How to keep snakes away from coop?

[Ducklingguy]

Firstly, are black snakes any danger to chickens and ducks?

This is my first year of raising and keeping ducks and chickens, so I’m just trying to get ideas here. The reason I asked about black snakes, is because last summer I seen a few near the barn. Here in NC, we have several different kinds of snakes—so I KNOW I need something to keep them away. I’ve heard mothballs do, but I’m not so sure if that’s fact or myth.

What’re some ways you keep snakes away? What do you use or have that has worked?

TY, Ducklingguy

 

[50-45-1]

Not sure if they are a danger. Maybe to young birds.
I would keep the grass mowed around the coop area so they have no cover. Remove debree that gives them hiding places.
Most snakes are a farmers friend as they keep the mouse population down.

 

[Ducklingguy]

Not sure if they are a danger. Maybe to young birds.
I would keep the grass mowed around the coop area so they have no cover. Remove debree that gives them hiding places.
Most snakes are a farmers friend as they keep the mouse population down.

I’ve got a mini schnauzer that kills all the mice around here.

 

[bill3607]

Yes, snakes are a danger to younger chicks for sure. I had 3 killed with 2 of them swallowed when they were a few weeks old. This was last fall.

And, they are definitely a danger to your eggs. I have gotten more than a few out of other peoples nest boxes for them. They usually have been what is commonly referred to here as a chicken snake. They do get very large. And, that is exactly what got my chicks which were big enough that you would have thought that they could not have been swallowed.

Also, I had a friend get bit by a copperhead that was in his nesting box. Yep, I always look first. Never, ever do I just reach in.

As far as keeping them away. Well, it is not easy if they want to be there. I think your only defense is to try your best to close all possible access points they might use. That is not really that easy. They are good at finding a way.

Mothballs do not work. I have killed a snake while it was actually slithering right thru mothballs that had been put out. I have even heard people say cats will kill a snake. Maybe a very, very small snake. Every cat I have ever seen went the other way if it came across a snake, and very fast.

 

[Ducklingguy]

Yes, snakes are a danger to younger chicks for sure. I had 3 killed with 2 of them swallowed when they were a few weeks old. This was last fall.

And, they are definitely a danger to your eggs. I have gotten more than a few out of other peoples nest boxes for them. They usually have been what is commonly referred to here as a chicken snake. They do get very large. And, that is exactly what got my chicks which were big enough that you would have thought that they could not have been swallowed.

Also, I had a friend get bit by a copperhead that was in his nesting box. Yep, I always look first. Never, ever do I just reach in.

As far as keeping them away. Well, it is not easy if they want to be there. I think your only defense is to try your best to close all possible access points they might use. That is not really that easy. They are good at finding a way.

Mothballs do not work. I have killed a snake while it was actually slithering right thru mothballs that had been put out. I have even heard people say cats will kill a snake. Maybe a very, very small snake. Every cat I have ever seen went the other way if it came across a snake, and very fast.

I’m not sure what do about the snakes!
I seen some black snakes last year out in the yard, but I’m not sure if they eat chicks??? Ducklings???

I wonder if there’s any spray you can use to keep the snakes away? Maybe some kind of chemical you can buy at Tractor Supply or something?

I have been keeping the chicks and ducklings out in the garage for their safety right now.
I may continue to until they get old enough to perhaps put up some kind of fight in their defense.

Ducklingguy

 

[bill3607]

I’m not sure what do about the snakes!
I seen some black snakes last year out in the yard, but I’m not sure if they eat chicks??? Ducklings???

I wonder if there’s any spray you can use to keep the snakes away? Maybe some kind of chemical you can buy at Tractor Supply or something?

I have been keeping the chicks and ducklings out in the garage for their safety right now.
I may continue to until they get old enough to perhaps put up some kind of fight in their defense.

Ducklingguy

Yes, there are all kinds of stuff for sell that is suppose to keep snakes away. I do not know if any of it actually works.

And, look, I am telling you that they can be very dangerous to chicks and eggs, but that does not mean that you certainly are going to have a problem with it. Where I live I accept that it is, and always has been, one of the threats. It does not happen everyday, or even every year. But, it does happen, so the potential is there.

