Backyard chicken owner blames hens for missing eggs, then finds 5 chicken snakes in nest boxes

A backyard chicken owner reported missing eggs over several days, saying the hens appeared to be eating them until the cause was revealed in their nest boxes. The owner wrote on Reddit that they found “5 or more” chicken snakes curled inside the nesting areas, explaining the disappearance. A snake repellent powder seemed to help temporarily for a couple of weeks, but eggs stopped appearing again in the days after. Commenters suggested a range of protective measures, including vanilla-scented tree air fresheners, safely trapping and relocating snakes, and using barn cats or dogs to deter them, along with keeping nest boxes higher. The article notes that coops and sheltered nesting can attract wildlife by offering food and habitat, and that snakes play an ecological role by controlling rodents. It advises focusing on reducing access and attractants—collecting eggs earlier, sealing feed, cleaning spills, inspecting for gaps, using hardware cloth, and removing brush near the coop—while warning that repellents may be only temporary.