How To Keep Snakes Out of My Chicken Coop?

The relationship between snakes and chicken owners can be challenging.

On one hand, snakes help to reduce the number of rats and mice in your backyard. Rodents are drawn to chicken coops and can be a big problem for backyard chicken keepers. They can steal eggs, leave droppings and spread disease.

But on the other hand, snakes can be an issue themselves.

Larger snakes can eat your eggs, baby chicks or even kill adult chickens on rare occasions.

The presence of snakes in and around your chickens can be highly dangerous for humans too, as many breeds are venomous which can be deadly. This is especially concerning for young children who might inadvertently startle a snake hiding in the coop.

If you find a snake in your chicken coop, you will need to call in an expert to have it removed. It is dangerous to risk handling it yourself and it is illegal in Australia to kill snakes, as they are protected.

How Do I Make My Chicken Coop Snake Proof?

Snakes can slither through very small spaces, so you need to make sure your coop is covered with wire mesh with holes no larger than 11mm squared.

Snakes can climb so ensure the roof is fully covered with no cracks or gaps between panels.

Also consider the floor. If your coop is placed on uneven ground, a snake could slither in underneath.

To prevent this, build your coop onto a solid, flat surface such as a concrete slab or pavers. There is no way they could fit in underneath that!

Alternatively, you could add a wire apron around the edge of the coop to discourage them from going underneath.

Make the nesting box less accessible by placing it in an elevated position.

How Do I Make the Area Less Attractive for Snakes?

Snakes are attracted to the eggs in your coop. By removing the eggs twice per day, you are helping make your coop less of a snake magnet.

Snakes may also target your coop to eat rats and mice.

Minimising the chicken feed wastage and spillage with a Somerzby automatic chicken feeder will help reduce the numbers of rodents and, in turn, reduce the number of snakes too.

Traps and poisons are also highly effective in reducing the number of rodents, but you need to position them carefully to avoid them causing harm to your chickens, other pets and small children.

Snakes may also use your chicken coop as shelter, using foliage and other objects to hide under. You can make the area less appealing for snakes by keeping your backyard clear, coop clean and pruning back nearby plants.

Do Snake Repellents Work?

Ultrasonic snake repellents emit vibrations into the nearby ground to deter snakes. However, there is no evidence they work and many customers complain they are a waste of money.

Some people also recommend you put fake, ceramic eggs in the coop for the snakes to eat. Here at Somerzby, we do NOT recommend this. It is unethical as it will cause the snake to die a slow, painful death.

The best repellent is to make the coop less appealing to snakes and cover all gaps so they cannot access the coop.

Can I Buy a Snake Proof Chicken Coop?

All Somerzby chicken coops have wire mesh on the sides with holes 11x11mm. This makes them snake proof when installed on level ground or a hard, flat surface.

Both our Deluxe Mansion and Deluxe Cottage have a wire mesh floor. This makes them completely snake proof on any surface, as there is no way a snake can slither in underneath, even if the coop is placed on uneven grass.

This wire mesh floor also keeps out predators that could dig their way in, including foxes, rats and mice.