Do chickens attract snakes in Australia?

Do Chickens Attract Snakes?

Before answering the question, do chickens attract snakes in Australia, it is worth mentioning Australia’s wildlife, which is impressively diverse. If you’re living in a suburb, you may come across a vivid Rainbow Lorikeet one sunny morning or find a Common Brushtail Possum casually walking around your backyard.

Finding an unexpected animal visitor may be welcome, a rather graceful subject for a nice Instagram post. However, some backyard visitors are not quite as attractive….

We have an international reputation of having some of the world’s most vicious and venomous snakes. Although annual snakebite deaths in Australia are not as numerous as compared to other snake prone regions (South Africa has an average of 476 snakebite deaths per year as opposed to Australia which has around 2 to 3 snakebite and related deaths per year), caution is always better than cure.

Thankfully, most venomous snakes in Australia don’t mount an attack unless severely threatened. We’re also the only country with an efficient snake venom detection kit. Available antivenoms, coverage of snakebite treatment by Medicare and the prompt response by the Royal Flying Doctors have made snakebite management more robust.

Why do chicken coops attract snakes

Humans are not the only victim to snakebites. Snakes tend to feel threatened in the presence of domesticated animals as well and may often lash to bite them as well. Research found that dogs are more likely to die from snakebites than cats.

Many Australians also wonder, do chicken coops attract snakes? It is because most of them have backyard chicken coops, which attract quite a lot of their predators including cats, hawks, and foxes. Chicken eggs, adults and even younglings serve as a great source of nutrition for snakes, so the most common reason why a snake might get inside a coop is hunger.

Additionally, snakes enter chicken coops to quench their thirst as water is almost always available inside coops as well as for shelter. Large snakes can devour live chickens, while venomous snakes may endanger chickens through lethal bites. Moreover, humans, especially children are often taken by surprise when they casually reach down to bring out an egg or two and find a hiding snake in the bedding. Either way, we definitely want to avoid snakes inside a chicken coop!

Why do chickens attract snakes in Australia?

How do snakes enter chicken coops? Snakes have a soft and slender body which allows them to slither through holes. Snakes can even invade coops by going through, over and underneath fencing. Because snakes don’t eat every day, it might be difficult for you to notice something strange happening inside and around the chicken coops. It could actually take somewhere between 4 - 40 days or even more until you notice a missing or injured chicken. Following are some indicators of snake invasions in your chicken coop:

  • Abandoned snake skin
  • Regurgitated egg shells
  • Missing chickens and eggs
  • Dead chickens (with a wet head)

How to protect your chickens from snakes

As snakes enter chicken coops unannounced often at the dead of night, learning how to protect chickens from snakes and making coops snake-proof is the best way to prevent snakes from getting inside chicken coops. Some approaches to snake-proofing a coop include:

  1. Covering all openings and holes.
  2. Using meshes and hardware clothes with holes less than ¼ inch.
  3. Raising the elevation of coops.
  4. Getting rid of any unwanted debris around and inside the yard.
  5. Keeping the grass levelled and clearing out bushes and tall grass.
  6. Keeping the rodent population around and inside the yard under control.
  7. Keeping the rodent population around and inside the yard under control.

In addition, you can also install battery powered or solar snake repellers around the coop. EnviroBug snake repellers are designed for Australian conditions and emit vibrations of varied frequencies, which ground snakes often perceive as large animals and by extension, danger. The frequency will change every 7 days so that snakes don’t get used to the vibrations. The vibrations won’t bother the chickens or any other pets you have.

FAQ

➕ Do chickens eat snakes?

Snakes do not belong to the main diet of chickens, however, if the size of these reptiles is insignificant, they may well be eaten by chickens.

Another instance in which a hen may regard a snake as food is when protecting a clutch of eggs from this creeping predator.

➕ How do snakes eat chicken eggs?

In general, eating eggs is a very “profitable” occupation. On the one hand, it is a nutritious and high-calorie product; on the other hand, prey that does not run away and does not resist. Therefore, among the reptiles there are many who are happy to diversify their menu with a randomly found masonry of birds or other mammals. Especially often, various snakes eat bird eggs. Moreover, unlike lizards, snakes swallow the whole egg without losing a single drop of valuable product. In some of them, the shell is then dissolved in gastric juice or crushed due to contractions of the body muscles.

