My coop smells like ........like.... oh man.. now what?

[fishnet1971]

So i have been watching a pair of raccoons over the weekend.They have decided that they like to climb my pen fence and root around in the straw and look for anything of the munchable kind. I sat outside the coop on Sat. night hopefully to catch the little buggers red handed. My coop is good under 'lockdown' at night, but you never know. Didn't see a sign of them, but i could hear them outside the pen. No luck.

Sunday night, going to play Rambo!!!!!!! Hiding behing my coop, 12G in my lap, hidden like a hunter on the first day of deer season....I can hear a lot of ruckus, hear a couple of racoons doing their noises... 'I've gotcha this time!' i am nervous, starting to get sweat on my brow... itchy trigger finger.... "come on little dude....make my day" Mind you I am in the pen, behind my coop, in the dark.... heart beating faster.... Garage light on, gives me a little light. Just enough to see.

Then.... from outside my pen, walking it's perimiter, going to the front door.... ( I can NOT get out or around my coop without going through the gate wich is now blocked by it) is a .......

SKUNK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CRUD... no way around it, over it, or any such way. I peered around the corner of the coop in shadows and watched as the skunk went for the front door. I have a sturdy storm door with wire on it so the girls can have fresh air. The bugger was trying to get in the door!

Needless to say, from 10 feet away I shot it. HOLY CRAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and of course it was right in front of the door to the coop. I am sure we have all smelled skunk before. But I gotta tell you, when you are within 10 feet it REALLY smell different.

After disposing of it ( and THAT was just as bad) I put a fan in the coop for the girls. "Bird was not pleased with me. This morning it still smells pretty nasty. I am sure they were out the pop door at first lift. (got it on a timer and automated).

Couldnt the darn thing have at least gotten away from the door first????? And now the girls in the office as walking around saying that they smell skunk. OOPSSSS!!!!!!!!!

 

[chiques chicks]

Number one - lesson learned. Never shoot a skunk from close range near anything.
for the smell on you and your clothes, there are scent destroyers available at some poet and or farm stores. Hanging washed clothes outside where the sun and rain and air can work on them heroes.

as for the coop, time is the only thing I've known to work. In a couple weeks the scent will fade.

Live traps covered in a tarp or feed bag are the best way to handle skunks. Fried chicken as bait. I generally try not to mess with skunks, just give then space, they tend to be non-aggressive unless cornered. They also dig up and east grubs in the lawn which keeps down the insect population (Japanese beetles and the like). I've had them nest under sheds and never cause a problem other than a faint smell, until my dogs cornered them.

as long as your coop is well sealed and predator proof, and birds are locked up at night, they should be OK.

Just my thoughts.

 

[CMV]

I am so sorry! I have gotten sprayed before, so I know your pain. Getting a direct shot of skunk is about the equivalent of snorting raw onion juice up both nostrils while simultaneously being stabbed in both eyes. Brutal! It's also embarrassing to have to explain why you reek for days after.

I hope your next hunting adventure is a little less...adventurous. Good luck.

 

[fishnet1971]

that is such a PERFECT equivelant .... made me spit my coffee laughing... Actually I feel worse for the girls and 'Bird than for me. How the heck to I get the smell of it out of the tajmahal???????


The office bit isn't really that bad. I work for the department of Agriculture, so pig, cow, chicken and other lovely livestock aromas and there 'excretements' shall we say are a norm here. They just are laughing at me....

 

[fishnet1971]

Number one - lesson learned. Never shoot a skunk from close range near anything.
for the smell on you and your clothes, there are scent destroyers available at some poet and or farm stores. Hanging washed clothes outside where the sun and rain and air can work on them heroes.
as for the coop, time is the only thing I've known to work. In a couple weeks the scent will fade.
Live traps covered in a tarp or feed bag are the best way to handle skunks. Fried chicken as bait. I generally try not to mess with skunks, just give then space, they tend to be non-aggressive unless cornered. They also dig up and east grubs in the lawn which keeps down the insect population (Japanese beetles and the like). I've had them nest under sheds and never cause a problem other than a faint smell, until my dogs cornered them.
as long as your coop is well sealed and predator proof, and birds are locked up at night, they should be OK.
Just my thoughts.

Yea, I have had skunks at the bird feeder for years. Love them for the grubs and stuff. I have never had an issue with them. They are actually beautiful to watch. This particular one was really trying to get in the door! he was trying to pry his paws inbetween the storm door and frame. I have never seen one do this. I have a pair that live under my deck and are happy as a lark to stay put there. I really felt bad and did not want to do it, but was pretty sure it was going to get in. I wasnt sure that the latch had clicked on the door when i went to sit behind the coop. wasnt to concerned, I was right next to it. I did not expect a skunk.

Lesson learned? 1: NEVER leave your door possibly unlatched and 2: Never shoot a skunk from closer than 100 feet.