Ratsnake Territory Question (and short release video)

[Sonya610]

I have had a serious snake problem in my chicken coop the last week (I had 2 bantam hens raising chicks in the coop, a snake got in at least THREE times and killed one of the hens as well as ate 3 chicks).

After the second incident I ended up bringing the last chick and her momma into the house at night to keep them safe because even though the coop SEEMS secure somehow the snake keeps getting in.

Anyway long story short, last night I caught the rat snake inside the coop, I released her this morning about 1/4 mile down the road near a river (nice shaded lush area). Then after I realized that may have been to close.

Does anyone know if rat snakes have a large territory and if it can find it's way BACK???

It has been hunting in my coop every 2-3 days for over a week, it was actually resting IN the nest box that was last used by my hen and chicks (before they were moved into my kitchen at night).

Short video of the release, that snake is lucky she raided a snake lovers coop, I was very upset over the loss of the hen/chicks and the chickens have been terrified to sleep in their coop since this started.

[Martinz21]

I'm sure it can but depending on where you are from your state may have laws about relocating animals too far from where they were found.

[Sonya610]

I'm sure it can but depending on where you are from your state may have laws about relocating animals too far from where they were found.

Oh I hope not. This has been a serious problem. I should have at least released her on the OTHER side of the little river.

Not concerned about relocation laws, this is a very rural area, I chose the river because I know it is a lush quiet area, it is my neighbors unoccupied land and the only visitors that go there are the occasional deer hunter.

I think I will give it a week (keeping the bantam and chick inside at night). If the snake doesn't return within a week it probably forgot about the coop. Does that sound like a good plan?

[joeysgreen]

lol, snakes often travel long distances in seasonal migration. He probably has a decent map of the area for several miles around at least. Nonetheless you could move him a million miles and you'll still have a snake problem. What you have set up is a massive bait trap for snakes. They can smell your chickens from a long way, so if you remove one snake, another will fill it's place. The answer is to snake proof your coop. They are getting in somehow, address that problem. Try expanding spray foam around all the seals.

Ian

[Sonya610]

lol, snakes often travel long distances in seasonal migration. He probably has a decent map of the area for several miles around at least. Nonetheless you could move him a million miles and you'll still have a snake problem. What you have set up is a massive bait trap for snakes. They can smell your chickens from a long way, so if you remove one snake, another will fill it's place. The answer is to snake proof your coop. They are getting in somehow, address that problem. Try expanding spray foam around all the seals.

Ian

I believe the original problem was field rats coming into the covered pen for chicken feed. I saw one, even found it in the coop (my dog dispatched the little very very fat rat into the afterlife).

The coop has a sealed floor (yeah I used the gap filler stuff in the floor and around the joints, then covered the floor with roof sealer stuff). Hardwire cloth on the windows, etc...

It does have an old door on the front, which I will also seal with gap filler or some such thing. I am just amazed that it could get in and especially OUT after eating!

Pics of coop below:

chicken door.jpg
feed dishes.jpg

The hen that died protecting her babies, R.I.P. sweet girl:
chicks2.jpg

[Mommy2many]

Sorry to hear you lost the hen and 3 chicks. Hopefully your slithery friend will not venture back but I'm not so sure since you have a nice cozy set-up there.

[d_virginiana]

Sorry to hear about your chickens idk about ratsnakes, but I've seen the same water snake in the same place (she had a facial injury, so I know it was the same one) over a span of several years, so I imagine they can find their way back to a place if they really liked it.

If one snake found its way in, others probably will too. When my grandfather was in the military, he said they had a method to keep poisonous snakes away from tents in tropical areas. They'd put nails/pegs around a perimeter and tightly string fishing line or thin wire around it about 3/4 of an inch of the ground. Don't know how well that'd work, but apparently it's supposed to at least make them think twice about going that direction.
If you were checking every morning you could even put plastic mesh down. Snakes tend to either avoid or get caught in that (I love snakes, but I'd be willing to risk hurting a wild snake to keep my pets safe).

[Sonya610]

Thanks to everyone for the advice. I will buy some more spray foam and seal the gaps on the door (need to do that anyway for winter).

The chick is the only one truly at risk, if I can protect her until the cold weather comes we should be okay. She is still small at 7 weeks and will be about the size of a pigeon as an adult so it will be a while before she is big enough to be safe from snakes.

[Sonya610]

Guess who came back!!!! Yeah, lost a very beloved young bantam rooster last night. I went into the coop and saw the snake on the coop floor too stuffed to get back out.

I honestly thought I had secured the coop! I added extra trim around the door, filled the gaps in the old door, nailed one window shut etc...

So I am thinking if this snake wants me to feed it then it live in my house. Seems rather docile, has not regurged the meal despite me handling her twice. She is quite beautiful, I hope she doesn't have mites.

I found a 55 gal aquarium with screen top and stand on craigslist for $50 and well....if she is in the house I won't have to worry about the chickens in the coop!!!

[joeysgreen]

lol, seems like a fair trade
I'm envious of your problem... snakes in the yard and they keep coming back!