Tired of feeding freeloaders

[redinator]

I'm not talking about the chickens. So far I've tried three different types of feeders:

There was the very basic ports cut into the bucket feeder . . . which I quickly realized was feeding mice more than it was my chickens. I still use this when I have chicks that are too small to operate the newest feeder (we'll get there in a minute)

Then I tried this: https://a.co/d/0YZY6Ch , a port style feeder with high legs. It thwarted the mice simply because it was too high for them to reach, so they moved on. Then I witnessed the squirrels hanging from the top of the feeder and reaching in to get the goods while the chickens waited patiently for the squirrels to move on.

Then I switched to a treadle feeder: https://a.co/d/0YZY6Ch which seemed to work for awhile, but now the squirrels figured out how it works and they're apparently heavy enough to make it work . . . probably from all the chicken feed they've been eating the fat little varmints.

These seem to be the most common ones. Are there other feeders I'm not aware of that will keep out the wildlife? Chicken feed isn't cheap. If it's possible I'd like to find one that young chicks and full grown chickens can both use, but not feed every critter within 200 miles. Is there something I could add to the feed that squirrels, in particular, don't like that wouldn't deter the chickens from eating it? Mice aren't heavy enough (yet) to operate the treadle feeder, so squirrels are the current problem.

I have an open-air coop/run, so keeping things like mice and squirrels out of it is impossible. I thought about putting feeders in a plywood box with an automatic door, but that would still need to be open during the day so the chickens can still have access to it.

TIA

 

[Ridgerunner]

I don't know of anything that actually works to keep squirrels from eating the feed that does not deter the chickens, but you might experiment with cayenne pepper or such. I think the chickens would eat it OK but not sure if the heat deters squirrels. Sprinkle the flakes in the feed.

I cannot think of any feeder your chickens can use that will keep squirrels out. You can use metal to form barriers they can't climb on but all they have to do is raise up on their hind legs and stick their head in the feeder. Hopefully someone can come up with something that works.

I can't remember what your coop/run look like. If yours range much it is really hard to fence squirrels out. They can go through, under, or over most fences. To enclose everything in small mesh welded wire would be prohibitively expensive. Probably cheaper to feed the squirrels.

Trapping and removing the squirrels sounds good but that is not always easy. Years ago on the East Bank I had a squirrel problem. I could not plant anything as they would dig up the seed if the ground was disturbed. I could see about a half dozen practically every time I looked in my back yard during the day. When they chewed flashing around a vent so rainwater came in the house and did a lot of damage I started trapping them. I did not kill them but took them to Shell Beach when I went fishing there or upriver several miles to a refinery to let them go. Letting them go without the property owner's permission was illegal but I did it anyway.

I removed over 50 squirrels in less than a month, getting 2 to 4 a day many days. The neighborhood was so full or squirrels they came in from the area as I thinned them out. I never eliminated them but the damage was greatly reduced.

In Arkansas I had rabbits eating beans in my garden as they sprouted. I shot or trapped 16 rabbits in that garden before I finally removed the one that was eating those bean sprouts. Not all were eating those sprouts but I had no way to know which ones.

I have other stories about rats, raccoons, snakes, and such. I do believe in removing critters that are causing damage but it is not always that easy to do. I doubt that it is all of your squirrels causing the problem but determining which ones can be a problem. If you are comfortable with firearms you might consider a pellet gun to target specific squirrels. A shotgun would cause a lot of damage and even a .22 short can travel a long way. In Slidell I'd think you have lots of neighbors with children within range. Probably some laws about firearms to think about also.

Sorry I can't be more upbeat or have solutions that work. In Slidell you should be able to get some cayenne flakes to try.

Good luck!

 

[The Moonshiner]

@Al Gerhart are your feeders squirrel proof? Or do you know a trick?

 

[thecatumbrella]

I kind of like your plywood box idea. Put a curtain over the entrance, or something that the chickens will (maybe) use comfortable, but the squirrels won't. I'm hoping that if they can't see the feeder, they'll mind their business.

 

[redinator]

I don't know of anything that actually works to keep squirrels from eating the feed that does not deter the chickens, but you might experiment with cayenne pepper or such. I think the chickens would eat it OK but not sure if the heat deters squirrels. Sprinkle the flakes in the feed.

I cannot think of any feeder your chickens can use that will keep squirrels out. You can use metal to form barriers they can't climb on but all they have to do is raise up on their hind legs and stick their head in the feeder. Hopefully someone can come up with something that works.

I can't remember what your coop/run look like. If yours range much it is really hard to fence squirrels out. They can go through, under, or over most fences. To enclose everything in small mesh welded wire would be prohibitively expensive. Probably cheaper to feed the squirrels.

Trapping and removing the squirrels sounds good but that is not always easy. Years ago on the East Bank I had a squirrel problem. I could not plant anything as they would dig up the seed if the ground was disturbed. I could see about a half dozen practically every time I looked in my back yard during the day. When they chewed flashing around a vent so rainwater came in the house and did a lot of damage I started trapping them. I did not kill them but took them to Shell Beach when I went fishing there or upriver several miles to a refinery to let them go. Letting them go without the property owner's permission was illegal but I did it anyway.

