Should i be afraid of squirrels?

[NYREDS]

I stand corrected-looked it up & found that squirrels are PRIMARILY herbivores but they will eat eggs, baby birds & even small snakes if preasured by hunger.

 

[amazondoc]

Quote:
Ewwwwwwww........

And to the diet doubters --

Most "herbivores" will eat extra protein whenever they can get it.

From squirrels.org: " The gray squirrels diet consists of nuts, seeds and fruit. It will eat bird eggs, bugs, and even an animal carcass if there is no other food source available. "

From flyingsquirrel.com:
"• mast tree crops of all types, including acorn (red oak, black oak, mossycup oak, white oak, pin oak, etc.); hickory nut (shagbark, bitternut, pignut); pecan; walnuts; beech nut; horsechestnut; hazelnut; etc.
• seeds of various varieties
• insects (beetles, moths and their larvae, etc.)
• spiders
• slugs, snails
• tree and shrub buds
• flowers (tree, shrub, herb)
• fruits of many trees and shrubs
• berries (most types)
• fungi
• bird eggs, nestlings
• bark cambium
• carrion, especially in winter months
• tree sap"

 

[Mojo Chick'n]

sorry had to -

meri

 

[Roosterboy]

 

[Attack Chicken]

LOL my chickens chase them away. btw love that post LOL

 

[cwc362]

I would be more worried about myself than the chickens.. My daughter ran to pick up a squirrel ( after I told her not to) that wasn't running away like the other squirrels. Needless to say we ended up at the doctor's office. He called the center for disease control and they said since no rabies reported in our area for many years they would advise no rabies shots--I was on pins and needles for a few days --I was so afraid that she would get rabies--If you are chasing them away I recommend doing it with a very very long stick--lol

Just to add an interesting note--We have a colony of these white squirrels In Kenton Tn . They are pretty famous here. here is a pic of one

 

[Buckaroo]

I hate the darn things, they chew up everything trying to get to the chicken feed, even chewed up my coolers, kayaks, deer antlers, etc. I shoot them every chance I get.

 

[providentialpastures]

I would worry about the squirrels, not the chickens. Seriously though, you might want to keep a close eye on feed and baby chicks. If you do have a problem, a good tapered band slingshot and some hunting shot for $20 (have a good club ready just in case, squirrels are mean).

 

[aiwetir]

actually that squirrel came and sort of maniacally banged at the screen door all covered in blood, it was pretty freaky. at least he didn't have a hockey mask and a chainsaw.

 

[crtrlovr]

Quote:
Sorry, but squirrels can and do rob bird nests of eggs and very young chicks. It's not likely that they'd have the courage to attack your chickens or small chicks if they were with the rest of the flock, though. They'll probably be more of a nuisance if they can get to your scratch grain bin...