Snakes are frightening, not just to humans but also to livestock. So, it’s essential to know the tricks of keeping them out of the chicken coop.
There’s nothing I enjoy more than driving my van along the countryside, listening to country music on my radio, and taking in the beautiful views. This weekend, I decided to pay a short visit to my friend living in Boulder, Colorado. Being around farm animals just gives me the kind of simple pleasure I cannot really describe.
I spent my mornings cleaning up the chicken coop, feeding them, and then taking the horses out for a little run. It was during this time that I noticed some curious-looking contraptions she was using around the coop. When I asked her about them, she said they helped keep snakes out of the coop.
Well, I had to know more about it, and I did! Not only did she give me some fantastic tips on how she kept snakes away but also told me everything I needed to know about raising chickens. But more on that later…
So, sit back, and let me tell you how to keep snakes out of chicken coop!
Tips To Keep Snakes Away From Chicken Coop
Finding snakes around the chicken coop can be scary and dangerous. Although most snakes wouldn’t necessarily eat a full-grown chicken, their little chicks and eggs are still susceptible to danger. Here is what I learned.
Cut & Trim
Since snakes don’t have legs or wings, the only way they can get from place to place is by slithering around unseen. It’s extremely easy for snakes to hide between bushes, grass and get into any small cracks, boulders, and under debris.
First things first, it is vital to trim the bushes and grass regularly. While this won’t necessarily keep snakes away, it will give you a better view of the ground and allow you to see the slithering creatures around the coop.
Remove any boulders, debris, and rocks around the coop. You essentially want to keep the area as free as possible from traffic. This includes any foliage, rocks and rubble, and even cracks.
Moreover, it is important to note that snakes don’t generally like being out in the open. It makes them vulnerable to predators and also makes it more likely for them to get caught by you.
That being said, if you have a lot of trees around your chicken coop, make sure to trim their branches as well. Snakes are pretty great at slithering up tree branches and can enter the chicken coop from above.
Cover All Spaces
As surprising as it sounds, any space which is larger than 1/4 inch is enough for a snake to fit into and hide. You need to be extra careful about any spaces, holes, or openings in and around the chicken coop. There are a number of ways in which you can cover this up.
You can use hardware cloth or any other type of sturdy mesh cloth that does not have holes larger than 1/4 inch. Any skylights, holes, fences, gaps in walls, and windows need to be covered well.
Also, keep an eye out for any burrows you may find in and around the coop. It is likely that small rodents may have made burrows, but this is enough to attract snakes and give them an entry point into the chicken coop.
Get Rid Of Rodents
The previous point reminded me of something quite important – getting rid of rodents around your chicken coop. These can be anything, from mice to chipmunks and even rats. Of course, you don’t need to use violence or extermination methods to do this. If you prefer a more humane approach to getting rid of rodents, by all means, use it.
Subsequently, my friend decided to keep two pet cats just for this purpose. Although the cats cannot do anything to a snake, they can get rid of rodents, which helps in a small way to get rid of snakes as well.
Regularly Collect Eggs
As I mentioned before, a snake rarely will try and eat your adult chicken – they are more interested in the eggs and the chicks. Of course, if the adult chicken gets in the way of its meal, the snake might decide to kill it just to get it out of the way.
As a rule of thumb, remove the eggs from the chicken coop regularly. Keeping the eggs there will just attract more snakes and lead them to temptation. Moreover, remember that keeping eggs around is dangerous for the chickens and chicks as well.
Raise The Coop Floor
Raising the coop floor, even by just a few inches, can help cut off access of rodents and snakes to the coop. However, if you decide to do this, it is important to seal all the gaps and spaces, as explained in my points above.
Snakes are very stealthy creatures and will find a way to enter the chicken coop if they are determined enough. So, you need to stay one step ahead at all times.
Final Words
Well, I certainly learned quite a lot during my weekend in Boulder. I hope my tips are helpful for you, as they were for my friend.
It’s not an easy task – keeping these slithering creatures away from your precious chickens and eggs. However, if you don’t take precautions, you will suddenly find chickens, chicks, or eggs disappearing from the coop.
Remember, many snakes are poisonous, so it is important for your own safety and the safety of your family as well to take these precautions. If you use any other methods to keep snakes out of the chicken coop, then please feel free to share the same with me.
Also, do let me know if my tips were helpful. Until next time, stay safe!