Will rattlesnakes (or other snakes) bother chickens?

[mschickiemama]

Where I'm moving I guess people see rattlesnakes on occasion so now I'm a little scared. Would rattlers bother a chicken? Or rabbit for that matter since I have a rabbit living in the coop too.

The coop will have hardware cloth so I don't think a snake will get in there but if they're free ranging then there could be snakes

Lots of lizards are there also

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I don't think so. A snake will attack something it thinks it can swallow. Otherwise it ignores them.
Like most other animals, it is all about food.

 

[cmom]

The only snake I have ever seen in one of my coops is a Rat snake. I have seen a Rattlesnake but it was outside of a coop.

 

[Beachcomber]

Short answer...YES!!
I could tell you some horror stories of our encounters with all kinds of snakes over the years!
Most recently, a 5 foot long pine snake came into our chicken run with me standing right there & aimed for my pullets that were only 10 weeks old at the time! That snake had a date with a garden hoe instead.
You say there will be a rabbit in your coop too & a rattlesnake would definitely try to go after a bunny.
One of the scariest things ever was an angry rattlesnake coiled & buzzing in one of our dog houses a few years ago! Thankfully no dogs or people were hurt that day.
A snake probably isn't your biggest worry with your flock free ranging, but do everything to secure your coop & check it frequently for unwanted visitors.

 

[Lovem all]

yeah the snakes will, especially worry for your bunny. They can even steal eggs

 

[mschickiemama]

Short answer...YES!!
I could tell you some horror stories of our encounters with all kinds of snakes over the years!
Most recently, a 5 foot long pine snake came into our chicken run with me standing right there & aimed for my pullets that were only 10 weeks old at the time! That snake had a date with a garden hoe instead.
You say there will be a rabbit in your coop too & a rattlesnake would definitely try to go after a bunny.
One of the scariest things ever was an angry rattlesnake coiled & buzzing in one of our dog houses a few years ago! Thankfully no dogs or people were hurt that day.
A snake probably isn't your biggest worry with your flock free ranging, but do everything to secure your coop & check it frequently for unwanted visitors.

Ugh scary Hopefully no one will bother my babies. My parents are building a run with 1/2 inch hardware cloth so hopefully that will be good protection

 

[mschickiemama]

The only snake I have ever seen in one of my coops is a Rat snake. I have seen a Rattlesnake but it was outside of a coop.
View attachment 2302591

Did it leave or did you move it or kill it

 

[Docoffun]

Is it possible that a snake would strike a young chick and kill it? We found our 13 week old black sex- link chick dead today. The other three chicks were fine. Couldn't find anything wrong with the girl. Just dead.

 

[cmom]

Did it leave or did you move it or kill it

I went to get something with the intentions of eliminating it but it was gone when I got back. It was heading away from the coops.

 

[Al Gerhart]

Is it possible that a snake would strike a young chick and kill it? We found our 13 week old black sex- link chick dead today. The other three chicks were fine. Couldn't find anything wrong with the girl. Just dead.

I did some research on chicken diseases a few years back and let me tell you, the average chicken is filled with disease organisms that a healthy immune system keeps in check but a little stress, even moving a bird to a new location, will provide just enough slack that a disease takes over. Sudden death and chickens are like peas and carrots.