ground squirrels

[deborahca]

We've seen a couple of ground squirrels getting into the chicken run. These are quite small, fit easily through the dog-run wire mesh. I don't really want to cover the whole 10x10x6 thing with hardware cloth! These are the little squirrels that burrow, not the big red and grey bushy-tailed guys. How much of an egg-thief risk do they pose?

 

[Kev]

Not too much egg problem with these.. however they definitely take a lot of feed and if you don't control them, the numbers WILL explode! Also when they start to become regular visitors they leave the nastiest smelling pee and can and will kill and eat parts of baby chicks.

They are also likely to start making burrows close by, if you are on a slope or they make holes by structures they cause quite a lot of damage as they make huge burrows.

It's impossible to keep them out of coops as they dig, squeeze, climb, chew all way too well.

Honestly, it really is best to kill them before their numbers go up. Shoot, trap, poison etc. the repeating squirrel traps work extremely well, just bait them with chicken feed. Be warned, they become shockingly aggressive when trapped.

Probably not the answer you wanted.. I thought they were cute at first and tried to screen the pens off at first(no trapping or killing) but had to call it quits after they were relentless and causing real problems.

 

[16 paws]

Not too much egg problem with these.. however they definitely take a lot of feed and if you don't control them, the numbers WILL explode! Also when they start to become regular visitors they leave the nastiest smelling pee and can and will kill and eat parts of baby chicks.

They are also likely to start making burrows close by, if you are on a slope or they make holes by structures they cause quite a lot of damage as they make huge burrows.

It's impossible to keep them out of coops as they dig, squeeze, climb, chew all way too well.

Honestly, it really is best to kill them before their numbers go up. Shoot, trap, poison etc. the repeating squirrel traps work extremely well, just bait them with chicken feed. Be warned, they become shockingly aggressive when trapped.

Probably not the answer you wanted.. I thought they were cute at first and tried to screen the pens off at first(no trapping or killing) but had to call it quits after they were relentless and causing real problems.

I have the same problem with those@#%%$@!$%^&*((little pests! What kind of poison do I get?What is the repeating trap? I am taking the haveaheart trap back to Home Depot because it didnt catch one squirell! They are eating all my food...
Marie

 

[Kev]

commonly available brand is Squirrelinator(what I got), some feed stores carry it.. there are some homemade ones out around on the internet.

http://squirrelinator.com/testimonials.html

It really does work however you do need to place it where they are already comfortable and also it helps to sprinkle a little bit by the two entrance holes and put a big pile right in the middle.

Didn't get the basin, thought it was bit pricey as is but would be a great idea if disposal by other means is not too easy.

 

[aart]

commonly available brand is Squirrelinator(what I got), some feed stores carry it.. there are some homemade ones out around on the internet.

http://squirrelinator.com/testimonials.html

It really does work however you do need to place it where they are already comfortable and also it helps to sprinkle a little bit by the two entrance holes and put a big pile right in the middle.

Didn't get the basin, thought it was bit pricey as is but would be a great idea if disposal by other means is not too easy.

I see no pricing on the webpages?

 

[Kev]

Hmm, no they don't.. It was around 50-60 bucks when I bought one a couple years ago.. have seen them at several feed stores. Try searching with the brand name or something like repeating or live catch squirrel trap or contact them on their contacts page?

 

[mama2molly]

We have a MAJOR ground squirrel problem here as well. I'm so flipping fed up with them, even with the ones we trap it barely leaves a dent. They've destroyed my squash and peppers, both of which were behind chicken wire. Not to mention all the feed they are stealing from my chickens.

We also have the Squirrelnator or whatever it's called and it works pretty well. We swear by using Fruity Pebbles as the bait. It smells strong and it's colorful and they are SUCKERS for it.

 

[Kev]

Haha serious?? wow! Thanks for that fun tidbit.

are the trapped ones being killed or relocated?

 

[mama2molly]

Yep, it really works! Killed, at the risk of offending anyone. But we are just so overrun with them it's ridiculous.

 

[Kev]

Yeah I understand. at first they were not killed(aww kinda cute, fur is rather pretty with the colors and lines of dots, not their fault etc)..... when it was plain as day they were going to cause damage and signs of them actually moving onto my property, had to 'get real' and start killing every single one.