Do squirrels eat baby chicks

Answer 1

Yes a squirrel will eat baby chicks. I have this problem every time one of my hen's hatch a batch of chicks. There is a big gray squirrel living in the wood pile in the field. He will get so bold as to come into the hen house and steal a chick or two and then run it out to the woodpile. This winter the woodpile goes up in flames. It is now providing the squirrels with a quick place to get to. Once it's gone I don't think they will brave the open field as brazenly.

Answer 2

Yes, an opossum will eat a chick. Opossums are predators, and chicks just happen to be their prey. They will usually hunt them at night, so if you have a chick, make sure to keep it inside until it is about 2 months old. When you put it outside, make sure you keep it in a pen until about 3-4 months, then you can start letting them roam around under supervision and cage them up at night. Be careful as they get older also, opossums will eat adult chickens as well.