Can chickens eat through a chicken-wire barrier?

[avjudge]

You can also add some of these natural repellants. . .

Along these lines . . . Crushed red pepper? I have used that in birdseed and homemade suet blocks to discourage squirrels. I am not sure if the squirrels would just eat around it when it is in chicken feed, but you could give it a try.

It would probably be more effective in a mash or fermented feed, where the liquid would spread the heat throughout the food. But then you would have to change your feeder.

 

[DemeterAD9]

Live and let live is all fine and dandy but there may come a time when something must be done. Do you put more value on the chickens and the cost of their feed or the squirrels? It would take a LOT of squirrels to clean out chicken feeders and cause money problems. Personally I would start hunting the problem squirrels, their meat is delicious. The smart squirrels will learn to stay away.

On a more humane note, you could try trapping and relocating, or even just trapping them and scaring the daylights out of them to teach them a lesson. This may or may not work, but it did work on a red squirrel that was terrorizing (attacking) a young fox squirrel that I raised. I trapped it and frightened it enough that it stayed out of the yard where my squirrel played around.

 

[SueAndHerZoo]

A weird idea that I have no idea will work. What if you were to ferment their crumbles? Would the squirrels eat that?

No experience or knowledge regarding fermenting foods but definitely worth looking into!

 

[SueAndHerZoo]

I wouldn't make your chickens eat thru chicken wire, could cause comb and/or wattle wounds....and I think the squirrels could eat thru it anyway.

Good point, on both counts. Might harm the chicks and squirrels would still find a way.

 

[SueAndHerZoo]

Along these lines . . . Crushed red pepper? I have used that in birdseed and homemade suet blocks to discourage squirrels. I am not sure if the squirrels would just eat around it when it is in chicken feed, but you could give it a try.

It would probably be more effective in a mash or fermented feed, where the liquid would spread the heat throughout the food. But then you would have to change your feeder.

I've mixed crushed red pepper into the food bin a few times but it didn't seem to stop the thieves.... but boy just from handling the container and then putting my hand near my mouth I was on fire! Not sure how anyone eats that stuff!
Sue

 

[SueAndHerZoo]

Live and let live is all fine and dandy but there may come a time when something must be done. Do you put more value on the chickens and the cost of their feed or the squirrels? It would take a LOT of squirrels to clean out chicken feeders and cause money problems. Personally I would start hunting the problem squirrels, their meat is delicious. The smart squirrels will learn to stay away.

On a more humane note, you could try trapping and relocating, or even just trapping them and scaring the daylights out of them to teach them a lesson. This may or may not work, but it did work on a red squirrel that was terrorizing (attacking) a young fox squirrel that I raised. I trapped it and frightened it enough that it stayed out of the yard where my squirrel played around.

Been trapping them and husband relocates them in the woods near his job (two cities over but there seems to be an endless supply in our woods.

 

[Penpal]

The more you feed the squirrels the more babies they will have. Use deterrents, such as hot pepper flakes or peppermint spray on the outside of the run. See if they stop getting in. If they do, spray in a wider line. You have to reapply after a rain, but you can do it. I have used peppermint spray to keep animals (woodchuck, raccoon, squirrel, opossum, mice) out of my pole shed.

 

[TeresaW]

No experience or knowledge regarding fermenting foods but definitely worth looking into!

 

[Loving my girls]

I think your attitude towards our furry and feathered friends is great and I whole heartedly agree.
However; no animals live on just chicken food or just chickens. Kick the little buggers out from the food you are paying for and make them find another fast food chain.
Also an electric fence is simply a big muscular bouncer at the door refusing entry to those uninvited.

 

[Loving my girls]

A weird idea that I have no idea will work. What if you were to ferment their crumbles? Would the squirrels eat that?

The red squirrels around our last house would get drunk on the fermented pears that fell off the trees.
Highly amusing and I would love to have seen them the next day