Hey all
So I've been having a problem with eggs disappearing for about a year now, starting last fall. First my chickens were molting, some lost a LOT of feathers, I thought they had stopped laying. I changed feed, increased nutrients/vitamins and protein, to help. Some of my girls reached laying age this past summer, but still no eggs. Then I noticed rats. I put out poisons, traps, big and small, ultrasonic deterrent and sprayed the coop with peppermint oil frequently. No luck. Maybe 5 rats have actually died via poison or trap over the past 3 months, that I've seen/buried. All of my chickens feathers have grown back in, which is fantastic, they appear to be in great health. So, I assumed rats. Today, I get home from work early (around noon, and my girls usually lay between 8am-12pm), and I see a freaking squirrel hauling an egg into his nest. What the what !!!
Now I feel like an idiot.... all that money wasted on rats. How do you stop squirrels ??
So I've been having a problem with eggs disappearing for about a year now, starting last fall. First my chickens were molting, some lost a LOT of feathers, I thought they had stopped laying. I changed feed, increased nutrients/vitamins and protein, to help. Some of my girls reached laying age this past summer, but still no eggs. Then I noticed rats. I put out poisons, traps, big and small, ultrasonic deterrent and sprayed the coop with peppermint oil frequently. No luck. Maybe 5 rats have actually died via poison or trap over the past 3 months, that I've seen/buried. All of my chickens feathers have grown back in, which is fantastic, they appear to be in great health. So, I assumed rats. Today, I get home from work early (around noon, and my girls usually lay between 8am-12pm), and I see a freaking squirrel hauling an egg into his nest. What the what !!!
Now I feel like an idiot.... all that money wasted on rats. How do you stop squirrels ??