Something has been eating the old eggs that I leave in the nest to try to encourage broodiness for the last few days. I went out this morning and let the chickens out. Went into the coop to check on the chicks and fill the feeder up for my broody. In the middle of the nest area I see something white that does NOT look like a chicken. I hit a nest to make some noise and this thing lifts it's head and I see it's a skunk, eating an egg. I hightailed it out of there came in and got the rifle.
Since I hadn't looked into what was the best way to shoot a skunk, I figured I'd wait for it to come out since I didn't want it to spray in the coop. I threw some sticks into the coop and a few minutes later it came out. It took me a few shots, I'd been out of bed for about 10 minutes at this point and my sleep addled eye was not keeping up with my trigger finger, but I finally got it. And exactly what I was concerned with happening, happened. When it died it didn't spray but it's scent gland released. Whew, STINKY. It was still in the bird's fenced area so I got a shovel and moved it out into the pasture hoping a vulture will come take care of it shortly.
Just being in the vicintity of it made my clothes smell. I did come inside and wake my husband up to tell him (very proudly) that I'd shot a skunk. He let me know that he could tell by the smell.
Afterwards, I went in the coop to clean up any broken shells, etc. There was a piece of shell right in front of my broody so I think the skunk got some of her eggs out from under her. I was going to check what was left but she was a bit stressed so I let her be.
Since I hadn't looked into what was the best way to shoot a skunk, I figured I'd wait for it to come out since I didn't want it to spray in the coop. I threw some sticks into the coop and a few minutes later it came out. It took me a few shots, I'd been out of bed for about 10 minutes at this point and my sleep addled eye was not keeping up with my trigger finger, but I finally got it. And exactly what I was concerned with happening, happened. When it died it didn't spray but it's scent gland released. Whew, STINKY. It was still in the bird's fenced area so I got a shovel and moved it out into the pasture hoping a vulture will come take care of it shortly.
Just being in the vicintity of it made my clothes smell. I did come inside and wake my husband up to tell him (very proudly) that I'd shot a skunk. He let me know that he could tell by the smell.
Afterwards, I went in the coop to clean up any broken shells, etc. There was a piece of shell right in front of my broody so I think the skunk got some of her eggs out from under her. I was going to check what was left but she was a bit stressed so I let her be.