Consolidated Kansas

[OzawkieBantams]

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Live trap it. and shield your self with a old blanket or sheet . then throw it over they cage and slowly and gently try not to rattle the cage alot . I have had to do this twice. leave the sheet or blaket on the cage even when you prop the door open to let it out .

 

[ChooksChick]

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So does that mean you now have 6 Daniel Boone hats?

Hahahahahaha!

I started thinking about what a person could do to at least get a handle on something before it turned into a massacre. I have a baby monitor in my coop, turned down really low on the receiver next to my bed. Only once has there been enough noise out of my home flock to wake me, and that was when I had somehow forgotten to close the pop door one night.

It dropped the bird and ran when I came screaming out into the pitch black yard like a banshee.

You could also use those loud burglar alarms that go off when the two piece are separated- they're made for windows, but you could put them on strings so if something messes with your coop, they get tripped and the decibels start screaming out of the thing. They're cheap at the dollar store here.

I would definitely think you guys are going to have a persistent barrage of these monsters (albeit cute, and I love them when they aren't trying to eat my chickens!) even if you trap a zillion. Hopefully your pens are now raccoon-proof so you can sleep!


Sharol, sorry about the skunk. We have one that hangs out around here, but it's never gotten our dogs. I hear they love wet cat food, for the trap.

 

[sharol]

I'm going to call the conservation office today to see if they know anyone who has a skunk trap. I understand they work pretty well to confine the skunk and keep it from spraying the catcher.

I'm hesitant to rehome her/him because I don't want to cause problems for someone else, and most people on this list have indicated that it is also a problem for the territory requirements of both the moved animal and the ones in the area where it is moved.

Well, I just called the vet, and she suggested calling animal control via the county sheriff's office. The AC guy said he would come out with a trap later today and set it for us and then pick up the occupant when it caught something. I'll let you'all know if it works.


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So does that mean you now have 6 Daniel Boone hats?

Hahahahahaha!

I started thinking about what a person could do to at least get a handle on something before it turned into a massacre. I have a baby monitor in my coop, turned down really low on the receiver next to my bed. Only once has there been enough noise out of my home flock to wake me, and that was when I had somehow forgotten to close the pop door one night.

It dropped the bird and ran when I came screaming out into the pitch black yard like a banshee.

You could also use those loud burglar alarms that go off when the two piece are separated- they're made for windows, but you could put them on strings so if something messes with your coop, they get tripped and the decibels start screaming out of the thing. They're cheap at the dollar store here.

I would definitely think you guys are going to have a persistent barrage of these monsters (albeit cute, and I love them when they aren't trying to eat my chickens!) even if you trap a zillion. Hopefully your pens are now raccoon-proof so you can sleep!


Sharol, sorry about the skunk. We have one that hangs out around here, but it's never gotten our dogs. I hear they love wet cat food, for the trap.

 

[Hawkeye95]

Okay, about finished off the nest box this morning. I want to add sloped wood that has angle cuts to screw into the top of the box and then into the side of the coop. But I have no idea how to do that. Instead of burning thru a bunch of wood and ruining it, I'm going to wait for my DH to come home tonight and help me figure out those angles. But I'm so proud! I even added in more support on the inside of the walls this morning, too. Just to make me feel better.

 

[chicken danz]

Thanks for the birthday wishes and the compliments. I couldn't get on here last night cause we had no signal.
Back when I was a police officer we used small tender traps that kept the skunk from being able to raise it's tail, thus it couldn't spray. The animal control would haul them out to the city dump and we would just shoot them in the cage. The worst problem was they would spray when they died. But at least there was no odor until then. I always thought it would be better to release them first. The AC had a long pole with a hook they moved the cage with. I'd have thought they could use the same thing to open it.
Skunks will eat eggs so that may be what he is after. They are also very fond of grub worms.
Loralee if you put a cross brace on the ends of your nest box and attach it to the studs it will sturdy up the structure a lot. I think I'd also put one or two bottom braces in the structure. Personally if I were building it I might have split some 2X4s to 2 X2s to build with to reduce the weight but still keep the strength. But I understand you have it done. You might still consider putting the bracing on the ends. There is more strength in angles than there are in a straight 90 degree construction.
We got some major wind and at least a little rain last night. Man it was great to walk out and it be cool this morning. It moved two of my pens that I have tarped. It released all of my young ducks into the yard. I had been thinking about doing that anyway but wanted to try to sex them first.

 

[chicken danz]

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You really are thinking things through. You got your pictures up before I got my last post submitted. You can take your boards and lay them in position where you want them at an angle. Mark with a pencil where the cut would be on both ends. Voila! You have the perfect angles to cut them and you don't waste any lumber. If you are working alone just use the clamps to hold them in place while you mark them.

 

[Hawkeye95]

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Yes- a brace, that's what I'm talking about! LOL! I want to make braces for the top! As it is, I can really put a lot of weight on that box- it is pretty sturdy. I put like 3 screws in each end in a triangle form and it made those things firm. Anyway, I want to put the slanty slope brace on top! I think that will really made it VERY secure- probably could hang off of it. I thought it was going to rain a bit ago, so I packed everything up and put my wood away in the barn and moved all the saws back that I had put out this morning. Ugh. So now that it looks like it's goign to clear up, I get to drag it all back out again. I might try to figure out those angles (for the brace) and see what I can come up with! Otherwise, I need to work on the little lean-to storage compartment on the side. I should probably just do that and wait for my DH to help me with the angles. I don't have much wood left and i don't want to mess it up. And WOW- you used to be a police officer!!?? That is WAY cool!

 

[Hawkeye95]

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You really are thinking things through. You got your pictures up before I got my last post submitted. You can take your boards and lay them in position where you want them at an angle. Mark with a pencil where the cut would be on both ends. Voila! You have the perfect angles to cut them and you don't waste any lumber. If you are working alone just use the clamps to hold them in place while you mark them.

OH! Fabulous!! Okay, going to try that! Thanks!!!

 

[Katy]

Sharol.....skunks can and will spray even if they can't raise their tails......they just can't aim as well. My husband can attest that this is true!

I live trap them, cover the trap with an old rug I keep just for that, carry them carefully away and then dispose of them with my 22.

 

[sharol]

Great. Just what I wanted to hear

The animal control officer is bringing a trap, and he says they would rather take care of the problem themselves since rabies are a possibility with skunks. As far as I'm concerned, that is JUST FINE WITH ME.

He just called to let me know he is on the way.

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