Can skunks harm chickens

[15shenyl]

I don't know if we have anyone around here to do that. We live in a very small town, and that's all it is, unless you want to drive a few hours away. I think I will just leave it for now, is she comes back I will try to do more.

 

[littleoak]

The hawk will return to that nest. Try to tear it down. They will also try to rebuild so you may get very good at tearing nests down.

 

[MsBagawkbagawk]

little oak, I think destroying their nests is a federal crime. Nothing says that you can't put a bunch of shiny things in it to deter them though.

 

[15shenyl]

The only problem is the nest is all the way at the top of one of our pine trees. I'll wate to see what will happen, for now my problem is the skunk, it keep coming back, but it hasn't got into the back yard yet and I would like to keep it that way.

 

[Trefoil]

Around me skunks go after eggs. They are also nocturnal, so if you protect your fowl at night they should be safe, To get them to move on, place moth balls where they are staying, or around your coup. Although I would prefer they not "stink bomb" around my house, they are great pest control. They would be unable to access fowl that are roosting. They also don't seem to go after prey unless they are hungry, I boarded a very wild "pet" skunk for a while and housed it in my brooder room, I couldn't count how many times I found a loose chick or keet running around the room unmolested, and in fact never lost one to the skunk. I am not and wouldn't suggest that skunks aren't a potential predator of chickens, but they are waaaay down the list from coons. Their favorite prey is grubs,other insects and MEALWORMS.

 

[MsBagawkbagawk]

A good thing for the four-legged criiters is to put up a red lightbulb and keep it on at night. My chickens will sleep through it and through the windows it looked like another predators eye to the skunks, possums, coyotes and whatever else.

I'd never heard of the mothballs before, sounds cool though....

 

[LarissaSlates98]

The skunk, you can trap.. or if you scare it bad enough it will leave. Having a dog that barks around your chickon coop will keep those pesky critters away. The hawk, I would say call somebody to relocate it, or you can knock the nest down. You legally have the right to do whatever you have to do to protect you livestock/poultry. Hope this helps

 

[15shenyl]

So as long as the chickens are locked up at night, the skunk can't get to them? Also, the hawk hasn't come back yet, the birds chase it away whenever it comes close.

 

[MsBagawkbagawk]

Sorry Larissa, but as far as hawks go, there's not a lot you can do. Here's some more info on Washington specific laws: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=77.15.130. Here's some more in detail info: http://www.azgfd.gov/w_c/urban_raptors.shtml

Destroying a nest (or knocking down it's support) with eggs or nestlings without the proper permits is against federal law. So it doesn't matter where you're at for that one. If nests could be knocked down I know I certainly would have done it a looooonnnng time ago......

 

[LarissaSlates98]

As long as the birds are locked up good the skunks cant get them, might suggestest running some electric wire around the outisde of the coop.

And as far as hawks, I wouldn't knock a nest down that has babies or eggs in it. But if it is an empty nest, I would. The hawk alone- I wouldn't bother it until it comes after a chicken. The second a hawk kills a chicken here it will be history. Law or no law. I will do what I have to d oto protect my animals. HENCE the term. I WOULDNT BOTHER THE HAWK UNNTTIILL IT KILLS A CHICKEN.