Help Skunks killing our chickens

[Betsy57]

I had something kill my chicken 2 weeks ago (my first death, it was sad and hard! Poor Goldie!). Since then, I've trapped 4 coons (drowned one and took the other 3 down the road 15 miles). Just so hard to kill these animals. Two nights ago, I finally trapped a skunk! What do I do what that?! Poor thing is still in the live trap, I'm afraid to do anything cuz I don't want to get sprayed. I put an old metal wash tub over the cage and the thing is just sitting there, nice and quiet and hasn't sprayed, yet. I don't think I could shoot just the head in order to avoid being sprayed. And it is in the cage, I'd probably ruin the cage and what a mess to clean up. I don't know what to do!

 

[Celtic Chick]

Quote:
I have a skunk that visits my chicken run almost nightly, despite our efforts to foil him. (If we ever get some decent weather, the run will be critter-proofed!) He snacks on the rabbits cookies and drinks from the fount, but it never has bothered any of my critters. Now, I don't recommend keeping him around in case of spreading disease or bugs, but they are kinda harmless to adult chickens. They'll eat eggs & chicks, but he was eating right next to one of my banties & didn't even give her a second look.
I would suggest driving it to a secluded area, preferably near a water source, & letting it go, but that is just me.
Now coons and weasels are a different matter entirely........

 

[Betsy57]

Not sure how to drive the skunk some place else to live without getting sprayed.

 

[lindseythefork]

Quote:
I've managed to trap two skunks in my quest for a raccoon and we haven't been sprayed yet! Here's what I do: take an old sheet and hold it out in front of you, covering as much of yourself as you can, while you approach the trap. When you get close, throw the sheet over the trap. There you go! Make sure the sheet is one you don't mind parting with, because you WILL have to throw it away.

 

[undecided]

what did you do about the skunks?

 

[Betsy57]

I went ahead and shot it while in the trap. There's more still to deal with. Never ending saga with skunks, coons and 'possums. I lost a chicken to a possum at the other coop in the fall. Silly chicken was under the coop and didn't come in at dark and was a "sitting chick" for the 'possum. I was on one side of the coop trying to get her to come out and on the other side the 'possum was ripping her head off. I finally got the possum a few days and a few coons later. Good luck with your problem!

 

[hennyfarm22]

Interesting info. I like the idea of the flour for tracks. I just lost my beautiful rooster, but I admit, I forgot to go put the chickens in that night. mine are free range all day long (live on a farm). I do have many predators and lately a lot of action in my horse barn at night where the cat food is stored. .Wish I had a night motion camera...one of these days. So in the past, we've lost 1-2 chickens per day, inside the coop or pen. We ended up catching a skunk that time. We know we have fox and lots of oppossum.
like this website.. lot of interesting comments!

 

[hennyfarm22]

so we had to shoot the skunk. I'm not into killing all of the critters but when it comes to them killing my chickens, it's them or my girls.

 

[BirdyMe]

I don't how many late nights I've walked into my coop only to practically trip over a skunk. They really aren't vicious- they just get a bad rap. In my experience, skunks will always go for eggs or feed before they go for a live chicken, but they certainly can and will take down full grown birds. I've had a lot of trouble with them digging under timbers and wire to get into my duck coop. A trap in their little tunnel took care of that one.

Even if you can wipe out the whole lot of them, more will come (as already stated). Definitely 'skunk-proof' your coop. I took a roll of chicken wire and re-wrapped the entire base of my coop- that way a skunk isn't able to even get his hand in there. I also put down bricks and heavy timbers around the base. I've never seen a skunk climb...can't help you there.

Good luck with the Skunk Wars!

 

[NicTheTic]

I had a bad experience today with some animal (don't know yet what it is) that killed a chicken and hurt 4. Strange thing though. All 4 that's been hurt is in the same way. Only the heads have been lacerated and one eye swollen up. One has half it's beak ripped off. The dead one I found inside the run, right outside the coop. Its head has been torn off and it has been eaten from the tail inwards. Anybody know what type of creature does this? By the way, I live in South America

I have 2 meter high chicken wire fencing right around the coop, reinforced by planks on the bottom, buried into the ground. The coop itself is built of blocks and concrete, (Used to be a stable) with an access hole outside into the fenced area. I have a problem with skunks but have been shooting them diligently.