Products

sale
EnviroBug Powerful Solar Snake Repellers (8th Generation) - Envirobug
EnviroBug Powerful Solar Snake Repellers (8th Generation) from $119.00 $149.00
The original Australian solar snake repeller. Launched in 2008. Now in its 8th generation — stronger, more reliable and more adaptable than ever. EnviroBug didn't follow the market. We created it. Eighteen years of continuous improvement means one thing: when your family and pets are at risk from venomous ground snakes, you're buying the best protection available. Proven Effectiveness EnviroBug solar repellers are recognised as the most powerful and reliable on the market — and they don't stop when the sun does. An internal rechargeable battery keeps them running for up to 10 days without sunlight, through overcast days, long nights and everything in between. Your family and pets stay protected continuously, not just when conditions are ideal. The Threat Is Real Australia is home to 20 of the world's 25 most venomous snakes — and the most dangerous ones are ground dwellers that live exactly where you do.  Eastern Brown Snakes, Tiger Snakes, Red-bellied Blacks and taipans don't announce themselves. They're found in backyards, under houses, in garden beds and along fence lines across regional and suburban Australia.  EnviroBug repellers are specifically designed to deter the ground-dwelling species that pose the greatest risk to your family. The safest encounter with a snake is the one that never happens — and that's exactly what these repellers are designed to deliver. Snake activity peaks in spring and summer as temperatures rise and snakes emerge to feed and breed. That's also when encounters with humans and pets spike dramatically. The best time to install your repellers is before the season starts. Prevention Is Everything Eight out of ten snake bites happen during human intervention — picking up, cornering, startling or accidentally stepping on a snake. Kids and dogs are disproportionately at risk: they move fast, stay low to the ground and don't recognise the warning signs that tell adults to back away. A curious dog investigates with its nose. A child doesn't know to freeze.  The only reliable way to protect your family is to make sure that encounter never happens. EnviroBug repellers work to keep snakes away from your property in the first place — and compel those that have already established territory to move on. **If you do encounter a snake:** stop, stay still and back away slowly. Never attempt to pick it up, chase it or corner it — this is when the overwhelming majority of bites occur. Call a licensed snake handler for removal. Why Variable Frequency Wins A powerful vibrating motor drives physical ground vibrations outward continuously — but what makes EnviroBug's snake repellers different is the variable frequency pattern. The vibration signal keeps changing, mimicking the movement of large animals and preventing snakes from habituating to it. Snakes rely on ground vibration to detect threat and movement. A fixed frequency repeller eventually stops working as snakes learn to ignore it. A variable frequency one doesn't. That's the difference between a repeller that works for a season and one that works for years. 18 Years. Tens of Thousands of Properties. One Result. Since 2008, Australian families have trusted EnviroBug snake repellers to keep venomous snakes off their properties — in the bush, on farms, in suburban backyards and everywhere in between. That breadth of real-world performance, across 18 years and Australia's harshest conditions, is a track record no competitor can match. Buy Genuine. Stay Safe. Counterfeit and copycat repellers are a real problem. If it looks similar but isn't genuine, it isn't the same. Never risk your family's safety on an imitation. What Makes It Work Stronger vibrations, consistent operation — A more powerful motor than any previous generation delivers deeper, further-reaching ground vibrations — that don’t disturb you, your family or your animals Variable frequency pattern — The vibration interval keeps changing so snakes can never habituate to it — maximum discomfort, zero harm, continuous effectiveness 40-metre diameter coverage — That's up to 1,200m² of protected area per unit — 80% more coverage than other repellers on the market Slanted solar head, built for Australian conditions — The angled, weatherproof, fade-resistant panel targets the sun more effectively and is designed to stay clear and fog-free for years of reliable charging Large rechargeable battery included — everything you need is in the box Up to 10 days charge in poor sunlight — Cloudy weeks, long nights, shaded mornings — protection continues uninterrupted regardless of conditions LED indicator light — A quiet visual confirmation that your unit is on and working Anodised stem — Prevents corrosive mineralisation from soil contact, extending the unit's lifespan in tough ground conditions 12-month warranty — Backed by EnviroBug's local Australian customer service team You can watch our videos and installation instructions here.  