I have had problems with squirrels eating my chicken feed. I don't know if the chickens are afraid of them, but they don't chase them from the run like they do birds. Anyway, I opened the door to the coop yesterday and a squirrel made a dash past me, leaping from the door jamb toward the adjacent tree. I am not sure what came over me, most certainly not good judgement, but I made a grab at him (it was a him) in mid air, ending up with tail in hand. I made a quick counter clock swing, jerking him backward from his direction of escape. The orbit was intended to end at the tree upon one revolution, but the squirrel made contact with a lone standing ancient split black locust fence post (standing in an old fence line, but too sturdy for me to remove), effectely ending the encounter. I don't recommend grabbing a live squirrel, but I did manage to come away unharmed. I figured he would be eating eggs, once the pullets were laying. One less pest to worry about.
