snake scare?

[Rivera6]

Last night we found a rat snake in the coop,we gently took it out. Today none of the chickens have laid in the coop,as they normally do. I found a nest else where and they are all scattered all over our land. Any reason why this would happen?Think it has anything to do with the snake last night?

 

[boskelli1571]

Absolutely! Snakes will eat eggs, so the ladies are protecting their offspring. Remove the other nests and encourage them to lay in the coop. If they are resistant and continue to lay all over, you are probably going to have to lock them in the coop for a couple of days to break the new 'habit'.
Welcome to the flock!