snakes in chicken coop

[smiert]

Help!! I have lost 3 juvenile pullets to snakes while they are sleeping in the coop. I have found them dead on the floor, with their head and neck feathers wet. Apparently the snake tried to swallow them and discovered they were too big so it had to regurgitate the chick. I totally cleaned out the coop and disinfected it and removed everything and washed down the walls two days ago and this morning found another juvenile pullet dead on the floor with a wet head and neck. Who can help me make sure this won't happen again?

 

[The Lazy L]

Help!! I have lost 3 juvenile pullets to snakes while they are sleeping in the coop. I have found them dead on the floor, with their head and neck feathers wet. Apparently the snake tried to swallow them and discovered they were too big so it had to regurgitate the chick. I totally cleaned out the coop and disinfected it and removed everything and washed down the walls two days ago and this morning found another juvenile pullet dead on the floor with a wet head and neck. Who can help me make sure this won't happen again?

All coop openings covered with 1/2" hardware cloth and I mean ALL?

Chicken door to run closed from dusk to dawn?

 

[smiert]

Yes, my chicken door is closed from dusk til dawn. I'll have to figure out how to close off gaps with hardware cloth. The coop is made of corrugated siding, so there are some small gaps.

 

[The Lazy L]

Yes, my chicken door is closed from dusk til dawn. I'll have to figure out how to close off gaps with hardware cloth. The coop is made of corrugated siding, so there are some small gaps.

Perhaps low expansion foam would work on the corrugated siding? Just be careful not to cutoff too much ventilation. Maybe use a plastic straw in the corrugated siding gaps and then foam?

 

[smiert]

Thanks, Lazy L. Will try that.