How to Install Choose your placement — Focus on open sunny areas (6-8 hours of sun per day is ideal), perimeter lines and high-risk zones around the building — avoid placing units in full shade where solar charging will be compromised Create the hole — Use a metal stake or shovel to create a hole big enough for the repeller stem, then push it firmly into position — level ground gives best vibration transmission Switch it on — The repeller activates immediately and runs continuously Space correctly — For full perimeter coverage, space units so their 40-metre diameter zones overlap slightly — no gaps, no blind spots Apply LANOX (or a similar water dispersant formula) annually — A quick application of LANOX lanolin lubricant to internal components before the wet season extends the unit's lifespan significantly. If you anticipate flooding, bring the repellers inside until water recedes. Watch our installation videos and guides here. 
Quick View
sale
EnviroBug Powerful Battery Snake Repellers (8th Generation) - Envirobug
EnviroBug Powerful Battery Snake Repellers (8th Generation) from $119.00 $149.00
The Most Powerful Snake Repellers Money Can Buy. #1 in Australia: Rated by Better Homes and Gardens. The safest encounter with a snake is the one that never happens — and that's exactly what these repellers are designed to deliver. We launched Australia's original snake repeller in 2008. Eighteen years and eight generations later, nothing else comes close. These battery-powered units are suitable for anywhere, sun or shade. This includes yards, under buildings, protected zones and anywhere reliable sunlight is off the table. Four D-cell batteries give six to eight months of continuous 24/7 protection. Double the deterrent mechanism of any competitor on the market. Don't compromise when it comes to protecting your family and pets from deadly Australian snakes. Eight out of ten snake bites happen when people try to pick up, corner, startle or accidentally step on a snake.  Battery-powered units are built for the spots solar can't reliably cover — shaded gardens, protected zones, under buildings, decks and dense vegetation.  For complete perimeter protection, run battery-powered units in shaded zones alongside solar-powered EnviroBug repellers in open areas. Together they eliminate blind spots across almost any outdoor environment. Key Features Double Protection — Unique to This Model — The only repeller on the market combining a sonic buzzer frequency AND an offset motor for strong physical vibration. Two deterrent mechanisms working simultaneously — maximum discomfort for snakes, minimising risks of harm to humans and pets. Massive 40-Metre Diameter Coverage — The most powerful repeller available in Australia. One unit protects a 40-metre diameter — that's serious ground covered per device. Works Where Solar Can't — Four D-cell alkaline batteries deliver continuous 24/7 power for 6–8 months regardless of sunlight, shade, season or weather conditions. Ideal for under-building, shaded yards and protected zones. Variable Vibration Pattern — Alternating vibration and buzzing prevents snakes from habituating to a fixed pattern. They never get used to it because it keeps changing. Extra Protection in Soft Soils — Buzzing feature alternates with vibration to transmit through softer soils where pure vibration alone is less effective. Handles the full range of Australian ground conditions. Anodised Stem — Prevents corrosive mineralisation from soil contact — built for years of in-ground use without degrading. Weather Resistant — Tough, Aussie-conditions tested. Heat, humidity — these repellers keep running. 8th Generation Reliability — Continuously refined since 2008. More reliable, more adaptable and more powerful than any previous generation. 12-Month Warranty — Backed by our local Aussie team.  