Surprise When I Opened My Nest Box

[mtnwinds]

I should have found 6 to 8 eggs. I guess I did actually find them but they were gift wrapped inside this uninvited guest!

Here's and outside the run pic of the nest box:

Here's the inside view:

There is a 3 or 4 inch space under the door so I suppose that's how he/she got in. The door is open 2 to 4 hrs a day so they can free range and it could have come in that way. Don't know how it managed to climb up into the nest box??

Any ideas regarding snake deterrents?

 

[aart]

but they were gift wrapped inside this uninvited guest!

Sorry, that just hit my funny bone!!

It did not necessarily get in the back of the nest box, could have come in anywhere and ended up in the nest.
Is that a gap I see down at ground level to the right of nests?

 

[mtnwinds]

Yes, but that gap is closed when I close the door. There is a gap at the bottom of the door which I'm closing up.

 

[cmom]

I don't like uninvited guests like that. A friend got this one outside of my chick coop. It appeared to have been looking for a way in. I was afraid it could get in the pop door.

 

[Donny79]

I had a black rat snake in my coop once. My rooster was walking around with it. Showing off his kill I guess. Luckily I didn’t have hens with chicks at that time.

 

[llombardo]

They can slither right up a wall. Years ago I watched a snake do this. I was amazed to see that one.

 

[HomesteaderWife]

After having a big problem with snakes, we put up bird netting where they were crawling over (not where the chickens could reach, as the snakes were literally coming over the fence). We have caught three that way that get trapped in the netting.