Squirrels are sure eating a lot of chicken food!

[BCMominMD]

It seems to me there is a squirrel in my coop snacking on the crumble feeder 80% of the time. I think they will eventually get so fat that they won't fit through the bars of the run when they are closed up but I let my 8 chickens free range a lot and that means the run is open for them to come and go as they please. We used to have the same problem with the wild bird feeder - they could empty a tube feeder in about 2 days!
I can't figure a way around it. I was wondering if anyone here had solved a similar problem.

 

[damselfish]

I don't know how to solve it, but I'm parking here to see if anyone else does. We are almost to the point of pulling out the .22 and seeing how we like squirrel stew. They should be nice and fat, heaven knows they get enough to eat.

 

[backdoorchicken]

 

[Uppity Peon]

Put a bunch of cayenne in it. The chickens won't mind.

 

[BCMominMD]

Yeah my DH is all for the shot gun idea. Actually in his world that is a BB gun and I'm not going there.
I like the cayenne pepper idea. I'll try sprinkling some out there tomorrow and see what happens.
Thanks!!!

 

[Uppity Peon]

I learned that from someone wh works in an aviary in a zoo.

 

[Brindlebtch]

I have Maggie the squirrel deterent.

Works every time. We have gone from 14 squirels to 2 very nervous squirrels and nobody stays on the ground and survives.

 

[Theda's Mom]

Maggie is adorable! But I think I'll try the cayenne too. I take I can put in the wild bird feeders too?

 

[Marlinchaser]

The problem is they dont just get a snack and move on, the will continue to return and take all the food to store for winter. I go with the canine deterent.

 

[backpack09]

Cayenne did not stop my squirrels.

Unless you have a full time outside dog a pellet gun may be your only deterrent.