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Snakes can be frightening if present in or around a chicken coop. large snakes can not only gulp your eggs but also can eat the chicken alive. However, they’re generally considered as a nuisance than a threat. These slithering pests track both baby chicks and adult chickens.
If a venomous snake bites one of your chickens, it might finally end up plagued by it and will require special medical treatment. However, snakes eat eggs and feed on mice, so having them around can often be great too. Also, many keepers see it as basically harmless to totally grown chickens.
The trick is to grasp how you will be able to manage them. In our previous articles, we already covered why the chicken coops have 2 doors. During this article, we will understand why snakes enter a henhouse and how you can prevent them from entering your coop to safeguard your birds.
Before jumping into how you will keep the snakes removed from the chicken coops, you must see how snakes enter your coop.
How Snakes Enter Your Coop
Snakes do not have legs. But this won’t stop them from crawling into your chicken coops. So, first, be told all possible ways from where the snakes are entering your farm building.
Since these creatures can fit through any holes or cracks within the walls, floor, or roof, they will enter the coop easily. Additionally, any hole larger than ¼ inch can easily allow snakes to submit to them.
They can also get in by going underneath the fencing of the outdoor run of the coop. This can be the explanation why it is recommended to stay the fencing not larger than ¼ inch.
Why Do Snakes Go in Chicken Coop?
Like all other living creatures, snakes also require much identical physiological needs. Thus, snakes enter a henhouse for the subsequent reasons:
- Hunger – Chicken’s coop is a straightforward meal for snakes. They are either after the eggs, the chickens, or the rodents that the chickens attract.
- Thirst – Yes, even snakes need water yet. Water dishes on the bottom for the chickens are more leisurely for snakes additionally to access.
- Shelter – Chicken coops are designed to supply protection or shade from the heat to the chickens. Unfortunately, they tend to be dry and warm. Snakes also love to hide in bedding.
So, if you are wondering why the egg production is suddenly reduced, it probably maybe thanks to a hungry snake that has been snacking on the eggs or stressing your birds.
How to Keep Snakes away from Chicken Coops
Snake-Proof Your Chicken Coops
Now that we have understood why and how snakes enter the chicken coops, it is important to grasp how we can prevent them from getting in our coops and safeguarding our birds.
The following are the main steps that you should desire to make it difficult or nearly impossible for snakes to enter your chicken coop:
Cover Holes, Gaps, or Cracks with Hardware Cloth
As per U.S. Geological Survey, it is recommended that holes larger than ¼ inch should be covered to stay snakes out of a building. Cover all the holes and gaps with a hardware cloth. It is the foremost effective method to keep snakes and other predators out of the coop.
Since snakes can get through tiny spaces, you must observe your coop and learn holes and gaps in it. A ¼ inch hardware cloth is little enough to stop snakes from getting into it.
Raising the ground of Your Coop.
Snakes usually find their way into chicken coops while chasing after rodents that they munch on. If you’ll be able to raise the ground of your enclosure, whether or not by few inches, it can help prevent snakes and other burrowing predators from gaining access to your coop. Also, double-check for any gaps or access points within the walls or roofs.
Adding an Apron to Your Coop
Coop aprons are effective ways to stop coop access without raising the floor. It keeps the snakes out of the coop via a wire mesh placed underneath the coop.
An apron prevents animals from digging into the coop by employing a fencing or hardware cloth minimum of ½ inch thick. First, use staples or screws to attach the fabric to the underside outside of your coop. Now, bring the fencing out approx. 20 inches from the coop along the bottom. This way, fencing will sit flush to the bottom and might be covered with wood chips, dirt, or gravel to cover it.
Control Rodent Population
As already mentioned, snakes find their way into the coops by chasing after a rodent to snack on. Following are the few ways to assist you to retain the rodent population down:
- Keep the chicken feed away in the dead of night when mice run most rampant.
- Trap mice or rats
- Reduce rodent access by minimizing spills and employing a treble feeder or a bucket feeder.
Filter out tall trees, Bushes, or Debris.
Composts, debris, or woodpiles are easy ways for snakes to urge to your coop. They supply places for them to cover. Trimming back bushes and keep your lawn or weeds mowed also helps. Since snakes are vulnerable in open areas, lowering tall grasses and bushes will attract them less.
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