nightly skunk visit

[bakerjw]

I had the chicklets in the upper level of my garage but the heat has become unbearable and I was forced to put them into a temporary covered run outside of our bedroom window. It is a welded wire run with hardware cloth around the bottom with 4 strands of electric fencing around the perimeter. Something will take a good zap if it tries to get into the run. Even with the precautions I've had a rifle with mounted flashlight readily available at the first sign of trouble. Sleeping lightly while waiting for any sounds of distress has also made for a few tired days at work.

Well this morning around 2:30 or so we had a skunk visit us. It has happened before but not since I've had the chicklets out in the open. I looked out briefly to see 5 WLs and 5 SSs dozing on their roost without a care on the world. And no skunk to be seen. Just smelled.

Anyone ever have any problems with skunks?

 

[CMV]

Not this year. I have had a family living nearby for years, but I think they must have succumbed to something over the winter because for the first time in years we have no skunks around. I never really had any problems with them other than the obvious nuisance of dealing with a sprayed dog. My chickens were never bothered by them at all. Admittedly, I also have a secure house and run to protect my birds, so the skunks weren't able to get to them. The skunks were mostly interested in the feed that was scattered around.

 

[mickistoy]

being a trapper i can say one thing for sure.....corn of any kind especially popcorn will draw a skunk in fast. also dont believe any of the old wives tales....even if you shoot a skunk in the head....it STILL sprays! so be absolutly sure you need to shot prior to pulling the trigger! and yes that is the voice of experience talking there

 

[bakerjw]

If it's not harassing any of the chickens then it will be left alone. Worst case it'll get stung with a BB once or twice. I stung a raccoon that was up in our mulberry tree (dropping berries on our tin roof at 2:00 AM) and it never came back.

 

[ThreeBoysChicks]

You can purchase dehydrated fox urine. It comes in a powder. It is not cheap, but it stopped my frequent skunk visits. You spread in in a paremeter around the area you want them to avoid.