Snakes

[Ladybluearm]

So yesterday my husband and I got our chicken house all ready for our chicks to be turned into. They have been in a coop. They are growing so fast and needed more room. The house is fenced in also. They were doing great, checked on them right at dark all was good. Went out this morning and found 2 dead chicks. Heads were wet and mangled a bit. No digging are anything. We are thinking rat snake or chicken snake. I am so very mad right now. What can we do to prevent this? The chicks are about 6-7 weeks old.

 

[lazy gardener]

Make your coop snake proof. Put 1/2" hdw cloth over every opening. Chicken wire will not protect them from predators.

 

[Ladybluearm]

Make your coop snake proof. Put 1/2" hdw cloth over every opening. Chicken wire will not protect them from predators.

Thanks I will do that. It is so frustrating to think you have it fixed up for them and then find 2 dead ones.

 

[gimmie birdies]

It could be rodents...

 

[Ladybluearm]

It could be rodents...

I guess it could be, not sure because we have cats and they do a good job on the rodent population.

 

[lazy gardener]

Heads wet and mangled points to snake. The snake would have tried to swallow them, but found them too big. Rat would have chewed, and even may have dragged them off.

Check coop very carefully to be sure the snake is still not curled up in hiding somewhere.

 

[ByrdFeathers]

I guess it could be, not sure because we have cats and they do a good job on the rodent population.

Cats are good at keeping snakes away also, but one will sneak through from time to time. I am putting pieces of metal siding 18 in (snakes can't climb metal siding) above ground and it is buried 6 inches too. plus I used hardware cloth instead of chicken wire.

 

[lazy gardener]

Most cats will not tangle with an adult rat.