http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=268x1918Oh my.
OnionPatch Donating Member (1000+ posts) Sat Aug-16-08 10:22 AM
Original message
Ground Squirrels are stealing our eggs! Help!
We've lost chickens to coyotes, bobcats and even a bear who ripped the door off the coop. And we've been able to remedy the situation each time. But this one has me stumped. At first I thought the chickens were hiding their eggs. Then, when this was proven not to be the case, I thought they were eating their own eggs. Then I caught the little rodents in the nest box, breaking and eating the eggs! On some days I don't get a single egg and I have 6 hens!
My chickens houses are wooden coops inside a totally enclosed, 12x12 heavy-duty, chain-link cage. (Bear-proof.) Each day I open it up and let them roam free on a fenced-in half-acre pasture. They return to the coop to lay their eggs. If I make the pen/coops squirrel-proof, the chickens won't be able to get in to lay their eggs. If I lock the chickens into the pen always, they won't be able to free-range and that's the whole reason I have chickens. Without access to free-range, their eggs are no better than what I can get at the grocery store, so what's the point?
I tried rat traps and caught one squirrel (I closed off one nest box from the chickens but left enough space for the squirrels to get in.) But now they're too smart and won't get near the traps. We removed a wood pile that was close to the coop, filled in and used smoke bombs in all the squirrel holes we can find but still, they persist. My husband even shot a couple of them, but apparently, not enough and he doesn't have the time to sit out back shooting squirrels all day. I tried mixing hot pepper into a few eggs and putting them back in the shells but they ate those like they were candy. We're starting to get desperate enough to try poison, but are concerned about the neighbor's dog perhaps finding and eating a poisoned squirrel.
Is this it? Did I win over the bobcats and bears only to be defeated by a dray of ground squirrels?
For being in the obscure rural forum on Skins's island, this is one big bonfire.
Old Crusoe Donating Member (1000+ posts) Sat Aug-16-08 10:27 AM
Response to Original message
2. Nuke the bastards, is my advice.
Pull out all the stops, and let fly.
Sometimes a show of force is the only language these craven assholes will understand.
I'm sorry this is happening to you. I admire the kind of life you are living to have this problem n the first place. A good chunk of my family tree would appreciate both the problem you face but mostly they'd admire the endurance you likely have in the face of it.
I dunno. Cats seem to do good at keeping pests away.
OnionPatch Donating Member (1000+ posts) Sat Aug-16-08 10:54 AM
Response to Reply #2
8. I'd be happy to nuke them.
At this point, they are no longer cute to me. I'll nuke them. But I'm concerned about poisoning the neighbor's and even our dogs. The area we would bait is fenced off from the dogs but what if a poisoned squirrel comes through the fence into the yard? Are there different poisons that might be safer to use?
OnionPatch Donating Member (1000+ posts) Sat Aug-16-08 11:06 AM
Response to Reply #10
13. Endurance, I don't know.....
I think it's just stubbornness. The more work I put into them, the more I feel I have to lose if I give up. I've fixed fences, created the chain-link pen, etc. etc. That doesn't count all the work that goes into raising them from tiny chicks. Once you have a system, though, chickens are really pretty easy to take care of. Except when these "little problems" pop up.
One primitive suggests making the coops so the chickens have to fly to get into them.
Now, I am no expert on things agricultural, but I have seen many poultry in my life.
I don't believe I've ever seen a chicken actually fly, though.
But I could be wrong.
Warpy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Sat Aug-16-08 11:10 AM
Response to Original message
15. I'd suggest squirrel proofing the coops and allowing the chickens out to free range for a set few hours a day, say in the afternoon. That will allow the hens to free range and reduce the amount of time their eggs are open to predation.
It's either that or continue to feed the hens so they can continue to feed the squirrels.
If the hens lay outside the coop, they'll tell you about it. They always do.
OnionPatch Donating Member (1000+ posts) Sat Aug-16-08 11:14 AM
Response to Reply #15
18. That's a thought. But they seem to lay all throughout the day.
Some in the morning and some not until late afternoon. Still, I may get at least a few eggs if I wait until mid-afternoon to let them go. I don't really need to squirrel-proof the pen because the squirrels won't go in when the chickens are locked in there. Can't blame them. Chickens are like little dinosaurs and would eat a squirrel, no problem, if they could catch one.
Warpy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Sat Aug-16-08 11:46 AM
Response to Reply #18
23. That's all you can do
Maximize the number of eggs you get and minimize the ones that feed the squirrels.
I know chickens didn't seem particularly annoyed when my cats used to chase them. It was more like a game of tag, both sides getting exercise and nobody getting hurt.
Cats. Cats. Cats. Cats will take care of the problem.
It's an amusing bonfire, and well worth reading in its entirety, if one is into this sort of thing.
