Snake proofing?

[alwaystj9]

I keep one broody hen at a time in an enclosed part of the pen. 3 different hens each hatched 5-6 chicks each (over the summer) of which all but 3 disappeared. The current hen went from 3 chicks to 1 this week. No bodies, no trauma, no disturbed pen/holes. All I can figure is rat snakes. The pen is inside another pen and is covered with a mix of mesh wires, a couple of different types. (the net/mesh mess is tight enough to contain new chicks. The top is covered partly by tin, plus woven fence wire and poultry netting over the whole run. I have removed and relocated 2 snakes that were in nest boxes (eating eggs) in the open parts of the run this summer. Could I be overlooking a different predator? I really don't want to cover the whole broody pen with hardware cloth, are there any other options that would be snake proof?

 

[bill3607]

Some good sized snakes can get through some pretty small holes and they will go through some extremes to get to eggs and chicks. I killed 2 big ones in one week last year that got inside through 1/2 inch crack at the roof level of a 10 ft. tall coop. Everything else was completely closed up solid or with hardware cloth. When I found them they tried to escape going back up the wall to the crack but couldn't get out because they had swallowed large ceramic eggs. The fake eggs inside them would not fit through the crack. I was able to pull them back down and kill them, and I got my fake eggs back.

You have already had snakes, so that is probably what got your chicks. Close up any holes or cracks securely with hardware cloth or with something.

 

[alwaystj9]

Thank you. I probably need to recover the whole thing due to the patchwork nature of an old farm. I was more concerned with keeping the biddies in than in snake proofing. I am always astonished that the hens don't react crazily. I have pulled egg-full snakes out of nest boxes with hens in them.

 

[AZcluckers]

Hardware cloth doesn't work to keep snakes out. My dog got bit by a rattler a year ago, so we put hardware cloth on all openings in my backyard fenced area. We had another snake in our yard a few months ago. Unless the snakes are finding a new way in, hardware cloth doesn't work, unfortunately. My backyard fence is a brick wall, so I guess it might be possible or slithered up the wall. But I'm not sure.

 

[alwaystj9]

I have seen them go up chain link fences...

 

[bill3607]

I have seen them go up chain link fences...

Chain link fences would not be hard for them. If you get the 1/4" hardware cloth and fasten it right, they cannot get in. You might have a very tiny one get by it, but they will not usually be a harm to your chicks. They would probably just be a meal for your grownups.

 

[bill3607]

Another thing to watch out for is sealing them up inside wherever you are trying to keep them out of. They hide pretty well. I have seen it happen where the snake was already in the coop and it gets secured trapping the snake in with his food source.

 

[bill3607]

Hardware cloth doesn't work to keep snakes out. My dog got bit by a rattler a year ago, so we put hardware cloth on all openings in my backyard fenced area. We had another snake in our yard a few months ago. Unless the snakes are finding a new way in, hardware cloth doesn't work, unfortunately. My backyard fence is a brick wall, so I guess it might be possible or slithered up the wall. But I'm not sure.

If you don’t have it completely closed in, including the top, it is not going to keep snakes, and a lot of other things, out.

 

[alwaystj9]

That would be my luck. When I installed the poultry netting I accidently created a "possum tunnel" (maybe a possum funnel) and lost several chickens before I set up a trail cam and saw what I had done. I actually had a lovely pic of the possum stepping over the camera.

 

[alwaystj9]

I am planning to recover the whole thing. I have until next chick season, I guess, hopefully no more broodies until spring. I am trying to be broad-minded but I really hate snakes. They need to go raise their own chickens & eggs.