snake prevention

[treehouse]

ok I am really worried. I am new to TTexas and chickens how is the best way to avoid having snakes in our coop (design ideas or other suggestions) I have heard there are chicken snakes!?

 

[Mikeeeeeeeeee]

Chicken snake a nothing much more than a nuisance. They will eat eggs and chicks.
Black snacks are about the same with the exception that they will actually eat smaller Rattlesnakes.

Rattlesnakes, Copperheads, and moccasins are the ones you should worry about.

Small snakes will be killed and eaten by y our chickens.
Also, I have 3 cats that are good snake killers.

Some dogs will also do that for you.

But, a good shotgun will take care of any snake.

 

[silkiechicken]

I say it would be best to learn about your local snakes. Find out which ones are "bad" and which ones are benificial. I know nothing of snakes down there, but I do remember reading that having some snakes around are good, because they prevent the "bad snakes" from coming in.

 

[texaschickmama]

Well, we have had several snakes in our coop. They will find yours too. We had a chicken snake that kept eating our eggs. We filled a plastic easter egg with sand and put it in a nest box. Slowed the snake enough for us to finally find it and kill it. We have also had a copperhead in the coop. We got it and killed it. The snake repellent that we bought does absolutely nothing to deter snakes. I actually think they like the smell of it because we found 2 snakes after putting Snake Away around our coop. It is a all natural powder so it doesn't hurt the chickens, but for us, it did not work.

 

[treehouse]

i need to figure out a way to keep them out. There has to be a way.

 

[Jamie821]

I am with you if you find a way let me know. They talk about good snakes bad snakes well my fear doesnt care about good or bad it is a snake. I have been lucky so far none have gotten in but if they do I will have a heart attack on the spot so my prob will be solved. I wish I knew what to tell you but the prob is I have been trying to figure out that for years and still no answers.

 

[treehouse]

amen jamie! heart attack here too especially if I see one with chick or egg. I think i want to create more of an aviary with stone metal and concrete. plexiglass windows with screens.
maybe that sticky trap stuff I read about surronding with bait blocks for rats and electric wire for dogs racoons skunks etc? oh! and a shot gun for sure!(thanks mike) All snakes are bad too me, they may have some like blk or king that eat posonous ones but I have a deathly fear! I am 42 and that has not changed and never will, I am instantly frozen and almost pass out! A sand filled egg!!!! THAT IS A GREAT IDEA!!!!

 

[chick4chicks]

treehouse, I am with you about being deathly afraid of sneaky snakes. This summer an outdoor cat i feed caught a snake that was near my baby chicks, the adrenalin was pumping so hard I got a shovel and killed the snake. The cat sat and watched me, I told her to let me have it and she did. Good kitty. Bye bye sneaky snake.

 

[treehouse]

I AM JUST PARALIZED! When I see a snake I freeze up and my brain just shuts down, I can not move. I am a very strong and independant person and I know this fear is unrational but I have it. And to think I am from a state that really has few too begin with let alone none deadily I just have to deal with it DOWN HERE IN TEXAS.