Scared of squirrels or just love their coop?

[SueAndHerZoo]

I have squirrels... LOTS of squirrels. Our backyard is all woods and we have lots of bird feeders in the yard so we're actually feeding squirrels, too, which was OK, but not anymore. I recently got chickens and the squirrels are easily getting through the openings on my Producer's Pride 10' x 10' run. I have the bottom two feet encased in hardware cloth but can't possibly do the entire thing.

Anyway, the squirrels are not phased by the chickens, but I'm starting to think the chickens are afraid of the squirrels? For the first few days they would all forage together, but today the chickens keep going back into their coop. Thinking something spooked them? Or do they just have lazy days where they want to hang out and nap in their bedrooms?
Sue

 

[KimbosKluckers]

I did my whole run in the hardware cloth for that reason. Anything can fit through those openings. I have the producer’s pride too but it’s only 7x6. A lot of work, but safe from predators and pests.

 

[SueAndHerZoo]

Ugh, going to be a lot of money and a lot of injuries but if there's no other way . . . .

I thought of electrifying the fence, anyone done that? Or maybe chicken wire for the top (already have the HC on the bottom two feet.)
Sue

 

[IwuvMyChickens]

I have squirrels... LOTS of squirrels. Our backyard is all woods and we have lots of bird feeders in the yard so we're actually feeding squirrels, too, which was OK, but not anymore. I recently got chickens and the squirrels are easily getting through the openings on my Producer's Pride 10' x 10' run. I have the bottom two feet encased in hardware cloth but can't possibly do the entire thing.

Anyway, the squirrels are not phased by the chickens, but I'm starting to think the chickens are afraid of the squirrels? For the first few days they would all forage together, but today the chickens keep going back into their coop. Thinking something spooked them? Or do they just have lazy days where they want to hang out and nap in their bedrooms?
Sue

Maybe because since their is so much easy prey such as the squirrels, then the chickens, then other birds that come to your feeders, it might seem like a hotspot for predators such as big birds in the sky which might be scaring them. Normal squirrels and chickens leave eachother alone, so it's kinda weird. Do your hens have a rooster? If not maybe they're figuring out the pecking order. I wish I could give you more but I hope this helps somehow!

 

[The Coop Crew]

We have a lot of squirrels where I am too and they’re constantly in the trees above the coop and even get semi close to us/the chickens. Our chickens don’t seem bothered by the squirrels at all.

 

[No Coop No Problem]

I went from having a couple of squirrels to having around half a dozen, and eventually the squirrels started to run off the baby chickens aggressively from their food bowl. They never bothered the adult chickens and in fact some of the adults attempted to hunt and eat the squirrels, an Asil hen in particular

Anyways I got a cat later on that completely took care of the squirrel probably. I still love squirrels but they get greedy if given an opportunity for it

 

[SueAndHerZoo]

Maybe because since their is so much easy prey such as the squirrels, then the chickens, then other birds that come to your feeders, it might seem like a hotspot for predators such as big birds in the sky which might be scaring them. Normal squirrels and chickens leave eachother alone, so it's kinda weird. Do your hens have a rooster? If not maybe they're figuring out the pecking order. I wish I could give you more but I hope this helps somehow!

Thankfully the entire run and coop are roof so no large predators will get them from up above. I do have a blue Heron that comes to my pond to steal my fish but it's far away from the chicken coop. And I have an occasional hawk come by but it's not too often. And there are times through the day when the squirrels are walking amongst the chickens, not sure why they're spending so much extra time in their coop today.

 

[aart]

Or maybe chicken wire for the top (already have the HC on the bottom two feet.)

1" chicken wire might do the trick.
I stopped feeding wild birds once I got chickens.

 

[IwuvMyChickens]

Ugh, going to be a lot of money and a lot of injuries but if there's no other way . . . .

I thought of electrifying the fence, anyone done that? Or maybe chicken wire for the top (already have the HC on the bottom two feet.)
Sue

That's defiantly an idea. Maybe chicken wire if it doesn't bother the chickens. Do you have a rooster?

 

[SueAndHerZoo]

That's defiantly an idea. Maybe chicken wire if it doesn't bother the chickens. Do you have a rooster?

Curious as to what you mean about the chicken wire bothering the chickens? I am tempted to look into the electric fence idea but lots of drawbacks to that. My 3 dogs, my young grandchild, and clumsy me who will keep forgetting not to get zapped!

No, no roosters allowed in my town. I thought about a cat but that brings a totally new set of challenges and problems.
Sue