Need advise on how to keep Black Snakes out of my Chicken Shack Please!

[MossflowerWoods]

Howdy Folk,

Two days ago, I killed a 6' black snake inside my chicken shack (an old converted woodshed, dirt floor, poor construction existing structure converted for chickens due to necessity).

I like Black snakes, but I'm not liking sharing my eggs, or when they climb the walls.

Well today I heard some commotion d went and looked and a MUCH fatter bigger black snake was climbing out a small hole near the roof. He was huge and above my head. I smacked once with the shovel, that just put a rush on him. He may have eaten 3 eggs or so based on the daily count so far, and where he was leaving (I know who lays there typically).

I can't and don't wish to kill them all. But I need them to stay out.

Got any good suggestions?

Keep them affordable as I just got laid off today...

Be well all,
David

 

[Bison]

1)Build a better shed. You got laid off so you got plenty time.
2) get rid of the chickens.
3) get more chickens so the snake can't eat all the egs.
4) raise ostriches instead of chickens,..the eggs will be to big for a snake
5)move to a another place were there are no egg eating snakes.

 

[bullbreaker]

Howdy David , Good to hear from You.
Besides secureing coop/house better You might try researching a product called Snake-Away !!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[vtsnowedin]

Put you chicken coop in the middle of a pig pen with a couple of adult sized pigs. They think snakes are a happy meal.

 

[sseelhoff]

Howdy David , Good to hear from You.
Besides secureing coop/house better You might try researching a product called Snake-Away !!!!!!!!!!!!

x2 on Dr. T's snake away. Snakes hate it, and if you put down a perimeter, the snakes will not cross it.

 

[/pine]

fortify your coop...it's not rocket science...

1/4" hardware cloth or galv. wire mesh (diamond) masonry lath will do it...

 

[EddieWalker]

No first hand experience, but I've heard that they sell rocks that are shaped into the same size as eggs. The snake swallows the rock and dies.

I've been putting out mothballs around my house after being told they are good at keeping snakes away. It worked last year, so we are hoping it will work again this this. Mothballs are cheap, and they seem to last quite awhile. I just spread a box of them all around the outside of the house.

Eddie

 

[Bigfoot62]

. . . I can't and don't wish to kill them all. But I need them to stay out.

Got any good suggestions?

Keep them affordable as I just got laid off today...

Be well all,
David

David,
The only way to get rid of them IS to kill them.
Ceramic eggs. Put them in the nest boxes. They swallow them, but can't digest them, so they die. Recover the ceramic egg, wash, and re-use.
Rest assured in knowing that only the egg eating guilty parties will be harmed.

Sorry to hear about the lay-off. Hope another offer turns up soon.

 

[Ed of all trades]

When I was a kid my mom killed a black snake that had a wooden egg in it, It "wood" have killed him but mom got there first.

 

[texasjohn]

Sooooo sorry you got laid off....real bummer....hang in there, you've got a whole bunch of skills and after the shock begins to subside...and it will...the skills will begin to help you focus on the next thing that you will be getting into. Best wishes, and use some of your down time to do things around the place that have been needing done...some of them will cost a few dollars, but the therapy and satisfaction of getting them done will make it worth every cent.

One of the first things you might do is to make up a bunch of wooden chicken eggs and paint them white.... and leave them under the chickens when you collect eggs...makes the chickens want to keep laying...and will get the individual snakes which are the invaders.