Squirrel killed chicks

[GottaHaveBirds]

I have plenty of squirrels here, but my chicks don't go outside till they are older/bigger. That being said I will keep a closer eye on my juveniles I put out for the day, thanks for the heads up!

I read something last night that a flock minder lost some fully grown bantams to a killer squirrel, so I wouldn't trust them at all, especially after what I saw yesterday. I let my guard down and didn't consider them a threat.

 

[Mimi13]

Thank you for sharing your story and I’m very sorry this happened. I think any responsible keeper is going to feel some sense of guilt when these things happen, I know I would. However, we must pick ourselves up by the bootstraps and press on. You learned in this process and shared with us so we may prevent it from happening to our own flocks.

Squirrels are overgrown rats with bushy tails IMHO and not worth anything, even though they are cute...in Central Park!

We are overrun with rabbits where I live, but over the past year I have noticed more squirrels. I do believe my 410 and I are gonna have some bonding time soon. I don’t need the drama they bring, especially if they can get a wild hair up their butt and kill chicks and lunge at me! Seriously? I agree with an earlier post that something must have been wrong with it.

 

[Mybackyardpeepers]

I read something last night that a flock minder lost some fully grown bantams to a killer squirrel, so I wouldn't trust them at all, especially after what I saw yesterday. I let my guard down and didn't consider them a threat.

My older chicken (hens) was along the neighbors fence staring down a squirrel in his yard. Not saying anything won't happen, but my girls chase everything out of my yard when they are free ranging (supervised only). I will though keep an extra eye on them!

 

[Henriettamom919]

I am so sorry for your losses and the total shock you just endured!

Do you think, just to be overly cautious, you take it in to the county for testing? I know red's are more aggressive but decapitation, mauling and then lunging leave me concerned it was possibly ill? Your county would likely be happy to do a necropsy.

Again, I'm so deeply sorry! Try not to be too hard on yourself; you can only protect against what you KNOW is a threat and who knew this could happen?!

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

Wow, I hope that squirrel isn't rabid. I don't know much about red ones but the Grey's here are always trying to get in the coops to get the food but other than that they don't bother my chickens. And I have never heard of one lunging after a person either. Might need to get up early with a .22 and shoot it.

Yeah...that's what I thought.. Rabies. Whenever and animal has unusual behavior rabies should be suspected.

 

[AmyJane725]

That is horrific and shocking. Poor babies. Try not to feel too guilty. You had them in what was supposed to be a completely safe enclosure. Squirrels were not considered a threat at the time, so squirrel-proofing wasn't even a thing to think about. You're caring for the survivors and the rest of them, and I'm sure you'll adjust their enclosure accordingly. Feel better.

 

[GottaHaveBirds]

Thank you for sharing your story and I’m very sorry this happened. I think any responsible keeper is going to feel some sense of guilt when these things happen, I know I would. However, we must pick ourselves up by the bootstraps and press on. You learned in this process and shared with us so we may prevent it from happening to our own flocks.

Squirrels are overgrown rats with bushy tails IMHO and not worth anything, even though they are cute...in Central Park!

We are overrun with rabbits where I live, but over the past year I have noticed more squirrels. I do believe my 410 and I are gonna have some bonding time soon. I don’t need the drama they bring, especially if they can get a wild hair up their butt and kill chicks and lunge at me! Seriously? I agree with an earlier post that something must have been wrong with it.

Thank you. The guilt is deep. Squirrels are rats, predators, pests and not tolerated near our chickens anymore. Apparently, red squirrels can be very aggressive and territorial by nature and not have rabies. I wish I knew this info. beforehand.

Agnes the Wyandotte is slowly recovering. She prefers to be held so I'm typing with fingers on one hand. She does eat and drink with help. Can't put pressure on one leg, tender on that side due to bite marks.

 

[ColtHandorf]

Squirrels (that includes flying squirrels as well) are omnivorous and often prey on the eggs of birds and will consume nestlings and adult birds if the opportunity presents itself. A friend of mine kept sugar gliders and thought button quail would make a good cleanup crew for the bottom of the aviary. The sugar gliders ate everyone of them before he figured out what was going on. I wouldn't say that it is common place for squirrels to prey on chickens, but they are very capable of it as you witnessed first hand. I'm glad the survivors seem to be doing better.

 

[Melbeforeyou]

We do not have those here, but if that is normal behavior for that particular type of squirrel then now you know, shame that chicks were hurt in the learning process. Don't blame yourself of course, squirrels are definitely not at the top of the list of predators that's for sure. Sorry that your babies got hurt/killed by what I thought to be one of the most harmless creatures on the planet. I would be shooting those things like crazy if I were you.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Squirrels are rats, predators, pests and not tolerated near our chickens anymore. Apparently, red squirrels can be very aggressive and territorial by nature and not have rabies. I wish I knew this info. beforehand.

I read a scientific publication that identified squirrels as predators... I can't find it, but here is one...
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/gbn/vol53/iss2/5/?utm_source=scholarsarchive.byu.edu/gbn/vol53/iss2/5&utm_medium=PDF&utm_campaign=PDFCoverPages

And this one even says they eat hares...
http://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Tamiasciurus_hudsonicus/

The most recent (chick) predator I have identified at my location is... sea gulls!

So sorry for your loss.

Thank you for finding it important to let others know and taking the time to share! Welcome to BYC!

ETA: I don't suspect this a rabid behavior... but here to learn.