Are squirrels predators of chicks?

[kittyacid]

My chicks are 3.5 weeks old (2 are bantams) and the squirrels are fascinated by them. I put the chicks outside in a pen during the day and bring them in at night. Will the squirrels harm the chicks or are they just curious? I know these squirrels tease my cats all the time and I wonder if they are just interested in something new or are thinking of the chicks as prey.

 

[cposz]

Our back yard is crawling with gray squirrels and they never bothered the chicks when they were little.

 

[MysticScorpio82]

Unless the squirrel is rabid, it will not harm your chickens. They will however chew holes in your coop to get to the chicken feed, allowing an entry point for predators, plus eat your feed (thus cost you more money).

 

[invalidsession]

Quote:
Gray Squirrels will kill and eat very young wild chicks from the nest and will also take eggs. By 3.5 weeks your chicks should be safe.

 

[PeepsInc]

I catch them in a have a heart trap,then take them down the road to the neighbors.She likes watching them at her feeder. I think they mainly eat the egg shell,for calcium.

 

[MysticScorpio82]

Quote:
Gray Squirrels will kill and eat very young wild chicks from the nest and will also take eggs. By 3.5 weeks your chicks should be safe.

That is very interesting! I did not know that, thank you for enlightening me!!