Snakes *disturbing photos*

[True Patriot]

I would just do an apron...nix the pavers, unless you put them inside the run to keep the bird from digging down along the run wall.


Good examples of apron installation, tho I'd not recommend 1/2" HC...go with 14ga 1x2 or 1x1, will hold up much longer and is easier to lay flat.
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1110498/wire-around-coop#post_17093528
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/new-coop-project.1169916/page-2#post-18481208

Amazing that little head could fit around the lumps inside snake. Sorry for your loss.

Thanks. Started the apron using HC. I haven't been able to find 1x1 anywhere local. TSC has to order it here for some reason. As far as durability, I plan on moving within the next 2 years as soon as I find a suitable property. If I can get it to last that long I'll be happy. Next coop is getting a concrete footer, both for dig protection and hurricane season. I hadn't thought of pavers inside, that's a good idea. Looking at where they've been scratching, definitely would help.the pavers outside we're more for keeping the dogs toes from getting tangled. My Canecorso likes to patrol the perimeter. Though apparently she's not much of a snake person

 

[aart]

the pavers outside we're more for keeping the dogs toes from getting tangled.

Bury it a few inches then.
Pavers covering apron can have preds digging at edge of paver and they could end up underneath apron.

 

[ButtonquailGirl14]

so sorry

What kind of snake is that? Looks like a ball python.

 

[ButtonquailGirl14]

OOps! didn't mean to quote that!

 

[chicknmania]

It's a reptile

??? reptiles are animals....you are thinking of mammals vs reptiles, apparently.

 

[dawg53]

So. Went to work today after seeing to the morning routine. Everyone came to the door and greets me just like every day. Came home and found a snake, in the coop. With two tell tale lumps.View attachment 1475771 I know it did not get in through the coop. All hardware cloth is sandwiched between the plywood and the studs, there's no gaps in the human doors, they overlap the frame by at least 1". Which means it got in during the day, through the pop door. The only places partially open are under the run frame, I still need to finish the skirting. I know it's my fault, but I had to stay in a certain budget and the brooder was too small. I had to move them to the coop. Well, tomorrow morning another trip to tractor supply. Going to get more HC and patio pavers. I know I have to reinforce the bottom. Does anyone have any other suggestions as far as keeping snakes out. I'm defended pretty well against mammal and avian predators. Concrete, though I would love to put it all on a slab. Is not an option, I don't own the property. So whatever I do has to be removed at some point. I knew that losing some was likely to happen. Hopefully it won't be frequent.

By the way, the snake paid dearly for it's last meal.

It's a Yellow Rat snake. They are aggressive and go after chickens day or night. I've lost quite a few chicks, cockerals, and pullets to them. They WILL get into your pen or no matter what you do. Your whole pen and vents on your coop would all have to be small diameter hardware cloth in order to stop them. It's cost prohibitive to do that. I use hardware cloth and screen on the coop vents to stop snakes and insects.
Here's a couple pics of some yellow rat snakes that met their doom. The one in the second pic climbed through the chicken wire down from the top of the pen. I was cleaning the coop and pen when I saw it. I thought I was seeing things when I first saw it. Luckily all my birds were out in the yard foraging.

 

[Compost King]

Chickens love snake meat, I kill them and feed them to chickens. I pretty much kill what ever I can and bring it to chickens unless its a protected species. Chickens love meat. My cats even bring mice for me to feed to the chickens.

 

[christwodog]

What kind of snake is that? Looks like a ball python.

I think it looks like a ball python also. Look how the pattern on the body differs from the striped tail. I had one for 22 years, with striped tail like that.

 

[Fishkeeper]

Ball pythons have sort of a blobby checkerboard/diamond pattern, with stripes only on the end of the tail. The head body shape is also very different. That's not a python or boa of any kind, it's a rat snake. Not to mention that ball pythons aren't native to Georgia.

 

[lazy gardener]

Not debating what kind of snake it was, but just b/c it's not native to GA, does not mean that it can not be found wandering around a chicken yard in GA. There are lots of escaped "pets" living quite well in all states, especially the warmer climate states.