Squirrel in coop -- after feed, eggs or both?

[Urbanchickens]

Twice now, we've found a squirrel in our chicken coop. We leave the door open while the girls are free ranging during the day. Do you think it's after the feed or eggs? 2 girls have only been laying for a few weeks and the egg count each day varies. 1/2/2/1/1/2, etc. I figured it was inconsistent because they were new layers. Now I'm wondering if the squirrel may be stealing an egg.

Any ideas?

 

[hinkjc]

Squirrels eat grains, eggs and baby birds. And they are nasty varmints that leave defication behind that can contaminate feed sources.

Jody

 

[Dawn419]

I've never heard or read of a squirrel stealing eggs so I suspect that it's more interested in the feed. They are a pain in the rear here with the bird feeders, right now since it's cooling off.

Wow...thanks for the info Jody...I didn't know that they'd go after baby birds...yet another reason for me not to like them!

Dawn

 

[hinkjc]

The diet of Eastern Gray Squirrels includes: acorns, hickory nuts, walnuts, beechnuts, maple (buds, bark, and samaras), Yellow Poplar blossoms, American Hornbeam seeds, apples, fungi, Black Cherry, Flowering Dogwood, grapes, sedges, grasses, American Holly, insects (adults and larvae), baby birds, bird eggs, and amphibians. Sometimes they even eat each other!

http://www.fcps.k12.va.us/StratfordLandingES/Ecology/mpages/eastern_gray_squirrel.htm

Jody​

 

[SimplcitiyAltered]

oh they will steal those eggs

 

[Dawn419]

Just got off the phone with Skip...was telling him about this post and what new info I'd learned for the day...he tells me about the time he was working with our friend in Nashville...they'd finished for the day, were getting ready to leave when they saw a squirrel carrying a dead baby rabbit...

Guess it's time to join our landlady's vigil in thinning the buggers out some...

Dawn

 

[panner123]

squirrels do make a right tasty stew.

 

[KingsCalls]

Quote:
Squirrels eat eggs & baby birds? Dang, I didn't know that!

 

[ivan3]

I've watched grey `tree rats' attacking Southern Nocturnal Flying Squirrel nests to get at the pups.

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

i have squirrels coming through my yard all the time. i put out peanuts and sunflower seeds for them. They have never bothered my chickens. Are you all talking about some rabid killer mountain type squirrels?