Pray for my girls...a skunks about

[Viksceeks]

I went outside to put my girls to bed. The big hens like to nest in trees while the pullets put themselves into the coop. Tonight, we had a strong smell of skunk inside the house. I haven't put my girls away yet so I went to inspect. They're all in trees and the skunk smell is strong. I put 2 into the coop and another strong surge came my way. I high tailed it out of there and left the door open.
There's a skunk somewhere....should I put the girls back in the tree???
I really don't want to go back outside in fear of getting sprayed and I don't want them to get eaten either

 

[Chickassan]

Skunks don't climb very good and for the most part eat grubs this time of year at night.
They'll likely be fine.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

A skunk is not going to spray unless you are attacking it or severely startle it. So no worries there.

Young skunks are after feed, eggs, anything they can scavenge. I've never seen a young skunk go after chickens. Use to live in a small town with chickens. Instead of racoons getting into garbage it was inundated with skunks at night. Didn't have a problem with them for years with the birds. They'd dig under the fence to get at feed if I forgot to put it away for the night. It took a large silver backed male that came in broad daylight to dig under the fence and attack my cock bird. I pushed it out of the pen with the hatchet I'd first thought to dispatch it with. Had second thoughts on the spray so turned the hatchet sideways and literally pushed it out the door. He was still fighting with the cock when I was in the pen. Determined and grunted a lot with discontent while walking away. Not afraid of me whatsoever.

There is a huge difference in temperment and food they'll go after with age and size of the skunk.

 

[centrarchid]

Adult skunks here more of a threat to small chickens roosting on the ground. Only incident I know where skunk targeted chickens of size involved one getting into chickens tractors loaded with Cornish X. The skunk in that situation killed a lot of chickens almost like you would expect a mink or weasel to do.

More consistent problem with skunks is all the little holes they dig while in pursuit of grubs and other ground dwelling eats.

 

[Viksceeks]

Last year I caught 4 skunks in live traps, they got 2 of my hens before I redid the coop. I also have a ton of racoons around me. My flock is fine but that means the skunks have discovered the new coop and my birds... I still smell like skunk lol it must have been right by me without seeing it. I'm going to invest in a critter cam. Any suggestions?

 

[aart]

I'm going to invest in a critter cam. Any suggestions?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/search/68334116/?q=cam&t=post&o=date&c[title_only]=1

 

[Chickassan]

Lol, your skunk was probably harassed by a racoon and sprayed.
I feel ...um smell your pain.
I have a hen seperated from the flock healing and waiting to be rehomed "flock is trying to kill her" anyway she's in my chick tractor during the day.
I also have a baby skunk that wanders the yard in the late afternoon, skunk got too close to the tractor skunk and hen mutually freaked out.
Skunk luckily doesnt spray correctly but my hen still smells like a stoner.
Word of warning about getting a game cam for skunks, you'll see many more than you're prepared to see they gather in mass at night when they find food.
I have seen thirty seven skunks in the same yard, my yard eating bird feeder peanuts.

 

[Bobererato]

I went outside to put my girls to bed. The big hens like to nest in trees while the pullets put themselves into the coop. Tonight, we had a strong smell of skunk inside the house. I haven't put my girls away yet so I went to inspect. They're all in trees and the skunk smell is strong. I put 2 into the coop and another strong surge came my way. I high tailed it out of there and left the door open.
There's a skunk somewhere....should I put the girls back in the tree???
I really don't want to go back outside in fear of getting sprayed and I don't want them to get eaten either

Im sorry I can't give you a good answer, but putting a no kill cage out to safely catch the skunk to remove him from your hens home would be one way to rid yourself of the pb. Or a way you fill comfortable with to remove the problem

 

[Folly's place]

I have bird feeders out for the wild birds intermittently; when skunk, raccoon, or opossums show up, the feeders are left empty for weeks at least. The birds go to a neighbor's, and the varmits move on too.
37 skunks in my yard?? NO WAY!!!
Mary

 

[Chickassan]

In my defense it was good bird food, that was the first and only year I had grosbeaks stop in.
37 skunks got the whole thing taken down.

I have bird feeders out for the wild birds intermittently; when skunk, raccoon, or opossums show up, the feeders are left empty for weeks at least. The birds go to a neighbor's, and the varmits move on too.
37 skunks in my yard?? NO WAY!!!
Mary