As a chicken keeper, nothing strikes fear into your heart quite like finding a snake in the chicken coop enclosure. These crafty predators can easily slither into coops and wreak havoc on your flock and eggs. But there are many effective ways you can fortify your coop and deter snakes to keep your chickens safe.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll share actionable tips for snake-proofing your chickens’ home. Let's get into it.
Stopping snakes before they ever gain access is the most failproof way to protect your chickens. Though no coop is 100% impenetrable, following these tips will fortify yours against all but the most determined serpents:
Chicken wire seems sturdy, but it’s too flimsy to withstand snakes. They can easily push through or create gaps.
1/4 inch hardware cloth is too small for snakes to squeeze through. Its rigid welded design also holds up to force. Use this material instead of chicken wire on coop walls, ceilings, doors - you name it.
Crafty snakes burrow under walls and fences. Prevent this by burying hardware cloth 12-18 inches deep around the coop perimeter. This creates an underground barrier snakes can’t penetrate.
Even a tiny gap gives snakes access, allowing them to squeeze through surprisingly small spaces.
Walk your coop inside and out, sealing every possible entry point. Check doors, vents, openings around pipes or wires, gaps between walls, and hardware cloth seams. Use caulk, spray foam, or hardware cloth strips to plug holes.
Snakes can sneak in through surprisingly small gaps. Refer to this table of common entry points and how to seal them:
| Entry Point | How to Seal |
|---|---|
| Gaps under doors | Install door sweeps |
| Openings around pipes/wiring | Caulk openings |
| Cracks in foundation | Use expanding foam |
| Loose hardware cloth | Use wire or zip ties to secure |
| Uncovered vents | Attach 1/4" hardware cloth |
| Between the roof and walls | Seal with caulk |
Fencing alone can’t keep snakes from climbing into a run. They’ll scale right over typical 4-foot heights.
Sink an apron - a length of hardware cloth bent outward at a 90-degree angle - around the entire run perimeter. This creates an angled overhang that deters climbing.
For older coops that lack snake-proofing features, investing in a newly upgraded chicken coop designed specifically to exclude snakes and other predators may be the most effective long-term solution.
Even deterred from entering, snakes still lurk right outside looking for opportunities. Removing their cover makes the area less welcoming.
Cut back tall grass, weeds, shrubs, and dense vegetation around the coop. Eliminate piles of wood, compost, or other debris a snake could hide under.
Discourage rodents by keeping the area clean and free of chicken feed spills or other food scraps. The fewer mice and rats, the fewer snakes that will come sniffing around.
Snakes slither after rodents, so your coop’s mice and rat population acts like an all-you-can-eat buffet sign for snakes. Controlling pests equals fewer snakes.
Always store chicken feed in sealed metal containers. Never leave it in plastic bags or accessible containers. Pick up any spilled feed promptly.
Remove sources of standing water like leaky hoses or full rain barrels. Eliminate other attractants like open compost piles and uneaten chicken food.
Do routine coop cleanings to limit spiders and insects snakes feed on. Keep the coop and run areas free of debris piles.
Using mousetraps and keeping a barn cat on patrol also helps control the rodent population.
Certain plants, materials, and techniques actively drive snakes away, adding another layer of defense:
Snakes dislike strong aromas. Plant marigolds, lemongrass, or mint around the coop perimeter. Interplant onions, garlic, and chives within the run. Concentrate these plants and materials near possible entry points.
Diatomaceous earth is made of tiny fossilized shells that cut into snake skin on contact.
Line walkways and potential snake paths with this natural material. You can also sprinkle it around the base of the coop walls. The discomfort will discourage snakes.
Drift fencing guides snakes away from an area. Set up small L-shaped barriers that funnel snakes away from the coop. Point the ends outward from the coop.
Snakes are sensitive to vibrations, so devices that create them are effective deterrents. Place multiple vibrating stakes around the coop perimeter.
Traps give you the ability to capture snakes, removing the threat. Funnel traps around the exterior catch snakes focused on entry while glue boards on the interior catch any that make it inside.
Funnel or box-style snake traps lure snakes into a containment area. Bait the traps with rodents, eggs, or bird scent and set them along the coop perimeter.
Check traps daily and release non-venomous snakes away from the coop. If a venomous species, have it professionally removed.
