Squirrels !!

[Raptorchick]

I have seen them steal eggs here too.

Thieving little tree rats!

Hardware cloth over everything stops them but is a pain.

Big ole mean hens here get one every now and then.

Hubby thought I was nuts claiming squirrels were stealing eggs. Then he got to see me run out back and throw sticks at one until it dropped the egg.
Entertainment at it's finest. A crazy 50 year old short woman throwing sticks at a squirrel in the tree telling it to "DROP IT, DROP IT, DROP IT YOU STUPID TREE RAT!!"

very funny... except my family doesn't believe me, and I can see myself chasing them with sticks lol...
I really thought our dogs/cats would keep them at bay, but they are just too brave.
I thought about hardware cloth!! I have two extra rolls of it after securing my rooster coop from raccoons... flipping squirrels, still can't believe it. I'm headed out now to give that a shot, starting with the side of the pen I saw them sneak in.

One of my hens started laying today, and they left her egg alone, cuz its green. I also put in fake eggs to trick them, and they are stealing the fake ones. But I got one!
Its a start lol.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Squirrels!!! Whod'a thunk it?! Gracie (our Sheltie) yells at them all the time (we have walnut trees), and I yell at her for yelling at them. Guess I'l stop yelling at her.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Hmm. Maybe you could put some STONE eggs in your nests! That's teach 'em! ..... maybe.

 

[Muscovy Wunda]

I'd totally be outside chasing squirrels if we had them over here and they went near my coop! Just ask my inlaws dog how it worked out for him when he got busted snitching eggs! I highly recommend making egg bombs. No I don't mean actual exploding eggs but that'd definitely teach the little boogers you hollow out an egg and fill it with something gross like washing up detergent or mustard and when they bite into it they get a horrid taste in their mouths. Little dog won't even look at my chicken coop now he learnt his lesson

 

[Sequel]

I'd totally be outside chasing squirrels if we had them over here and they went near my coop! Just ask my inlaws dog how it worked out for him when he got busted snitching eggs! I highly recommend making egg bombs. No I don't mean actual exploding eggs but that'd definitely teach the little boogers you hollow out an egg and fill it with something gross like washing up detergent or mustard and when they bite into it they get a horrid taste in their mouths. Little dog won't even look at my chicken coop now he learnt his lesson

That is a good idea! My choice would be hot chili. Years ago the raccoons were making a latrine in my vegetable garden. I took the poop out and buried it deep elsewhere and shook dried hot pepper, the kind you put on pizza around the gap in the fence where they were getting in. Worked like a charm. Since then and now that I have chickens the fences are tighter. But if I see predator activity it’s my first weapon. Keeps it unpleasant enough for mammals to lose interest in further exploration. Lol

 

[cmom]

So far the squirrels here haven't went into any of the coops. recently I put some cameras in some coops for a few days and didn't get anything on them except the chickens.

 

[americanchicks]

I have had crows steal eggs but never squirrels. Not surprised. I went camping once and we watched a wildlife war between chipmunks and squirrels over our left over breakfast. Not one touched the pancakes. It was the scrambled eggs and mostly the bacon they wanted. High protein treats are a big prize for wild critters.

 

[FlyWheel]

Lol it might be time to make a roll-away nest box... I've thought about it but I'm not a builder or engineer, maybe the fiance can figure it out
Are they smart enough to navigate electric fencing? Hmmm...<Snip!>

When it comes to doing or getting into things they are not supposed to squirrels are second only to 'coons in intelligence, I think. It wouldn't surprise me if they figured out how to power down the fence.

 

[glassdragonfly]

Maybe plant a nut tree? We have tons of walnut and pecan trees,no eggs missing. If you can't beat them feed them!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Maybe plant a nut tree? We have tons of walnut and pecan trees,no eggs missing. If you can't beat them feed them!

Aha! Of course! That explains it! The squirrels are way more interested in the black walnuts than in the eggs. We are also smack-dab in the middle of a hardwood forest, so they have acorn and hickory nuts to keep 'em occupied as well.