Snakes In The Coop: Quick And Safe Capture

Snakes in a chicken coop can be a frightening experience for chicken keepers. These reptiles can threaten the safety of your poultry by going after baby chicks, adult chickens, and eggs. While snakes are beneficial to ecosystems by controlling rodent populations, they can be detrimental to a chicken coop. Chicken keepers can employ various strategies to catch and deter snakes, ensuring the safety of their flock. This includes setting traps, using repellents, and implementing preventive measures to make the coop impenetrable to snakes.

Seal entry points with hardware cloth

Snakes can be a frightening and harmful presence in a chicken coop, as they prey on both baby chicks and adult chickens. They can also wreak havoc on eggs. Therefore, it is important to take measures to prevent snakes from entering chicken coops. One effective way to do this is by sealing entry points with hardware cloth.

Hardware cloth is a rigid welded material that can be used to seal gaps and holes in the walls, ceilings, and doors of coops, preventing snakes from entering. It is recommended to use 1/4-inch hardware cloth, as this size is too small for snakes to squeeze through. Larger sizes may still allow snakes to enter, so it is important to choose the appropriate size.

To install hardware cloth, start by identifying all potential entry points for snakes, including doors, vents, openings around pipes or wires, gaps between walls, and hardware cloth seams. Once identified, use staples or screws to attach the hardware cloth to the coop, covering any holes or gaps. Ensure that the hardware cloth extends at least 12-18 inches underground around the coop's perimeter to prevent snakes from burrowing underneath. You can use caulk, spray foam, or hardware cloth strips to plug smaller holes.

Additionally, it is important to maintain a tidy environment inside and around the coop. Snakes are attracted to hiding places, so removing debris, woodpiles, or compost can help eliminate potential snake havens. Regularly trimming tall grasses, removing fallen logs, and clearing away branches near the coop can also make the area less appealing to snakes.

By sealing entry points with hardware cloth and taking other preventative measures, you can effectively deter snakes from entering your chicken coop and protect your flock.

Use traps like glue boards

Glue traps are an effective way to catch snakes in your chicken coop. They are especially useful when you have lost sight of the snake but suspect it is still in the vicinity. Snakes can hide in tiny nooks and crannies, and can survive for long periods without food, so glue traps can confirm whether or not a snake is present.

To use glue traps effectively, place them along the interior walls of your chicken coop, out of the way of your chickens. Use rodent scents or a small piece of egg to lure snakes to the traps. If you are unsure whether a snake is venomous, do not attempt to handle it. Call a professional to assist you.

Once the snake is stuck to the glue board, you do not need to kill it. Simply take the trap outside and pour some vegetable oil or cooking spray on the snake, and it will be able to free itself. The oil neutralises the glue, and the snake will be able to escape unharmed.

Glue traps are not recommended for outdoor use, as they may catch other small animals, which is considered inhumane. They are most effective when used inside, where you can monitor them.

In addition to glue traps, you can also use snake-repelling vegetation, such as mint and garlic, to deter snakes from entering your chicken coop.

Snake-proof your chicken's home with vegetation

Snakes can be a frightening problem for chicken keepers, as they can threaten both chickens and eggs. The best way to protect your chickens is to prevent snakes from ever gaining access to the coop. Snakes are attracted to chicken coops by the presence of rodents, the promise of shelter, and the need for water.

To prevent snakes from entering, you should first cut back any tall grass, weeds, shrubs, and dense vegetation around the coop. Snakes can hide in this type of vegetation, so removing it makes the area less welcoming. You should also eliminate piles of wood, compost, or other debris that snakes could hide under.

Next, you should address the presence of rodents. Snakes will enter a coop while chasing rodents to munch on, so controlling pests will reduce the likelihood of snakes entering. Keep the area clean and free of chicken feed spills or other food scraps that might attract rodents. Always store chicken feed in sealed containers. Raising the floor of your enclosure, even by a few inches, can also help to prevent snakes and burrowing animals from accessing the coop.

You can also deter snakes by planting snake-repelling vegetation like mint and garlic. Strong scents like ammonia and mothballs can also be used to repel snakes. Plain Pine-Sol can be sprayed around the area to repel snakes, but keep it away from your chicken's food and water.

Seal your chicken house

Snakes can be a frightening and harmful presence in a chicken coop, so it's important to seal your chicken house to keep your chickens safe. Here are some detailed, step-by-step instructions to help you seal your chicken house effectively:

Identify Entry Points and Seal Gaps

First, inspect the exterior and interior of your chicken coop for any gaps, holes, or access points that snakes could use to enter. Pay close attention to the floor, walls, windows, and doors. Seal any identified entry points with quarter-inch hardware cloth, which is too small for snakes to squeeze through. Covering these openings will also help keep out other pests and predators.

Install Apron Fencing

Another way to secure the perimeter of your chicken coop is by installing an apron using fencing or hardware cloth. Use fencing or hardware cloth that's at least half an inch thick and attach it to the bottom outside of your chicken coop with staples or screws. Extend the fencing outward from the coop along the ground by approximately 20 inches, then cover it with dirt, wood chips, or gravel to camouflage it. This will prevent snakes and other animals from digging their way into the coop.

Waterproofing

Waterproofing your chicken coop is essential to keep your chickens comfortable and healthy. A dry coop helps prevent illness and disease, as chickens can become stressed by drafts and damp conditions. When constructing your chicken coop, create a slope to direct water away from the nesting area. Face the coop towards the sun to aid evaporation and keep your chickens warm. Use a safe, non-toxic, and environmentally friendly waterproof sealant like Liquid Rubber Seam Tape or Pond Shield to seal the interior and exterior of the coop. This will help bridge the seams, joints, cracks, and gaps, preventing leaks and drafts.

Deter Snakes Naturally

In addition to physical barriers, you can deter snakes by using strong scents they dislike, such as ammonia and mothballs. Strategically place ammonia-soaked rags or mothballs around potential snake entry areas. You can also plant snake-repelling vegetation like mint and garlic near the coop.

Remember, the key to successfully sealing your chicken house is to make it as impenetrable as possible by sealing all gaps and using appropriate materials to deter snakes and prevent their entry.

Call animal control

Snakes in a chicken coop can be a frightening experience for chicken keepers. These reptiles can prey on both baby chicks and adult chickens, and even if they are non-venomous, their bites can be nasty and require treatment.

If you discover a snake in your chicken coop, calling animal control is a recommended course of action. Animal control services are equipped to handle and remove snakes from your property. They will ensure the snake is safely captured and released back into the wild, away from your chickens.

Before they arrive, you can try to gently spray near the snake with a garden hose to deter it from the area. Do not spray directly at the snake, as this may provoke a defensive reaction. You can also use natural repellents like ammonia or mothballs to encourage the snake to leave the chicken coop. These strong scents can help drive the snake away without causing it harm.

It is important to remember that snakes are an essential part of the ecosystem and rarely pose a significant danger to humans. They primarily feed on rodents, which can be a much more destructive pest in your chicken coop. Nonetheless, for the safety of your chickens, calling animal control to remove the snake is a prudent decision.

When you contact animal control, provide them with as much information as possible about the snake's location and any relevant details, such as the size of the snake or the presence of any chickens or eggs in the immediate area. This will help them prepare the necessary equipment and ensure a swift and safe removal process.

Frequently asked questions