Like rodents and skunks, snakes are not often a hazard to grownup chickens. If they’re allowed access to a hen coop, snakes will fortunately dine on young birds and eggs, however they pose little menace to grown birds. While it’s doable for some giant, unique snakes to kill and devour complete grownup chickens, it will be reasonably uncommon.
In truth, it’s extra seemingly that an grownup hen will make a meal out of a snake than the opposite approach round.
Calling Card
Unless you’re capable of truly catch a glimpse of snakes coming into the coop, there might be only some mysterious indicators of their presence:
- lacking chicks; no different clues
- complete, lacking eggs; no different clues
- lifeless, grownup chickens with a moist head (the place the snake tried to swallow it)
Your Flock’s Defenses
Snakes want to feast on rodents, corresponding to mice and rats, and can take up residence the place and when there are ample meals sources. That means if in case you have a resident snake, you seemingly have a rodent drawback as nicely.
Follow the identical precautions for securing the coop, too. Like rodents, snakes are capable of match by way of very small openings within the coop. Eliminate the meals supply, and the snake will transfer on.
Other Threats
Several different widespread critters could pose a menace to your flock, although many of those scavengers are extra of a problem for keepers with young birds or a lot of eggs.
Opossums are reasonably widespread and stay in almost each nook of the nation, in some cities and most rural areas. Opossums want to scavenge for meals reasonably than hunt for it. If she finds a approach right into a hen coop, she’ll go for eggs first, consuming them on the spot. Young chicks make straightforward pickings as nicely, and if within the temper to hunt, an opossum will goal grown chickens as nicely.
Mice and rats are extra of a nuisance than a real menace to grownup chickens. While they’re definitely able to killing child chicks, solely a really giant, very hungry and really motivated rodent will try and kill an grownup hen. Rats and mice are inclined to view the coop as a heat, dry shelter during which to make a nest, significantly if there’s hen feed to feast on close by.
Unlike the mammals within the weasel household, skunks not often hunt grown birds. They are inclined to go for young chicks or eggs almost solely. The skunk’s odor is way stronger than that of the mustelid mammals, so if you’re conscious of its odor, you will be pretty sure it has paid your flock a go to.
What You’ve Learned
In my “Predator Pages” column for the Chickens print journal, we’ve lined coyotes, foxes, raptors, rodents, home dogs and cats, raccoons, mustelids and now snakes. Chicken predators are available all shapes, sizes and species. They fly, crawl, walk, stalk and slither.
Some achieve access to your birds by climbing partitions, others by slipping by way of fences, some by digging below enclosure perimeters and some by merely charging within the mild of day. Some are huge. Some are small. Some are so artful they’ll cross undetected till they strike.
Chickens are not often secure, they usually realize it. By nature, chickens are usually standoffish, skittish, flighty and a tad bit paranoid. Chicken fanciers typically discover their habits quirky and endearing, however what we see as “just being weird” can be a well-honed protection mechanism. It’s no marvel chickens are consistently on the alert. Nearly each predatory creature, home or feral, finds them to be straightforward, tasty prey. On high of that, chickens have only a few pure defenses. They have poor eyesight in low mild and no enamel or energy with which to defend themselves. Between the pure fight-or-flight response, flight is the one viable possibility—they usually can’t even try this very nicely.
So, as their keeper, it’s your obligation to make use of your wits, instruments and sources to make sure the flock’s security. The simplest way to do that is by working with their pure instincts and the instruments they do have in 3 ways.
The first protection, of course, is by building and sustaining a safe coop. The second is by locking up behind your birds every night, ensuring they’re secure on the most vulnerable time of day. The third is by considering like a predator.
The latter is one of the simplest ways to remain one step forward of the marauders and to actually hold your birds secure. What are your native predators’ strengths? How do they achieve access to chickens? How would they maim or kill, and what time of day do they have a tendency to strike? These are all necessary questions any hen keeper should ask concerning the predators that hunt close by.
The column has gone contained in the minds and instincts of the most typical North American hen predators and defined how greatest to guard your flock from their advances.
Be Diligent
Chickens are really easy to look after and have so few wants in comparison with different pets and livestock that it’s generally straightforward to neglect that they’re one of the crucial vulnerable. It’s straightforward to grow to be complacent within the every day routine and let your guard down, even simply as soon as. That one slip-up—the one, tiny hole in fencing or the one time you neglect to lock them up at evening—might be a predator’s approach in and spell catastrophe on your flock.
It’s critically necessary to take the required precautions and set up an excellent protection from the get-go. Don’t wait till a predator has already paid your flock a go to.
If and when an attack occurs, be ready to don your detective’s cap. Unless you catch the marauder within the act, you’ll be counting on clues on the crime scene to find out which species made the attack. It will be surprisingly laborious to determine who was accountable.
First, examine for apparent factors of entry. What do you see as you scan the coop and run’s perimeter? Are there gaps or torn holes within the fencing? Signs of digging? A window or door left ajar or pried open?
Check for apparent animal tracks across the enclosure. If you’ve gotten muddy or snowy circumstances, you could get fortunate and discover some.
Take stock. How many birds have been killed? What time of day did the attack occur? Were any birds eaten? If so, which physique elements? Are there any lacking birds? If there are surviving birds, what’s the nature of their wounds?
Chickens are straightforward prey for thus many predators that it’s tough to maintain monitor. From feral cats to foxes, hawks and snakes, every predator has its personal distinctive modus operandi that serves as a calling card, offering clues to what you and your chickens are coping with. So makes use of preventative measures, the place doable, and hold a secure and safe coop.
This article initially appeared within the Nov./Dec. 2023 situation of Chickens journal.
