Squirrels!!

[McGoo]

Chickaroo - I've had the same problem with squirrels eating the chicken food, growing fat and reproducing, and my chickens don't chase them away at all.

JJ seems to have a good idea here:

is it possible to have the food out early morning and then away till later in the day?

My solution is a pellet gun. Sounds mean, but honestly, they do multiply like crazy, and a clean shot to the head makes it instantaeous (DH is a marksman). One weekend my DH shot 14. And now they still come, but only a few.

In case you're worried about lice and such, sprinkle food grade DE around. I'm told that squirrels typically don't carry rabies.

Good luck!​

 

[Chickaroo!]

jjthink -- although that is a good suggestion, I don't think it would work because the squirrels are even eating the pellets that get pushed out of the bowl, onto the ground.

McGoo -- I couldn't do that. My DH, now he'd have a ball, I'm sad to say. I couldn't give him permission to do something like that though. As long as they aren't going to hurt my chickens in any way, I guess I can let them eat a bit of chicken food.

 

[purr]

I think you should just feed the squirrels some bird seed which they love. and corn cobbs too.

Just feed them in another part of the yard and they should leave the chicken feed alone.

And yes i definitely feel blessed to have spent time with Rocky.

They also can be used as early detection for predator's they get very loud and excited when ones around.
Its the same noise they make when you don't feed them their cereal fast enough.