Squirrels will get me eventually...

[KCcluck]

Suddenly- after one year, they are here. Perhaps ten sq's on 2.5 acres. My 10 hens 1 rooster are fine, (black sex-link) but the coop is being undermined- I need them out...

the expensive trap is not working- P'nut butter etc. - suggestions for the trap?

Should I feed the hens less freely- feeding from two feeders free choice now - should I manually feed them to limit hen scratch in the coop? say 2 lbs twice a day etc. rather then free choice?

I have a new border collie pup - will she help?

Too many questions!?

Thanks- I have the sophomore blues....

 

[danielbrown]

Squirrels are yummy

What are you feeding them?

 

[California Ducken]

A pellet gun to sting their butts! We were over run with squirrels and tried everything. Nothing worked until " Mr. Pellet Gun" came to visit. Now, I don't see as many. You have to start right when winter turns to spring. They come out of hibernation and eat everything. They stole my Banty eggs when my hens were sitting on them. I caught them and hit one with a shovel because it wouldnt let the egg go. Well, it did and I put it back under the hen. All my eggs hatched and then they went after the new chicks. Out came " Mr. 22" to save the day. And now.......................NO SQUIRRELS !

When you mess with the Alpha FeMALE your gonna get spurs!

But, that's what works best for me. Everyone has their own solutions that works best for them. (Disclaimer) Guns in any shape or form are to be used by persons with experience in firearms.

 

[CMV]

Wow. What kind of squirrels do you have? We have little tiny red squirrels out here in the boondocks, and they don't do any damage. I know there are gray squirrels in the more urban areas around where I live, but they are tree-dwellers and as long as they stay away from your roof they are usually no more than a nuisance. I'm curious what kind of squirrels would actually undermine a chicken coop.

 

[speckledhen]

I had one handicapped female squirrel (missing front forepaw and tail) who was becoming more and more intimate with the flock, a gray squirrel. She would eat scratch at the feet of my rooster and play with the birds. After a year and a half, she was teaching her kids to hang around the coops and it was necessary to remove her. I hated to do it, because she did well with her healed injuries, but she was on the way to going inside the coops and eating from the feeders. Can't have a rodent in the coop, pooping and possibly spreading disease.

 

[gaduke]

I have a couple of cats, they don't bother the chickens and they keep the squirrels and birds away.

 

[Wifezilla]

My cats are no help getting rid of the squirrels. They are so bold they just walk up to us while we are out on the patio. I can't shoot them because I live in a suburban neighborhood.

I had one duck that used to chase them out of the yard, but she died. I sure miss her!!!

I have been researching TREE SNARES. You might want to google that.

 

[California Ducken]

I live in town too. On 3/4 of an acre. So not very big, but next to 15 acres of dirt, ponding basin and a few trees. Yes the squirrels are about the size of my hens, almost. They are very bold. I wish I had the cute little guys you do, but mine are fat, various colors of grey and they do a gurgling type of growl. My duck Mack runs from them now, because she has gotten bit several times in the face and bill,. The roosters and hens leave them alone because they have also suffered the same fate. They really tried hard in the beginning to peck and fight them off, but like rabbits they reproduce like wildfire and the squirrels know they have them out numbered!
I must do what is necessary to protect my flock.

 

[Wifezilla]

Tree snares...

http://www.m4040.com/Survival/Skills/Hunting and Snaring/Snares/Squirrel Snare.htm

 

[FrenchHen]

Mix equal parts peanut butter and plaster of paris. Make into balls and leave the "treats" for the squirrels.
It's working on our rat problem.