I removed over 50 squirrels in less than a month, getting 2 to 4 a day many days. The neighborhood was so full or squirrels they came in from the area as I thinned them out. I never eliminated them but the damage was greatly reduced.

In Arkansas I had rabbits eating beans in my garden as they sprouted. I shot or trapped 16 rabbits in that garden before I finally removed the one that was eating those bean sprouts. Not all were eating those sprouts but I had no way to know which ones.

I have other stories about rats, raccoons, snakes, and such. I do believe in removing critters that are causing damage but it is not always that easy to do. I doubt that it is all of your squirrels causing the problem but determining which ones can be a problem. If you are comfortable with firearms you might consider a pellet gun to target specific squirrels. A shotgun would cause a lot of damage and even a .22 short can travel a long way. In Slidell I'd think you have lots of neighbors with children within range. Probably some laws about firearms to think about also.

Sorry I can't be more upbeat or have solutions that work. In Slidell you should be able to get some flakes to try.

Good luck!

I'll start w the cayenne, but they're cajun squirrels so I'm not expecting much. If that doesn't work we'll probably be talking traps next. If I'm gonna feed the little _____ I'll get some return on my investment and feed the squirrels to the chickens.

 

[PeaShack]

Our roosters keep squirrels away (specifically Petunia who chases them along the fence line when he sees them). We bring in the chicken food at night, but we only have 9 chickens. I imagine doing that would be more difficult on a larger scale. However, I never see mice or rat droppings anymore, so at least we aren’t feeding those varmints.

 

[redinator]

Our roosters keep squirrels away (specifically Petunia who chases them along the fence line when he sees them). We bring in the chicken food at night, but we only have 9 chickens. I imagine doing that would be more difficult on a larger scale. However, I never see mice or rat droppings anymore, so at least we aren’t feeding those varmints.

My dog use to catch a couple here and there before we had the chickens. Now that she has to steer around the chickens she just can't get enough speed to get them.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

I'm not talking about the chickens. So far I've tried three different types of feeders:

There was the very basic ports cut into the bucket feeder . . . which I quickly realized was feeding mice more than it was my chickens. I still use this when I have chicks that are too small to operate the newest feeder (we'll get there in a minute)

Then I tried this: https://a.co/d/0YZY6Ch , a port style feeder with high legs. It thwarted the mice simply because it was too high for them to reach, so they moved on. Then I witnessed the squirrels hanging from the top of the feeder and reaching in to get the goods while the chickens waited patiently for the squirrels to move on.

Then I switched to a treadle feeder: https://a.co/d/0YZY6Ch which seemed to work for awhile, but now the squirrels figured out how it works and they're apparently heavy enough to make it work . . . probably from all the chicken feed they've been eating the fat little varmints.

These seem to be the most common ones. Are there other feeders I'm not aware of that will keep out the wildlife? Chicken feed isn't cheap. If it's possible I'd like to find one that young chicks and full grown chickens can both use, but not feed every critter within 200 miles. Is there something I could add to the feed that squirrels, in particular, don't like that wouldn't deter the chickens from eating it? Mice aren't heavy enough (yet) to operate the treadle feeder, so squirrels are the current problem.

I have an open-air coop/run, so keeping things like mice and squirrels out of it is impossible. I thought about putting feeders in a plywood box with an automatic door, but that would still need to be open during the day so the chickens can still have access to it.

TIA

Your open-air coop/run: does it still have predator protection fencing around it? Or is it truly open-air?

My “open air coop/run” is open to the air, but still enclosed by framing and HWC with a human door. We keep the food in there, and we’ve gotten a panicked songbird or two, but that’s it.

If I started seeing the problems you have, I’d cut a popdoor opening (although I’d hate to do that) for the chickens in hopes of reducing the invasions a bit. Maybe add a chicken tunnel if necessary to increase the challenge (danger) for rodents.

 

[bravecoconut]

I've seen many plans for pretty simple feeders that have step mechanisms. There is a step/plate the chicken stands on when walking up to the feeder. Their weight causes the feeder door to open. They eat their fill. When they walk away, the plate rises so the door closes. They would need a couple days without the mechanism working so they know where the feed is but after that you're good to go!

The other option is just feeding meals instead of leaving feed out all the time.

 

[redinator]

Your open-air coop/run: does it still have predator protection fencing around it? Or is it truly open-air?

My “open air coop/run” is open to the air, but still enclosed by framing and HWC with a human door. We keep the food in there, and we’ve gotten a panicked songbird or two, but that’s it.

If I started seeing the problems you have, I’d cut a popdoor opening (although I’d hate to do that) for the chickens in hopes of reducing the invasions a bit. Maybe add a chicken tunnel if necessary to increase the challenge (danger) for rodents.

We haven't had a predator problem, just pests (mice and squirrels). I and two of my neighbors have dogs, which seems to deter most predators.

My dog has caught several mice, which she brings into the house to show me she's doing her job, lol. She's also caught and killed an opossum, thankfully she couldn't drag it through the dog door, I found it on the landing the next morning. I would've died waking up to that on my bedroom floor.

I'm interested in what your setup looks like. Could you attach photos?