Threats of Snakes near my coop

[momd29]

Yesterday when my DH walked out to the chicken coop he found a good 5 foot long snake skin laying beside our coop. Me disliking snakes a great deal didn't want to go anywhere near the skin or coop for that matter. I kept thinking that that snake was running around my yard somewhere. However, my main concern is how this snake is going to affect my chickens. None of our hens are laying just yet (they are not old enough), but I fear that maybe the snake could get into the run and harm our birds. Is there any proven ways to prevent snakes from coming to our coop/run? I've always heard that moth balls will keep them away, but is it safe to place moth balls near the coop? will they harm the chickens? If anybody has any advice please let me know, and thanks in advance for any helpful advice or suggestions you may have.

 

[Nambroth]

We have quite a few snakes on our property, and I am thankful of them for they are great rodent control. I suspect that I don't have as many snakes as you do down there though (I lived in GA and TX so I know that locally snake populations can be high). That said, the best way to keep a snake from being a problem (mostly only a threat to chicks/young pullets/eggs) is to keep them out of the coop. There are no gaps, cracks, holes, etc in my coop and the only way a snake could get in would be to crawl up the ramp into the elevated pop door. I suspect my hens would give a snake a terrible time on its way-- if not outright eat it! I've had them eat 2' long snakes before. I've seen video of a small flock attacking a large rattle snake very carefully, killing it, then probably eating it. Chickens generally don't permit snakes around if they know about them (plus, chickens really like to eat!)

Are there ways for a snake to get into your coop? Everyone has different coop set ups so its hard to help advise without knowing a bit more.

 

[Florida_country_boy]

I live in snake central, along a protected river full of gators, snakes, and everything else. My chickens are killing the snakes and lizards, and keeping them out of our yard. I haven't had any chicken deaths from snakes, only racoons, and the nieghbor's pitbull.

 

[locke2121]

A big problem with keeping chickens is that all the feed attracts rodents, when then attract snakes, who then can start to eat eggs and chicks if they can get past the hens. About the only way to keep them out, at least the way my grandma did, was to wrap the coop in hardware cloth 1/4 in size so they can't get through. Helps with the rats and mice too.

On the up side...snakes are the great rodent control that mankind wished it could be lol. Every barn I remember from my childhood had rat snakes...and very few rats!

 

[momd29]

After checking my coop for gaps etc. I did not find any so now after reading your post I feel a little better. Thank you for your advice. I'll definitely keep an eye out for the little slithering bugger, but hopefully our chickens will be safe. None of our babies are outside so I'm not worried about them. They are nice and warm in the brooder in my house.