Certain species of snakes consume chicken eggs, a reality that often concerns backyard poultry owners. This behavior is a specialized feeding strategy employed by several types of snakes across North America. A chicken coop offers a concentrated and predictable food source, making it an appealing target for these reptiles. Understanding which species are responsible and their unique biological adaptations for consuming large eggs is the first step toward safeguarding a flock.
Identifying the Egg-Eating Snakes
In North America, the most frequent culprits in egg theft are non-venomous snakes belonging to a few specific genuses. Rat Snakes, including the Eastern Rat Snake, Black Rat Snake, and Corn Snake, are particularly well-known for raiding chicken coops and are sometimes colloquially referred to as “chicken snakes.” These slender, agile climbers can reach lengths of up to six or seven feet, allowing them to navigate the vertical structures of a coop to reach nesting boxes.
Bullsnakes and Pine Snakes, which belong to the genus Pituophis, are also common egg predators. These species are larger and heavier-bodied than Rat Snakes, making them capable of swallowing a standard-sized chicken egg whole without difficulty. Their diet is varied, but the opportunity for a high-calorie meal like an egg is readily taken, especially during the spring when they are most active.
King Snakes are also opportunistic egg consumers, although they are more famous for preying on other snakes, including venomous ones. Only larger species of non-venomous snakes are physically capable of consuming a substantial chicken egg. The snake must be large enough in girth to accommodate the egg.
The Unique Mechanics of Swallowing Eggs
A snake’s ability to consume an egg much larger than its head is due to a highly flexible, or kinetic, skull structure. Their lower jawbones are not rigidly fused at the chin, but are connected by elastic ligaments, allowing the mouth to open incredibly wide. This adaptation, combined with the ability to “walk” their jaws over the surface of the egg, enables the snake to slowly engulf the entire object.
Once the egg is swallowed and positioned deep within the snake’s throat, a specialized mechanism is used for crushing. Certain vertebrae in the spinal column feature downward-projecting bony points called hypapophyses. These projections act like an internal saw, pressing against the eggshell when the snake flexes its muscles. The hypapophyses break the shell, allowing the snake to consume the liquid contents. The snake then compresses the shell fragments into a compact mass. In many egg-specializing species, this flat, empty shell is then regurgitated.
Protecting Your Flock and Eggs
Securing the coop perimeter is the most effective measure to prevent snakes from accessing the eggs. Replacing standard chicken wire with hardware cloth is necessary for predator protection. Hardware cloth is a woven or welded wire mesh with much smaller openings. Using a mesh size of 1/2 inch or less is recommended to bar entry to all but the smallest snakes.
To prevent burrowing, the hardware cloth should be buried at least six to twelve inches deep around the entire base of the coop and run, with a portion flared outward. It is also important to seal any gaps or cracks in the coop structure itself. Snakes can compress their bodies to squeeze through surprisingly small openings, so any opening larger than a quarter-inch mesh should be secured.
Habitat modification around the coop is an important preventative step. Snakes are often attracted to the area by rodents, which are drawn to spilled chicken feed. Eliminating potential hiding spots like stacks of firewood, piles of debris, or tall grass near the coop removes shelter for both snakes and the rodents they hunt. Installing rodent-proof feeders and storing feed in sealed metal containers removes the primary food attractant.
Modifying egg collection practices reduces the opportunity for a snake to find a meal. Collecting eggs multiple times throughout the day, rather than just once, ensures they are not left unattended in the nesting boxes for long periods. If a nesting box has been targeted repeatedly, placing ceramic or wooden decoy eggs can help identify the predator. However, this method should always be used alongside physical barriers.