Texas

[KnobbyOaks]

How does one keep the squirrels from eating the chicken feed while they're out free ranging? This has been going on for a couple months and I hate taking up their feed for all day. There's nothing else out there for them to eat during the day. While the weather was nice, I'd go out and sit while they ate the feed during the middle of the day and then I'd take it back in. BUT I'm not going to sit out there in this miserable weather. Any suggestions?

 

[yinepu]

How does one keep the squirrels from eating the chicken feed while they're out free ranging? This has been going on for a couple months and I hate taking up their feed for all day. There's nothing else out there for them to eat during the day. While the weather was nice, I'd go out and sit while they ate the feed during the middle of the day and then I'd take it back in. BUT I'm not going to sit out there in this miserable weather. Any suggestions?

I'm afraid I'm not much help.. i like the squirrels and even leave treats out for them....

 

[bnjrob]

Mine are such sissies! Every morning when I open the coop they pour out, stepping all over each other then jump the fence to go to the feed buckets. Well the other morning it rained so the entire run was like a peice of ice! I opened it and they all started slipping and sliding!

x3

 

[hotrodflash]

How does one keep the squirrels from eating the chicken feed while they're out free ranging? This has been going on for a couple months and I hate taking up their feed for all day. There's nothing else out there for them to eat during the day. While the weather was nice, I'd go out and sit while they ate the feed during the middle of the day and then I'd take it back in. BUT I'm not going to sit out there in this miserable weather. Any suggestions?



My cat does a really good job of keeping the squirrels out of the chicken feed. Also I have lots of oak trees for them to have acorns to eat.

 

[KnobbyOaks]

How does one keep the squirrels from eating the chicken feed while they're out free ranging? This has been going on for a couple months and I hate taking up their feed for all day. There's nothing else out there for them to eat during the day. While the weather was nice, I'd go out and sit while they ate the feed during the middle of the day and then I'd take it back in. BUT I'm not going to sit out there in this miserable weather. Any suggestions?



My cat does a really good job of keeping the squirrels out of the chicken feed. Also I have lots of oak trees for them to have acorns to eat.

Hmmm. I don't have a cat but maybe I should get one or two for that. The squirrels are really fat!!! and the feeder is always empty if they have access to it. I have hundreds of oak trees and this year, I'm assuming from last year's drought, have produced zero acorns. Last year the acorns were everywhere, couldn't walk on them without listening to the crunch, crunch. For all I know this may be the oak trees' final gasp for life. Some are definitely dying.

 

[TherryChicken]

Hmmm. I don't have a cat but maybe I should get one or two for that. The squirrels are really fat!!! and the feeder is always empty if they have access to it. I have hundreds of oak trees and this year, I'm assuming from last year's drought, have produced zero acorns. Last year the acorns were everywhere, couldn't walk on them without listening to the crunch, crunch. For all I know this may be the oak trees' final gasp for life. Some are definitely dying.

If you do, get a chicken friendly cat. Cats are predetors for birds. My foster cats like to sit on the cage my chicks are in and harass them

 

[Poultry Couture]

Ive killed 21 squirrels in the past three months. I hate 'em! Always ripping open my feed bags! Killing was my last resort so I put my feed in a canister.... Chewed a hole straight through a freaking METAL can! HOW!? I never understood

So Ive killed several. They're hard to kill with a gun, if I use a gun I use paintball, it stuns them. But normally I get a small live trap, set it by the feed and you'll catch them in a snap! Then tie a rope to it and throw it in your pond or a bucket full of water. Easy and humane!

I literally would set the trap, go inside make a snack, eat it and go back out and I've got one!

Long story short I got bit by a squirrel once!

So...
I went out to let the 'scovies out and there's a squirrel in there! I have no idea how it got on and there's no holes! I got broom and hit it with it and it wouldn't get out! I got in there with it ( lol ) and kicked it out the door and it ran back in! Kept kicking and hitting it, but it wouldn't get out! So I quickly grabbed its tail and through it out the door... Then it got bad... It jumped at me and attacked my hand and got back in the cage. I ran inside to clean it out because god knows what diseases that thing carries and I bled like crazy! It was all over the door handles! It looke like someone got killed! .... Went back out and it was STILL there just chilling. I threw a plastic bucket over it and through it in the pond. Never saw the little squirt again!

I have a scar on my finger from his huge teeth!

 

[hotrodflash]

My cat stalked my chickens the first couple of times that they were outside together. Two of the young cockerels chased him and so that was it for aggravating the chickens. Now the chickens stalk the cat. I know I will have an issue with the cat and any chicks that I have. I will deal with the cat then or let the broody hen take care of him.

 

[KnobbyOaks]

For every upside, there appears to be a downside. Bah! But thanks for the suggestions and stories.

 

[Cockle-Dood]

Those artificial owls could work to keep them away. When i was younger we used them to keep birds out of the trees above our parking spots and the squirrels stayed away as well. So something to try if you have some trees nearby your runs or what not...