Can a snake scare hens into not laying eggs?

[charged]

A couple of weeks ago I saw a black snake inside the chicken cage and removed it. The two hens have not layed eggs since. Before the incident, they layed about one egg between the two of them every other day.

Is it possible that the hens got so scared of the snake that they stopped laying?

[o&itw]

Yes, but it should last long unless it they went into the normal hot-weather lag.

Yes..a 6 foot King snake in my coop one evening spooked my hens so much that they were reluctant to enter the coop for a week...got just a few eggs too....it may help to stick a few golf balls in a nesting box ...never met a hen yet who could resist the urge to lay an egg where another hen had laid hers..LOL

[o&itw]

Originally Posted by o&itw

Yes, but it should last long unless it they went into the normal hot-weather lag.

Just thinking, the small snake may have been a female, if so and there is a larger male around, he may be eating the eggs, especially if it is a black rat snake. I was always willing to loose a few eggs because the were worth having around; but if you only have two layers, that might be a problem

[jen74145]

Others have said it. Stress puts birds off laying, and if said snake has just come back or it's mate has, well.

I had a hen years ago, and also had a pup who ate eggs. She took to running to me first thing every morning and laying her egg at my feet, I kid you not. Perhaps have a talk with your chickens? lol

[Cyngbaeld]

Most likely there is at least one more snake in there eating the eggs. Snakes never seem to scare my hens at all.

[wberry85]

I always know when there is a snake in the coop because all the hens huddle up right outside the door to the coop. Mine hate snakes but I don't know if it affects their laying or if the snakes are just eating the eggs. Black snakes around here love eggs.

[charged]

Ok, last night one of the hens layed an egg, so they must be over it.

[TexinGa]

Snakes are never alone. Most be another one eating the eggs.

[highlands]

Our hens eat snakes so it seems like the snakes should be the ones who are scared... Maybe we have smaller snakes though.