Squirrels stealing chicken feed

[TedJan92_in_Idaho]

Quote:
Now that's a great idea, no fuss no muss. Good suggestion.

Goodbye everything and She doesn't bother the chickens. Train them and they will do what is needed. As for squirrels the Jacks love them. This was the best thing I have ever done for predators and pest

 

[ChooksChick]

We make our own feed at the mill, and cayenne pepper goes in at about a pound per 500 pounds of feed. It is very unpleasant for squirrels and the birds benefit from it. Top dress your feed with a bit before you scoop it out daily and you'll find you problem evaporates.

 

[Jay262]

Either way you do it you wanna get rid of the squirrels they are 9 chances out of ten carrying parasites such as lice. In which case if they spread this to your chickens them eatting a bit of your food will be the least of your worries.

Good Luck.

 

[HomesteaderMel]

Quote:
Now that's a great idea, no fuss no muss. Good suggestion.

Goodbye everything and She doesn't bother the chickens. Train them and they will do what is needed. As for squirrels the Jacks love them. This was the best thing I have ever done for predators and pest


http://www.myhostedpics.com/images/IdahoElkHunter/hollyw.jpg

Still a bit leary about Jack Russels... the one who killed my chicken was very aggressive towards them, even when they were locked in the coop. I know you can train them, but it's hard to think about when I have that memory fresh in my mind!

I added cayenne to my feed today

I haven't noticed many squirrels, so I guess they got the message! I will probably be making some of those dry corn feeders, as I don't mind the squirrels- I just don't want them in the coop.

Thanks for your help, everyone!

 

[kimmberly]

If you know where they live "burrows or tunnels" I hear they dont like mothballs I tried this once ,just drop a few moth balls down their tunnels and they move away! or just get a couple of cats! my cats take care of the rats,squirrels,gopher,and rabbit problems and they don't bother the chickens,sometimes the cats sit on the hens eggs in the nest!! CUTE...as far as traps go I use the battery operated "RAT ZAPPERS" they are GREAT! I bet they would work for squirrels too.kimm

 

[jenpetrovich65]

Cayenne pepper solved our squirrel problem. We went through a 5-gallon Home Depot bucket in a week and that was the last straw, as Milton would say. We bought a 3 lb bag of cayenne. We put about 1 cup of cayenne in 25 pounds of grain and mixed it very very generously and thoroughly, as ine grain is now tinted pink. We probably won't have to use that much all the time but certainly initially to get the word out.

Squirrels took a few days to figure it out, probably because we were feeding many squirrels that each had to learn for themselves. Last sign of squirrels was when I'd put some food out on the ground and they came around to eat it. Pretty soon one of the squirrels came all the way up to the back door and had a VERY long drink from the water dish we have put for the hens. Clearly trying to get the taste of of its mouth! Squirrels never come that close to us. Hens are normal, no weird poop or anything. Ordinary birds come around and don't seem to have a problem, and they eat very little. Most don't want to go in the coop.

 

[BIggoMamma]

http://www.realtree.com/timber-2-table/buttermilk-fried-squirrel-with-southern-gravy

 

[BIggoMamma]

http://www.realtree.com/timber-2-table/buttermilk-fried-squirrel-with-southern-gravy

 

[Jamief760]

I am having this same problem.. although the squirrel is in the coop while the chickens are there, and the squirrel is eating their food. I was walking up to the door of my coop, and saw the squirrel run out. Help!!

 

[GldnValleyHens]

I like squirrels when they stay in the woods. Those nasty buggers decided my antique wooden bench tasted good and gnawed both ends into splinters. Now it looks so weird. I would let our killing, squirrel crazy doxie out, and 5 minutes later the dang beasts crept back! My Calls are aggressive, and not afraid of the squirrels. They all go waddling after it and will chase squirrels out of the yard. Glad they haven't discovered my coop yet. It's right by the woods.
And I don't want to feed Organic, $23 dollar layer crumbles to stupid squirrels! Go eat nuts!