War on Squirrels

[McGoo]

I've got squirrels everywhere and they're eating all the food. un And I'm worried that they carry diseases which can spread to my chooks.

My chooks have a coop and a pen, but I let them out of the pen all of the time. (Locking them in the pen is only in case I have to be away for a long time)

So I leave the food in the pen with the door slightly open (I've got plastic on the walls for wind protection) so they can come in and hang out on really windy and cold days.

Now the squirrels are coming in and eating up a storm - any ideas.

ps my DH has a good pellet gun and I might be asking him for help if there's no alternative.

 

[Buckguy20]

Well If you want to pay for his flight out there, I have an eight year old with a pellet gun that will solve the problem for you. LOL
Squirrels are a nuisance and although they look like a rat they don't carry as many as diseases as a lot of other animals such as coons, skiunks etc.
A lot of people eat them.
If you don't want them killed, you can use a live trap and then relocate them. Just take them far enough away that they aren't someone elses's problem.

 

[TxChiknRanchers]

They can be a problem. I dont know if you can hunt where you live but there are lot of squirrel hunters that would love a chance at some well fed squirrels to bag.

Randy

 

[HenHaven]

Hmmm, I'm trying to think what I would do if I were in your postion. If the door stays open then one choice would be to make the chicken feed available to your birds before the door opens in the AM and then after the door closes in the evening. Between meals, they would just forage. Could you figure out some kind of closable feeding station for the chickens, so you wouldn't have to put the food in and out of the coop every time?

We are lucky around here. We have only a few squirrels and they have all the acorns they can eat, so they leave the coop and feed alone.

Good luck, let us know when you come up with a solution.

 

[rooster-red]

I have an outdoor cat that is a champion huntress, she keeps the population down to very few.

She's bagged as many as 5 in one day.

 

[1acrefarm]

My area finally has some population control on squirrels. My neighbor tried one and found out they are tasty. He hunts them everyday now. His tomcat developed a taste for squirrels too. The only problem with the cat is it leaves tails on my roof when it is done.

 

[McGoo]

I wish I had my dog cause he loved to kill squirrels, but he died this past summer. And my 19 yr old cat is still pretty good at hunting, but he only gets chipmunks, mice and birds.

So I think I'll just tell my DH to go for it.

 

[Lunachick]

I have the same problem but with sparrows. I like the cat idea. Mine are too well fed and get lazy. I notice if I clean up any scattered feed, that helps keep those sparrows away. You need a good cat, that's not too well fed.

 

[panner123]

squirrel stew is fight tasty. or you could roast it then add it to your spaghetti sauce. add fried is better than chicken. They are tuff critters, it will take more than a oellet gun to kill them. a 22 or 410 is best.

 

[PurpleChicken]

My Grandfather always used to tell me how back in the depression
days him and his brothers would shoot squirrels, robins, blue jays, etc..
Their Mom would put everything in the sauce. Makes you appreciate
what we have today.

Anyhoo, squirrels are tough little guys. I love them and we have a lot.
I can't see one being fooled by live traps so a HIGH POWERED pellet gun
is in order, unless you can shoot a real gun on your property.