Most likely been hanging around longer than you thinkyou would be surprised what lurks around when you are away or when it is dark, get some trail cams and seeI have all kinds of critters around here and keep a pack of dogs to keep them in check, and for as long as i have lived here and had birds i have never lost one to a skunk, coon or possum, lost some eggs here and there out in the fields but never a bird, i think caged birds are at the biggest risk because they can not get away.
You must live out away from neighborhoods, after reading the predator and pest section it has occurred to me that the folks that live out were critters live off the land seem to have less deaths verses the city critters that live off people leftovers and pet foods are the ones that have the most problems with pest .We have skunks around always. We've had a mother skunk have her babies in our barn for a few years. One time we had a baby skunk trapped in an empty manure bucket for several days before we realized he couldn't get out. We were able to safely tip the bucket over and he left. Yes, they can be a danger to chickens. Ours are fully aware of that, too. In our barn they can roost high, and even the ones who can't fly well can find a roost up off the floor. We have had a couple of casualties, one time years ago I found a broody dead beside her nest and a skunk in her body cavity. Gross.Another time we lost an aggressive rooster who apparently decided to challenge a skunk...the skunk sprayed him, then killed and ate him. That was years ago too. We lost a fledgling chick this past summer, one of my favs who couldn't fly well yet. I'm sure the skunk got her, she was used to the barn cats being around and not bothering her, she disappeared without a trace overnight. And we lost a broody bantam overnight too, she disappeared off her nest, not sure, since there were no signs of a struggle, but I think a skunk got her too. But generally the skunks leave the chickens alone, they're too much work to catch. They eat eggs and feed, but then they also eat rats and mice and bugs and carrion. So we tolerate them as it would be a never ending battle to try and eliminate them and they do provide a service of sorts. And baby skunks are awful cute.We have a trail cam and we've seen foxes, coons, skunks, deer, weasel, mink, rats, feral cats, possum, deer. Outside the barn. We count our blessings always every day the flock is ok. But the predators live here, too, and they have a space with us.
OMG, I came into the barn this evening and found Sweetpea challenging a skunk!She was right up in the skunk's face, with her tail up, trying to chase skunkie away from their feeder! GAAAAAAAAH! Amazingly, (and fortunately for all of us in the immediate vicinity, chickens, peas, cats, and people included) the skunk did not spray her, but ignored her, lol! I heaved a couple water jugs at it from several yards away, and it eventually left....
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