snakes in the hen house, will they hurt the chickens?

[djcap]

snakes in the hen house, will they hurt the chickens?

 

[Tookie]

What kind? How big?

Most snakes will not bother them, but they are a threat to chicks.

 

[thecatumbrella]

I see you're in the northeast with me, so I assume it's nothing overly large? Your weakest links will be any chicks and eggs. Snakes could also upset the birds when they're trying to roost at night, so it's in your best interest to seal them out. Might need 1/4" hardware cloth to do so.

 

[McChooky]

I agree. Rats and snakes both are threats to chickens.They eat eggs and baby chicks and kill adult chickens. Snakes will regurgitate a chicken thats too big to swallow

 

[AnneGirlGG]

I wouldn't think snakes are an ideal coop guest. My grandma and uncle have 10 hens, and theirs have killed and eaten small (foot or less) garden snakes that find their way into the coop or run.

Smaller snakes are still potential threats to chicks and eggs, or I would think probably grown chickens if you keep smaller birds (I've got bantams). And larger snakes would be a threat to anything. A couple summers ago, a man ran over a nearly 6 foot Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnake right in front of our house. Thankfully, he killed it, but I know just how big snakes around here can be. I would follow CatUmbrella's advice and try to steal them out, maybe with 1/4 inch HWC since they squeeze through such small openings.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Even if a snake isn’t big enough to swallow a whole chicken if it’s big enough to try it will start with the head which will, of course, kill the chicken. So best to keep them out. I have some kind of snake living in a wood pile near my coop and I suspect it eats eggs if I don’t get them quick enough. If I ever catch it in the act that will be the end of it.

 

[djcap]

What kind? How big?

Most snakes will not bother them, but they are a threat to chicks.

black snakes of all sizes, 3' to 7' long

 

[djcap]

I see you're in the northeast with me, so I assume it's nothing overly large? Your weakest links will be any chicks and eggs. Snakes could also upset the birds when they're trying to roost at night, so it's in your best interest to seal them out. Might need 1/4" hardware cloth to do so.

oh yes they are, I have had some over 6'! one was over 7' long and 2-1/2" wide

 

[thecatumbrella]

oh yes they are, I have had some over 6'! one was over 7' long and 2-1/2" wide

I actually shuddered. Yeah, that's probably not a great thing to have in there with the chickens! We only get spaghetti noodle snakes up here.

 

[Beau plus penny]

snakes in the hen house, will they hurt the chickens?

many chickens will eat snakes depending on the size