So, you go into your coop and see a bunch of broken eggs or eggs with holes in them in the nest box. The natural conclusion is that you have an egg eating chicken, right? Well you could be wrong.
You might have a skunk in your coop. Yes, they come out before dark. Yes, they come in through pop doors and get locked in when the auto door closes. Yes, an adult skunk can fit through a hole a little bigger than a tennis ball. Yes, they can squeeze THROUGH non climb fencing. Yes, they like chicken feed. I have seen all of these things.
It is also possible to get a skunk out of your coop without getting sprayed. Move very, very slowly.
Where I am, I tend to have late summer/early fall issues with skunks. Once winter comes, there aren't any more issues of them trying to sneak into the coop. I have talked with a trapper, and had considered trapping it but then it quit coming around. He was pretty impressed that I got it out of my coop without getting sprayed.
That was last year, and now, it's back. The trapper told me that if they are coming into the coop looking for food, they generally are not sick. (meaning rabid) Sick skunks quit eating. Also, they have really bad vision, which is why they spray easily. Unless you are within a couple of feet, they can't see you.
Obviously, I don't want them in my coops, so I do my best to deter them. My dog especially loves to bother them, much to my annoyance.
We live in the forest, so there always seems to be critter adventures.
So next time you see broken eggs, look around. I can tell you it takes a few minutes for your brain to process what that black and white thing is inside your coop!
You might have a skunk in your coop. Yes, they come out before dark. Yes, they come in through pop doors and get locked in when the auto door closes. Yes, an adult skunk can fit through a hole a little bigger than a tennis ball. Yes, they can squeeze THROUGH non climb fencing. Yes, they like chicken feed. I have seen all of these things.
It is also possible to get a skunk out of your coop without getting sprayed. Move very, very slowly.
Where I am, I tend to have late summer/early fall issues with skunks. Once winter comes, there aren't any more issues of them trying to sneak into the coop. I have talked with a trapper, and had considered trapping it but then it quit coming around. He was pretty impressed that I got it out of my coop without getting sprayed.
That was last year, and now, it's back. The trapper told me that if they are coming into the coop looking for food, they generally are not sick. (meaning rabid) Sick skunks quit eating. Also, they have really bad vision, which is why they spray easily. Unless you are within a couple of feet, they can't see you.Obviously, I don't want them in my coops, so I do my best to deter them. My dog especially loves to bother them, much to my annoyance.
We live in the forest, so there always seems to be critter adventures.So next time you see broken eggs, look around. I can tell you it takes a few minutes for your brain to process what that black and white thing is inside your coop!
This morning the county trapper came and got it. 
