Skunk attack

[DiYMama540]

Very well said @azygous !!

 

[gtaus]

Because an animal may not act 'crazy' doesn't mean it's not rabid.

Yes. While reading some internet articles on rabid animals, a number of them mentioned that an animal may carry the rabies virus for up to 6 months without showing signs of the disease.

 

[cmom]

I can feel your pain from past losses. I agree with the other posters. I had a issue with skunks several years ago luckily I didn't loose any birds. We are rural on a dead end road and someone was catching them and releasing them in our area.They were digging up my yard. I put live traps out and in around two weeks I caught around a dozen skunks. One night I got two skunks in one trap. Another night I went out to check on the chicks because I had forgotten to close their pop door. When I went out there was a skunk attempting to dig under the gate to their pen. Somehow the pop door was closed just enough that some of the chicks couldn't get in. I stomped my feet at the skunk and it turned towards me and stomped it's feet at me. I went into the house and got my rifle and went back out and attempted to scare the skunk off and again it stomped it's feet at me, it seemed persistent. I shot it and put a bucket over it until I could deal with it in the morning. I didn't think to get it tested at the time and buried it.

 

[chickenenthusiasts5698]

Because an animal may not act 'crazy' doesn't mean it's not rabid. Especially critters like skunks and bats, who can be contagious for a long time before getting actually sick. Don't take chances with wild life, and try not to shoot it in the head, if it needs to be rabies tested.
Mary

This was definitely a learning experience i’ve dealt with plenty of possums but never had a skunk.

 

[chickenenthusiasts5698]

I'm sure this has been just like a horrible nightmare for you, but you are a very courageous person. You'll have an exciting story to tell your grandkids some day a few decades from now.

Your experience is informing many others who might some day have such an encounter, and while your are now in the process of saving your own life, you may also be saving a few others as well.

Thank you so much for your kind words it actually made me tear up. It’s definitely made a good story to tell to all the doctors and nurses lol.

 

[chickenenthusiasts5698]

Here’s a little update.. Animal control took the skunk with no problems he said I should know by friday if he was rabid (I really hope so if not Saturday’s my next shot) my arms are super sore from hitting him as hard as I did and as much as I did (i’m only 98 pounds lol) This was a huge learning experience for me and my family all the rest of my flock seem to be ok no injuries except one pullet had a little bit of a bloody comb. We set a live trap last night and caught a possum so we’re going to deal with him next.

 

[chickenenthusiasts5698]

Yikes...very scary! Glad he didn't turn on you or spray! sorry about your birds though...any loss is always hard

He definitely tried multiple times with no luck.

 

[chickenenthusiasts5698]

I want to thank everyone you all have been so kind and a huge help!

 

[123RedBeard]

Was the skunk attack in your run or coop? If so, now is a good time to figure out how it got in, and prevent future attacks from other critters ...

 

[aart]

He definitely tried multiple times with no luck.

I looked this up when you mentioned it had sprayed earlier in the day...
...learned out it can take 10 days to replenish their 'spray stock'.