TWO GIANT black snakes in coop

[SweetTea&Chicks]

Earlier this morning the chickens were screaming bloody murder. I walk over there anticipating the worse; two of them run to me and one is looking inside the coop. There is one chicken in the coop so I look inside. All I see is that one chicken sitting there; I don’t think much of it so I walk off. Well, about 20 minutes ago I came back to check on them and make sure everything was alright. I open the nest boxes to get the eggs and there is a giant black snake. I look again and there are two. One was about six foot and the other about five. I get the chickens out of the coop and call my brother to get these snakes out. The girls aren’t injured and everyone is fine but I need help on how to keep snakes out. I know the snakes were most likely in there to eat the eggs but I don’t want to take any chances. My brother said something about this powder but I would like some more suggestions. Thanks!!

 

[pennyJo1960]

lots have talked of moth balls around the outside do not have the snakes here
in Washington state

 

[SweetTea&Chicks]

lots have talked of moth balls around the outside do not have the snakes here
in Washington state

I live in North Georgia, and mostly in spring/summer we'll get all kinds of snakes.

 

[pennyJo1960]

I would try the mothball thing as folks around you swear by it get like 4 boxes of the stuff just keep the dogs out of them if you have any

 

[SweetTea&Chicks]

I would try the mothball thing as folks around you swear by it get like 4 boxes of the stuff just keep the dogs out of them if you have any

Thanks so much! I'll go out later today and see what I can find.

 

[pennyJo1960]

good luck I have a grab it and a shotgun might be tempted to use the first then the second on them like living here only snakes are garter snakes harmless chickens eat them

 

[coach723]

Snakes can be very hard to keep out, they can climb and fit through pretty small spaces.
I would try the mothball thing, or just accept their presence. I'm not aware of losing any eggs, and occasionally find oak/rat snakes in my boxes. I'm pretty sure they are after the mice, which I trap, but it's never ending really. I even once checked for eggs and a hen was sitting on eggs and a snake. Big surprise. I just relocate them away from the coop.
Most non-venomous snakes have round pupils and venomous snakes have slitted pupils (exception is the coral snake which has round pupils-it's colors give it away). Not that you will learn to like them, but it can lessen the panic to know if it can or can't really hurt you.

 

[pennyJo1960]

hey spoken true thanks coach I have a easy life out of here rain or sun no real hot temps or really cold where I reside 75 if high 80 air conditioning

 

[Wil781]

Any snake I encounter could hurt me by producing a heart attach!! I am terrified of snakes! I would fall over if I come across a snake in a nesting box or anywhere for that matter, I have my coop built inside a fortress of 1/4" hardware cloth and so far have not had any such problem, I continue daily to pray that I don't.

 

[coach723]

Any snake I encounter could hurt me by producing a heart attach!! I am terrified of snakes! I would fall over if I come across a snake in a nesting box or anywhere for that matter, I have my coop built inside a fortress of 1/4" hardware cloth and so far have not had any such problem, I continue daily to pray that I don't.

Well, I hope you don't ever encounter one either then!! LOL!
The only thing that has gotten in my coop are mice and snakes (and really it's only occasionally for snakes). Mine is 1/2" hardware cloth, so no idea where they get in (mice fit through-found one stuck once). Maybe the ridge vent?? I'll probably never know. Since moving to Florida I've had to learn to recognize and deal with all kinds of critters I'd never seen before.