Rat snakes are well-known to consume chicken eggs. These long, non-venomous snakes are frequently drawn to human dwellings and farm structures, especially chicken coops, in search of food and shelter. Their ability to climb and their opportunistic diet often lead them directly to unattended nests. This behavior has earned them the colloquial name of “chicken snakes” in many parts of North America.
Identifying the Rat Snake
Rat snakes are easily recognizable due to their considerable length, typically growing between four and six feet, though some individuals may approach eight feet. Their coloration varies significantly across their wide range in the eastern and central United States. They possess a slender yet muscular body, and their scales are weakly keeled, which aids in their excellent climbing ability. These snakes are frequently found in forested areas, barns, abandoned buildings, and suburban yards, making use of vertical structures to hunt or seek refuge.
The Mechanics of Egg Consumption
The rat snake’s unique ability to consume objects much larger than its head is due to a highly flexible skull structure. Like other snakes, they can disarticulate their lower jawbones, allowing the mouth to open wide enough to swallow an entire egg. The snake slowly works its way around the smooth, rounded egg, using muscular contractions to draw it down the esophagus whole.
The specialized process occurs once the egg is safely within the snake’s throat. The snake utilizes specialized vertebral projections, known as hypapophyses, which extend into the esophagus. These bony extensions act like a crusher, breaking the shell as the snake flexes its body. This internal crushing allows the snake to ingest the nutritious contents while preventing sharp shell fragments from damaging the delicate throat tissue. The crushed shell is then either digested or compressed into a compact packet and slowly regurgitated.
Broader Diet and Ecological Role
While their reputation often centers on eggs, the primary diet of the rat snake consists of small mammals, including mice, rats, and voles. They are highly effective constrictors, using their muscular coils to subdue prey before swallowing it whole. Their predatory focus on rodents is the main reason these snakes are often found near human structures, as barns and coops provide an abundant food source.
Rat snakes also opportunistically prey on birds, chipmunks, squirrels, and small lizards. This broad diet and their efficiency at controlling rodent populations give them a beneficial role in the ecosystem, particularly in agricultural settings. Farmers and homeowners often tolerate their presence because a single rat snake can consume dozens of rodents annually, helping to prevent crop damage and limit the spread of rodent-borne diseases.
Protecting Poultry from Predation
Protecting a flock from rat snake predation requires focusing on exclusion and removing attractants. The first step is to secure the chicken coop with a fine-mesh material, such as half-inch hardware cloth, over all windows, vents, and openings. Standard chicken wire is generally ineffective because snakes can easily slip through the larger openings. Any gaps or cracks in the coop’s structure larger than a half-inch should also be sealed immediately.
Exclusion and Management Strategies
- Elevating the coop off the ground by at least two feet can deter snakes and prevent rodents from burrowing underneath, which can attract snakes.
- Since snakes are often initially drawn by the presence of rodents, keeping the area clean is paramount.
- Store all chicken feed in sealed, rodent-proof containers and promptly clean up any spilled feed.
- Regularly collecting eggs multiple times a day removes the direct food source, eliminating the primary incentive for the snake to remain in the coop.