Squirrel killed chicks

[GottaHaveBirds]

After seeing your post my hubby went to search and found a video on this subject. I think the reason the squirrels here doesn't bother our hens or chicks is because it eat the girls feed and water and packs it's cheeks with feed for others. I have saw three baby squirrels here the other day. Take measures into your own hands and get rid of them. Chicks and Hens here peck at the squirrels. Fake eggs are missing and squirrels can take these too. After seeing this I will really be watching. Last count I counted I only saw 3 adults and 3 babies but squirrels can have up to 9 babies I read years ago. Some states will not let you relocate squirrels but you can get rid of them. Squirrels here get pecked by our hens and chicks and gets surrounded by the girls in the run. I am always watching! Beware! Squirrels will take eggs too. I was collecting eggs I looked into the box and a squirrel was in the box eating an egg. It came out of the box in front of my feet and left.

The squirrels and chipmunks haven't been a threat until this attack, scavenging on spilled feed and seeds the hens toss on the ground. I've never seen a squirrel in the nest box but have found an occasional egg with a hole in it. Maybe that squirrel was doing that, but since we collect eggs in the early morning, maybe it was desperate for some protein. Eradication of the pests is underway.

 

[cluckcluckhens]

We have blue scrub jays here in the PNW. Jays here will destroy an egg by poking a hole big enough to destroy an egg. They peck away a little bit of the shell.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

The squirrels and chipmunks haven't been a threat until this attack,

It never is a problem... until it is!

I interacted with another BYC'er this past year who WITNESSED a turkey vulture attack and kill one of their hens. While behaviors might not be common to a specific species... it only takes ONE parent to figure something new out and teach it to their kids. Animals are capable of learning and adapting... many things we think of as non meat eaters DO so during breeding offspring season... even the humming birds are catching bugs for their young.

I'm in the PNW also... it's Steller's Jays that I see around my place (prettier than the Scrub's we had in So Cal). So far they never try to enter my coop. But yes... they can be fairly crafty as they are from the same family as crows and ravens.

 

[Al Gerhart]

Squirrels will kill chicks and eat them if they have a nest of babies they are trying to produce milk for. All the more reason that if you are going to have chickens you need to get the chicken feed in a good rat proof chicken feeder, metal, not plastic, counterweighted and spring loaded door, otherwise the tree rats just push the door open. Nature is wise in its ways, squirrels are supposed to have to work hard to eat and defend a territory to keep from starving. Putting out a chicken feed buffet leads to more squirrels and it also draws in the larger predators like coyotes, hawks, owls, and even snakes.