{"id":4169,"date":"2026-07-22T17:31:51","date_gmt":"2026-07-22T17:31:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/?p=4169"},"modified":"2026-07-22T17:31:51","modified_gmt":"2026-07-22T17:31:51","slug":"a-backyard-chicken-owner-thought-hens-were-eating-the-missing-eggs-but-later-found-five-chicken-snakes-curled-up-inside-the-nest-boxes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/?p=4169","title":{"rendered":"A backyard chicken owner thought hens were eating the missing eggs, but later found five chicken snakes curled up inside the nest boxes"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Backyard chicken owner blames hens for missing eggs, then finds 5 chicken snakes in nest boxes<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

A backyard chicken owner who spent days suspecting their hens were eating their own missing eggs discovered the true culprits curled up in the coop: at least five chicken snakes nestled inside the nesting boxes.The flock owner shared the discovery online after empty nest boxes left them searching for answers. The incident is a proof of a common challenge faced by backyard poultry keepers, where warm coops, stored feed, and easy food sources regularly draw in wild reptiles.“I hadn’t been getting eggs for several days, I thought my chickens were eating them,” the backyard chicken owner wrote on Reddit. “I went outside to check one day and I saw 5 or more chicken snakes in my nest boxes.”Chemical deterrents provided only temporary relief for the poultry keeper.“We bought some snake repellent powder and it worked for a couple weeks, but here over the last few days I have not seen any eggs again! How do I get rid of these snakes?” they asked the community.Fellow chicken owners offered a range of practical home remedies and structural fixes. One Redditor said, “We had a friend suggest the vanilla scented tree air fresheners. We hung a couple in the coop and so far so good.” Others suggested safely trapping and relocating the reptiles, getting a barn cat or dog to ward them off, or advised to “put nest boxes higher up.”<\/p>\n

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Photo Credit: Reddit<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Why coops attract snakes<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n

Sheltered nest boxes filled with fresh eggs create an ideal feeding station for local wildlife. Human activities, such as building coops, storing grain, and providing covered nesting spaces, unintentionally attract both rodents and the snakes that hunt them.While missing eggs represent a financial loss for households relying on backyard flocks to offset grocery bills, wildlife experts note that snakes play a vital role in local ecosystems. They keep rodent populations under control, preventing pest damage to property and reducing disease transmission.Because repellents rarely work long term once reptiles locate a steady food supply, experts recommend humane prevention methods over chemical treatments.<\/p>\n

Long-term solutions for backyard keepers<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n

Effective coop defence focuses on removing access and food incentives:<\/p>\n

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