How to keep squirrels out of feed!

[Shamo Hybrid]

These little bastaaad squirrels are having a buffet feast every day at my expense....... I think I've even seen one smirking at me while looking through my window into the backyard. I'm at the point where a pellet to their little pea brains is the only solution, last time I checked I see no money trees in my backyard and my wallet is becoming thinner and thinner by the minute. I don't want to have to dispatch these critters even though they deserve it, so is there any other way to prevent them from eating my chicken feed? I'm now feeding them on a daily schedule routine so that no feed is wasted on the squirrels, but I want a way to just fill up the feeder and only replenishing it when it's all gone. I'm too lazy to have to feed them on a schedule.

 

[Wormhunter]

I live in uk, yesterday I looked out my front window, a squirrel had got into my girls pen, which is way in the back garden, somehow this squirrel had dismantled the chain and hook that held a metal veg ball container, he had then dragged the Ballard 6 foot attached chain with hook out of the pen, through the garden, over a 7 foot gate, around the side of the house to the front, he was trying to drag the ball plus chain through our front gate, cheeky thing, I took a photo I was so astonished

 

[vpatt]

I just read on this site to add hot peppers to the chicken feed....I cannot remember who said it. Has anyone tried this?

 

[tigger19687]

It was probably me that said that and I'll say again.
Red Chili Pepper Flakes, it's like red and orange and yellow flakes.
Sprinkle in throughout the feed. Stops chipmunks and others as well.
And yes it works perfectly

 

[vpatt]

It was probably me that said that and I'll say again.
Red Chili Pepper Flakes, it's like red and orange and yellow flakes.
Sprinkle in throughout the feed. Stops chipmunks and others as well.
And yes it works perfectly

Thanks! I will probably try it. We are in the edge of the woods and the squirrels used to come up on our porch. And then when I got chickens they started eating the feed. They go in and out of the run and the coop. I have never tried stopping them because I didn't know how.

 

[tigger19687]

Thanks! I will probably try it. We are in the edge of the woods and the squirrels used to come up on our porch. And then when I got chickens they started eating the feed. They go in and out of the run and the coop. I have never tried stopping them because I didn't know how.

You'll need to put up wire that stops them from getting in to begin with.
I don't think the flakes will stop them. they know it's a free meal and if you feed Pellets then it's no good, they will eat the pellets and leave the flakes