Snake killing my hens and leaving the eggs.

[Visualnwa]

I have to had to hens about 2 years old and 6 hens about 3 months old. Only the two older hens were laying at best 2 eggs a day and they were left alone. However the firth morning I came out to check them there was only one dead looked like it had been swallowed up to the shoulders and spit out no signs of struggling no missing eggs three days pass two killed in one night there was a break for about 4 days and then it killed 3 more and paralyzed one of the older hens leaving her unable to stand and the skin on the lower part of her body was purple and she dead 2 days later. We can't ever catch, see, find a trace of this killer. Any thoughts what kind of snake I may be dealing with and how to catch and kill it. Only happens at night 85-90 degree's northern Arkansas. We have had a couple of black snakes eating the eggs but never anything like this I'm afraid to leave them at night and they seem scards too. Any helpful advice would be appreciated.

 

[drumstick diva]

How horrible!! I think it would be best if you posted on the "predators forum." The details about their deaths may help them pinpoint what you predator is. Could you lock them up somewhere else at night - like a garage or basement? Maybe the snake won't be able to get to them.

Do you know how it gets into your coop?

 

[Pork Pie]

Hello and welcome to BYC. I’m sorry that it is not under better circumstances that you join us.

Hopefully the predator experts can help you.

Best wishes
Pork Pie

 

[TwoCrows]

Hello there and welcome to BYC!

I moved this over to the Predators forums, I hope you can get help soon!

 

[Lazy Farmer]

 

[kwhites634]

I have to had to hens about 2 years old and 6 hens about 3 months old. Only the two older hens were laying at best 2 eggs a day and they were left alone. However the firth morning I came out to check them there was only one dead looked like it had been swallowed up to the shoulders and spit out no signs of struggling no missing eggs three days pass two killed in one night there was a break for about 4 days and then it killed 3 more and paralyzed one of the older hens leaving her unable to stand and the skin on the lower part of her body was purple and she dead 2 days later. We can't ever catch, see, find a trace of this killer. Any thoughts what kind of snake I may be dealing with and how to catch and kill it. Only happens at night 85-90 degree's northern Arkansas. We have had a couple of black snakes eating the eggs but never anything like this I'm afraid to leave them at night and they seem scards too. Any helpful advice would be appreciated.

I don't think it's a snake, at least not one native to the U.S; not like them to pass up eggs.

 

[ShannonR]

Do you have any pictures of the killed birds?

 

[Visualnwa]

Do you have any pictures of the killed birds?

 

[getaclue]

Possible constrictor that was a pet, and someone let it loose.

 

[SweetTea&Chicks]

Possibly a snake that tried to eat it then realized it was too big