Snakes and eggs

[CapricornFarm]

I think the coop is tight enough if closed, but I don't keep it closed. I always leave one door open to the enclosed run. I guess I could start closing that one at night, but this guy was there at 5 pm - it was still daylight and the chickens were still out.

I won't kill it unless this gets unmanageable because I like snakes around in general. Could get a rooster, but that would be a tough tradeoff of peace and quiet for some security. A decoy coop full of plastic eggs - maybe that would do it!

I have heard of snakes eating ceramic door knobs that people put in nests as fake eggs!

 

[CapricornFarm]

Found this guy in the coop tonight while collecting eggs. I don't mind snakes, but I can't have this guy interfering. Do I take some action, or will he just move on?
View attachment 1110892

He will keep coming back as long as there is a food source.

 

[Louisa Suggs]

I always have black snakes in my coop during the summer. They have to be relocated, or they definitely will come back. I finally learned to keep a feed sack in the coop, so that i can catch/carry easier.
I agree and also question, though, why the girls have stopped laying significantly? In the past, they have "gotten over it" after two or three days. This is getting a little frustrating. My husband and I stick built coop; I am sure snake is getting in through chicken door that is always open. Any other suggestions?

 

[Sara Ranch]

The girls went into a molt shortly after the great "Snake Event".

I'm getting a grand total of 1-2 eggs a day. That's it. Can't it them anyways, since I am deworming. Molting + deworming = great timing!

In one of my buildings, there is a doggie door instead of the traditional chicken coop door. The girls use that. It might deter a snake from coming in. (That's what was in place in the building that the snake(s) were coming in through the roof.

Hope you figure out why the girls aren't laying...or if they are laying, what else might be taking the eggs.

 

[theuglychick]

We are having a heavy snake season here with rat snakes.

I pulled 3 from my coop in one month.

The two small ones were squeezing in a hole that was 1/2 an inch thick and one ate hatching chicks

I've plugged every hole I can on my coop. thr coop is now kind of ugly but it's tight.

My friend had a rat snake kill a large pullet of hers, she found the snake trying to eat the pullet in the rafters of the top corner of her coop.

I relocate them all several miles down the road or with those who have rat problems on their property.

 

[Louisa Suggs]

We are having a heavy snake season here with rat snakes.

I pulled 3 from my coop in one month.

The two small ones were squeezing in a hole that was 1/2 an inch thick and one ate hatching chicks

I've plugged every hole I can on my coop. thr coop is now kind of ugly but it's tight.

My friend had a rat snake kill a large pullet of hers, she found the snake trying to eat the pullet in the rafters of the top corner of her coop.

I relocate them all several miles down the road or with those who have rat problems on their property.

Dang!! I am used to Blacksnakes--I would probably think that was a copperhead!

 

[Flashpoint]

I have had two snakes in two different coops this month. One had an egg in it's mouth, but I took it away from him. My chickens don't seem to mind the snakes AT ALL and I have seen them just walk over a snake eating an egg to lay another one. The hens are great dinner servers!


I have just relocated them to my woods, but they probably come back from time to time. As much as I hate losing an egg now and then, I do like the black snakes being around. I have very few problems with mice or chipmunks.

This was one of the little ones.

 

[Kota Mitera]

I was considering lavender essential oil in the coop. Any thoughts?

 

[aart]

I was considering lavender essential oil in the coop. Any thoughts?

Save it for your dresser drawers(that's where my mom used it)...
....it won't deter snakes and may irritate chickens respiratory systems.

 

[Kota Mitera]

Thank you.