How to get rid of squirrels without killing them?

[Celeste Cannon]

I have just started feeding my chickens new feed and everyone seems to love it, including the ground squirrels . I am an animal lover so I really don't want to kill any of the squirrels, but I also really don't want them eating my feed! I heard that if I put hot pepper powder in the feed, the squirrels won't eat it but the chickens will. Is this true?

 

[RWise]

IDK if the hot peppers work, I use hawks and a riffle when the hawks dont get enuf of them. I can tell you my girls have raided my pepper patch eating the hot tepin peppers off the plants, could be worth a try.
Check your local laws on trapping and relocating them.

 

[Howard E]

From my experience, red pepper works on red and grey squirrels raiding suet feeders. And it is true, they get their mouth burnt and birds don't. But solving this problem by spiking chicken feed would be a lot of red pepper. That stuff ain't free.

What you want is a rat proof feeder. In this case....rodent proof feeder......

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/rat-proof-feeder-review.1180514/

 

[Folly's place]

I only have feed in the coop and covered run, and the squirrels don't invade those spaces, because the chickens would take them out and eat them too.

Wild sparrows and wrens are a problem here, not so much for the amount of food consumed, but because they bring in the mites.
Mary

 

[WthrLady]

Don't relocate them, then they become someone else's problem OR they come back. My sister has a neighbor that is constantly trapping and relocating squirrels. My sister told him it's the same squirrel that keeps coming back. He said no. She trapped it, marked it with paint released it back in his yard. He trapped it, drove it 10 miles to a park and let it go. It was back a week later.

 

[Backyard Bruce]

They make a great stew over noodles

 

[Harley Chick]

I have just started feeding my chickens new feed and everyone seems to love it, including the ground squirrels . I am an animal lover so I really don't want to kill any of the squirrels, but I also really don't want them eating my feed! I heard that if I put hot pepper powder in the feed, the squirrels won't eat it but the chickens will. Is this true?

Red pepper will work!!!! used it on bird feeders for years.

 

[jp57]

I know you might be an animal lover, but with just a little salt and pepper, you'll love the way they taste too.

 

[Flamens Farm]

How many squirrels are you talking about? At my parent's farm, they had close to 60 squirrels living on their property. My father talked to the Land Management for state parks and they let him relocate them there. They did not come back plus it was not when they had babies to take care of either. Hurricane Hugo killed all of our squirrels off and one of my neighbors allowed a person to relocate some back to his woods which of course is next to our woods but together we have close to 20 acres of woods so that is an option too. He put out feeders just for the squirrels. There are places and people who would take them as long as it is the right time of year.

 

[Celeste Cannon]

How many squirrels are you talking about? At my parent's farm, they had close to 60 squirrels living on their property. My father talked to the Land Management for state parks and they let him relocate them there. They did not come back plus it was not when they had babies to take care of either. Hurricane Hugo killed all of our squirrels off and one of my neighbors allowed a person to relocate some back to his woods which of course is next to our woods but together we have close to 20 acres of woods so that is an option too. He put out feeders just for the squirrels. There are places and people who would take them as long as it is the right time of year.

I think I only have around 6-7 tops. I think i'm going to go with the red pepper method so they can stay at the house. Its kind of fun to watch them play with the chickens, my girls are always so interested in them! The rooster makes sure they don't get too close to his girls though lol.