Snake

[RosemaryDuck]

Fairly sure it was a snake.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/odd-deaths-graphic-photo.1482096/#post-24699851

To me this looks like a dog kill. Dogs will frequently kill chickens by 'playing' with them to death, slobbering all over them but not chewing or eating them.

 

[McChooky]

The snake in the video is a completely harmless Black rat snake. They will not (and cannot) kill your chickens. They will eat the occasional egg and possibly a day old chick but they are incapable of killing and eating a full grown chicken.

Unless you have Burmese pythons where you live, your chickens are not in any danger. It's likely a secondary predator killing your hens.

I lost a few young hens to a snake and posted previously. After losing the hens I put an SD card in my Wyze cam. Today I noticed I was missing a lot of eggs, and the SD card paid off. See video. I have to come up with a snake defense plan.

Ignore the junk in the nest boxes. They aren't used and it keeps the young ones out at night.

I'm not gathering eggs if I have to deal with any snakes period.

 

[McChooky]

Could the snake climb to the top row of nesting boxes?

Sure can! I've seen them climb over a 6 ft chain link fence to get inside when they couldn't go thru it.

 

[cherrynberry]

Sure can! I've seen them climb over a 6 ft chain link fence to get inside when they couldn't go thru it.

Yeah...Our nesting boxes are roughly 4 feet from the ground. Not sure if a snake would be able to climb a wooden wall.

 

[Geena]

The snake in the video is a completely harmless Black rat snake. They will not (and cannot) kill your chickens. They will eat the occasional egg and possibly a day old chick but they are incapable of killing and eating a full grown chicken.

Unless you have Burmese pythons where you live, your chickens are not in any danger. It's likely a secondary predator killing your hens.

I love snakes, but a black snake could indeed kill a chicken. I had a black snake kill one of my Pomeranians! I know for sure that's what happened because I had to wrench the damn thing from around his neck. I'm pretty sure it wasn't looking to kill the dog, most likely he was harassing it and it fought back. But still my poor little boy was strangled to death, and just a few points from his championship.
RIP King

 

[cherrynberry]

I love snakes, but a black snake could indeed kill a chicken. I had a black snake kill one of my Pomeranians! I know for sure that's what happened because I had to wrench the damn thing from around his neck. I'm pretty sure it wasn't looking to kill the dog, most likely the dog was harassing it and it fought back. But still my poor little boy was strangled to death, and just a few points from his championship.
RIP King

No! I better be careful with my small dog then...thats a bummer.

 

[McChooky]

It a rat snake can fight a hawk and wrap it up so bad it can't fly away or defend itself you better believe one could kill a grown chicken .They can't swallow a chicken but yes they kill them .The only thing that would stop a snake from trying to kill a grown chicken is its getting enough chicks or eggs to eat and not hungry enough.

https://www.chron.com/news/houston-...iled-hawk-battle-Northlake-Texas-13736109.php

 

[McChooky]

Wow! The rooster fled himself...interesting video, thanks for posting.

With good reason...this video will show you what a rat snake can do.

6 ft rat snake EXPLODES into chicken coop for lunch.​

 

[tsperry88]

This is what I am trying. Stuff I had laying around. Ground is insulated from actual ground, so a creature has to contact both bars. It should be a good jolt.

 

[neo71665]

I'm not gathering eggs if I have to deal with any snakes period.

So you just gonna feed the snakes and invite more?

I hate snakes but I will catch kingsnakes and put them in my sheds and barn for rodent control. A snake in the chicken coop is a dead snake. A venomous snake in my yard is a dead one since I have kids. A snake in my ponds is a dead one since I stock them with fish for me. I have horses and cattle, they pretty good about stomping the snake issues down for me.