If it makes you feel better then keep them in the garage until they are a little older like you said. Or, buy you some of the stuff they sell. If nothing else it could ease your mind some.

 

[MrsTush]

I’m not sure what do about the snakes!
I seen some black snakes last year out in the yard, but I’m not sure if they eat chicks??? Ducklings???

I wonder if there’s any spray you can use to keep the snakes away? Maybe some kind of chemical you can buy at Tractor Supply or something?

I have been keeping the chicks and ducklings out in the garage for their safety right now.
I may continue to until they get old enough to perhaps put up some kind of fight in their defense.

Ducklingguy

I'm in NC too and black snakes are not my friends anymore. I had one kill a guinea by trying to swallow it..really dumb because there was NO way it was going to happen. They will wrap around them and try to choke them or they will swallow them. They will eat the eggs also.
We have fortified the coop with small mesh wire which helps but if they want in they'll get in.
Yesterday I came home to two of them going after my 6 week old ducklings. After we got rid of them we went all around the coop and covered a couple of possible holes but one came in through the door.
Don't use moth balls. Home depot sells Snake Away which you can put around the coop. They hate anything smelly and that stuff stinks. Track strips are going to be your best friends. We nail them anywhere a snake can get in. Last night my husband nailed a bunch to a board that we can lay down in front of the door. We have them nailed to the bottom of the outside of the coop too. Just make sure the "tack" part is facing toward the path the snake would take.
I've heard, but not tried it yet, that if you lay an old hose around the perimeter of the coop that a snake won't cross it...says John Wayne. I'm going to do that today.
It may seem overkill but once you've lost a bird to a snake you'll do anything to keep that from happening.

 

[Al Gerhart]

Snakes generally have to have a steady food supply so if they are hanging around they are eating something. They are like rodents in that they like to be near their food supply so a bigger predator doesn't catch them while looking for their own dinner. Usually that means a steady supply of mice or rats and not always where a small dog can get at them. Look around for signs of mice, droppings, urine if you have a black light, and deal with the mice so mr snake has to find another steady source of food. Most predators are territorial and once the snake has to go out into the wild he might have to travel quite a distance before he finds a territory that is not already held by another snake.

If you do find evidence of mice get your bulk feed in metal barrels and invest in a good treadle feeder to stop the daytime and nighttime feed theft.

 

[Gizabelle]

We have a HUGE population of white oak snakes here. They normally mind their own business and will only take an occasional egg.. except when we have chicks. I swear, they come out of the woodwork for chicks. I saw two just yesterday and unfortunately, we were unable to catch either. We catch them and drop them off at the back of a big eco preserve about a mile and a half away (and across a river). We've already taken off 5 or so since March.
In spite of our best efforts, we usually loose at least one chick a year.
1/4" hardware cloth and trial and error are really the only ways to keep them out of the coop. I say trial and error because they are masters at finding a way in, and you have to be meticulous about covering any possible entry points.

 

[Gizabelle]

An interesting story for you all... we have loads of white oak snakes mostly because the former owner of our property would actually catch them and bring them here as pest/venomous snake control. Its also pretty dense forrest on our property and surrounding, so they have thrived.
When we moved here, there was a decently built, but poorly maintained shed near the house that had an enormous hickory tree growing into the roof. As only the eave was damaged, we decided to just move it and fix it up. Jacked it up, dug out under it, got a trailer under there, and moved it 10 feet out from its original position.
The following spring (some half a year later) we happened to notice a sizeable oak snake going straight up this giant hickory tree. Wondering where he might possibly be headed, we watched. That snake went straight up 16 ft to the EXACT spot the tree used to touch the shed roof. He stopped and stretched his neck waaay out looking around and kind of wavering from side to side. If a snake is capable of exhibiting confusion, this fella certainly was. He gave up after only a minute or two, then came straight down and went on his way.
There is no door on this shed, there are a thousand ways a snake could enter. Not only did this snake remember this was a good place to find a mouse, he remembered his favorite way to get in.

Moral of the story: if they find food once, they WILL come back, so be ready.