How to Install Insert the batteries — Open the battery compartment and load four D-cell alkaline batteries before deployment Choose your placement — Focus on shaded zones, perimeter lines and high-risk areas around the building Create the hole — Use a metal stake or shovel to create a hole big enough for the repeller, then push it firmly into position — level ground gives best vibration transmission Switch it on — The repeller activates immediately and runs continuously Space correctly — For full perimeter coverage, space units so their 40-metre diameter zones overlap slightly Apply LANOX (or a similar water dispersant formula) annually — A quick application of LANOX lanolin lubricant to internal components before the wet season extends the unit's lifespan significantly. If you anticipate flooding, bring the repellers inside until water recedes. Why Variable Frequency Matters Snakes don't hear sound the way we do (they don’t have ears!). Instead they rely on extraordinary sensitivity to ground vibration to detect movement, assess threat and decide whether to stay or flee. That's exactly what these repellers exploit. The variable frequency vibration mimics the footfall of large animals — an immediate danger signal to any snake in range. Critically, the pattern keeps changing, so snakes can't adapt to it or learn to ignore it. A fixed frequency repeller eventually stops working. A variable one doesn't. The unit also emits an audible buzz so you know it's operating. If the sound is an issue in your environment — near sleeping areas, animal pens or sensitive spaces — you can switch this feature off. Simply get in touch with our friendly customer service team for instructions.  Battery-powered units go where solar repellers can't. Shaded yards, dirt-floor sheds, under buildings, bushes, animal enclosures — anywhere that sees too little sun for a solar unit to charge reliably. Run them alongside solar-powered EnviroBug repellers in open areas and you eliminate the gaps, giving snakes nowhere to settle in.
Quick View
-25% sale
Aussie Tough Leg Protecting Snake Gaiters (One Pair) - Envirobug
Snake Gaiters — Aussie Tough Leg Bite Protection (One Pair) $109.00 $145.00
Australia hosts 8 of the world's 10 deadliest snakes. Farmers, bushwalkers, hikers, gardeners, campers -  one bite changes everything. Aussie Tough Gaiters cover vulnerable lower legs/feet with 1000D fabric + 12 polypropylene inserts per leg -80-90% of snake bites are to the limbs, including feet, ankles and lower legs. Blocks fangs, rocks, thorns, rain, dirt. Manufactured to perform and last in brutal Australian conditions. Please note: Snake resistant gaiters should be considered a last line of defence against venomous snakes. While they do provide significant resistance to bites, no snake gaiters should be considered “snake proof” and there is no guarantee that penetration could not occur in any circumstance. It is far better to not get too close to snakes in the first place! Key Features Anti-puncture defence: 1000D nylon prevents fangs/rocks 12 inserts/leg: Flexible poly blocks strikes Full weatherproof: Rain, mud, dirt, thorns no issue Breathable comfort: Active all-day wear Knee-ankle guard: 80% of snake attacks are to the feet, ankles and lower legs. Aussie rugged: Built for tough conditions Adjustable straps: Secure custom fit
Quick View
-16% sale
LANOX Lanolin Lubricant | 300gm - Envirobug
LANOX Lanolin Lubricant | 300gm $16.00 $19.00
LANOX Lanolin Lubricant, derived from high-grade oil and natural lanolin, stands as a superior, eco-friendly solution. LANOX offers outstanding protection against moisture and corrosion, crucial for snake repellers vulnerable to condensation and leaks in damp conditions. Applying LANOX spray annually safeguards internal components, effectively extending the lifespan of the repellers. Why Choose LANOX Lanolin Lubricant: Natural & Effective Protection: LANOX, with its lanolin-based formula, provides robust rust and corrosion protection, ensuring the longevity and functionality of snake repellers. Versatile Use: LANOX adapts to various operational demands, making it an ideal choice for snake repellers in any environment. Safety First: Free from harmful substances, LANOX ensures user safety and environmental friendliness, making it safe for use around homes and gardens. Superior Features: offers superior protection against moisture and corrosion, crucial for snake repellers which are water resistant, not water proof. Applying LANOX spray safeguards internal parts, extending the Snake repellers' lifespan. LANOX Lanolin Lubricant is a premium safeguard for your investments against harsh environmental elements. Its lanolin-based composition forms a durable shield, making it an indispensable asset for maintenance and preservation across diverse applications, including snake repellers.
Quick View

Designed for Australian Conditions

Eco-friendly

No poisons

12 month warranty

30 Day

satisfaction guarantee

Afterpay American Express Apple Pay Google Pay Shop Pay Visa Mastercard