Unlikely as it sounds, you can catch snakes inside the coop with glue boards. The sticky surface traps snakes in place when they slither across.
Position several glue boards along interior coop walls out of the way of chickens. Use rodent scents or a small piece of egg to lure snakes into the traps.
Homemade snake repellents use the power of plants and compounds snakes hate to drive them away:
Plant-based oils - Garlic, clove, eucalyptus, tea tree, peppermint, cinnamon, and citrus oils repel snakes when applied around the coop. Reapply oils after heavy rain.
Garlic, onion, hot pepper - Mixing minced garlic, onion, and peppers with water creates a liquid repellent. Spray around entry points. Reapply after rain or every 2-3 days.
Ammonia-soaked rags - The fumes from ammonia-soaked rags keep snakes at bay. Place these around potential snake entry areas. Re-soak every 2-3 days.
Mothballs or rags - The naphthalene smell repels snakes. Scatter mothballs around the exterior or hang naphthalene-soaked rags. Replenish mothballs every 30-60 days.
Sulfur powder - Sprinkled around the coop perimeter, sulfur powder emits an acrid smell that drives snakes away. Reapply after heavy rain.
Certain animals have strong snake-deterring instincts that provide a living alarm and defense system. Adding one of these guard animals boosts your coop’s anti-snake patrol.
Guinea fowl - Loud, observant, and not afraid to mob predators, guineas are superior snake spotters. They sound the alarm at snakes and may even chase or attack.
Geese - Territorial and protective, putting a few geese with your flock means you’ll have angry honking at the first sign of snakes. They can intimidate small serpents.
Dogs - Dogs boasting high prey drive happily give chase and harass snakes, plus alert you with barking. Some dogs can even be trained to hunt and capture snakes.
Different guard animals have pros and cons to consider. The following table compares them:
| Animal | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Guinea Fowl | Loud alarm calls, mob predators | Require shelter, prone to predation |
| Geese | Aggressive, intimidating hissing | Need access to swimming water |
| Dogs | Deter with barking, can capture snakes | Must be trained, can harass chickens |
Occasionally a snake infestation exceeds a chicken keeper’s DIY capacity. Snake problems around the coop continue despite your best efforts. One or more venomous snakes take up residence.
In these scenarios, calling a professional may be your best resource. Wildlife control experts or pest management specialists have the tools and knowledge to handle severe snake infestations. They can:
Safely remove venomous snake species from your property.
Use infrared cameras to locate snake-hiding spots you can’t access.
Apply commercial-grade snake repellents to drive stubborn snakes away.
Trap numerous snakes in a short time with expertise most chicken keepers lack.
Block snakes from entering buildings as well as coops.
While adding cost, hiring a pro can solve a stubborn snake situation and bring peace of mind. Invest in professional help if DIY snake deterrence fails.
While snakes may come around, these measures make your coop an inhospitable environment that protects your chickens and their eggs. Stay observant and don’t get discouraged. With your proactive efforts and refusal to become complacent, you can outsmart these crafty predators and keep your flock safe from harm.
Big chicken pens tend to be warm and offer food sources that are attractive to snakes. They are especially interested in chicken eggs and baby chicks. Some adult chickens, such as a dead chicken with a wet head, can also be tempting for many snakes, like rat snakes and black snakes.
Yes, collecting eggs regularly reduces the temptation for snakes as they often eat chicken eggs. Fresh eggs are a major attractant for snakes, so the fewer eggs left unattended in the coop, the less reason for snakes to invade the chicken coop.
Yes, keeping the area around your coop clean is one of the best ways to keep snakes away from your backyard chicken coop build. This means removing food scraps, controlling rodent populations, and clearing away piles of wood or leaves which can provide shelter for snakes.
To protect baby chicks and eggs, it's important to seal all potential entrance points with small gaps and remove eggs from the coop regularly. Keeping brooding hens in a separate, secure area can also protect them from snakes. Regularly inspect areas where predators might hide or gain access, and remember to close the coop securely at night.
If you find a snake in the chicken coop, it is best not to kill it. Many snakes can be beneficial as they help control rodents. Instead, consider calling a local wildlife control or snake handler to safely remove and relocate it. Also, take the opportunity to identify how it got in, to avoid future invasions.
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