionally eat eggs and I learned the hard way that I need to keep pullets in a snake-proof enclosure until they are ~8 weeks old. I don't kill or relocate the snakes because they do me a great service in lowering the pest rodent population.

 

[RaptorMom]

I do have some pullets I hope to integrate soon, but they are 9 weeks, so they should be fine. My main concern was knowing the type of snake. As long as it is not poisonous and not a threat to the chickens I will let him be.
Thanks for the feedback!

 

[SilverBirds]

Agreed, milksnake. He looks plenty big enough to eat eggs and chicks. He won't be any harm to your adults but I would get him out of your coop anyways. Do you know how he got in?

 

[SilverBirds]

I do have some pullets I hope to integrate soon, but they are 9 weeks, so they should be fine. My main concern was knowing the type of snake. As long as it is not poisonous and not a threat to the chickens I will let him be.
Thanks for the feedback!

I had a rat snake about the same size as this guy kill an 11 week old chick during the day just the other week. If he's hungry enough, he'll go after your older chicks.

 

[Al Gerhart]

Snakes come because of mice and rats and stay for the eggs and chicks. Deal with the rodents and you are far less likely to have a snake hanging around.

 

[McChooky]

Snakes learn the hard way what fits and what won't. Smaller snakes regurgitate the head back up when the chickens too big to swallow