Help! There is a skunk in my coop now!

[webbysmeme]

Can you safely get your chickens out, into a dog crate or something, and deal with the skubk in the morning?
Mary

No, my crate is not big enough. I have 14 hens. One large crate.

 

[Nay]

Do you have a long stick you can prod him with?

 

[Ursuline Chick]

So sorry!
Skunks will eat eggs and kill roosting chickens so he needs to be gone. They also can have rabies, so be careful out there!
My understanding is that if he's already sprayed, the 'tank is on empty' so he can't do worse. Chase him out, or shoot him in the coop if it's safe. I wouldn't want him out there all night!
Mary

I agree with @Folly's place , I once did battle with a possum. It involved a kitchen knife, a 2 X 4, and a lot of rolling in chicken poop.

 

[Folly's place]

I'd get my 22, but that's just me.
Mary

 

[CaliFarmsAR]

I went out to close the door on my coop, there was a skunk drinking out of the water dish! My girls are up on their roost. I brought the old blind girl in. She's in the basement in my hospital coop for now. How can I get him out of the coop ? It smells awful in there. I feel so sorry for my girls. I left the door open, thinking maybe he will just leave? I threw a 4'x4' at him, that's when he sprayed.
There have been reports of coyotes in the area. I hate to leave it open, but, that's how he got in. My hens were out free ranging and I leave the door open until it's their bedtime. How can I get him out? Will he hurt my girls?

You can shoot him!

 

[Folly's place]

If you have ANY contact with his saliva, he needs to be rabies tested, or you will need the vaccines.
Mary

 

[webbysmeme]

I

How about having him come out by placing yummy food outside? Cat food or meat or fish?
Best to trap and shoot...
Mary

will try the cat food! I hope it works. I don't want to leave the door open all night. Thanks so much.

 

[webbysmeme]

You can shoot him!

If I had a clear shot I would! He's behind two concrete blocks in a corner!

 

[Folly's place]

If there's a reason to have him rabies tested, do NOT shoot him in the head. Otherwise, a head shot is best. He'll be back otherwise...
Mary

 

[webbysmeme]

If you have ANY contact with his saliva, he needs to be rabies tested, or you will need the vaccines.
Mary

I know! I read some other post about that. I hope he'll be gone when I go back out to check on them!

If you have ANY contact with his saliva, he needs to be rabies tested, or you will need the vaccines.
Mary

How do you know that they will kill roosting hens? I know they eat eggs, but I've never heard of them killing hens if they do not have rabies!?