Chicken owner blamed hens for missing eggs, then found snakes in nest boxes
A backyard chicken owner discovered that missing eggs were being eaten by snakes nesting in the coop rather than by the hens themselves. The incident underscores the common challenge of managing wildlife in residential poultry setups.
Why it matters
It provides practical insight into urban/suburban wildlife management and the ecological role of snakes in controlling rodent populations.
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.
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