Skunk Keeps visiting Chickens

[swmalone]

I appreciate all of the suggestions, but I must not be making myself clear on the type of fence I have. It is a solid panel vinyl fence. There is no place to attach hooks, zip ties, etc, unless I make holes, attach fasteners of some sort, use some kind of adhesive epoxy, etc. That is the main problem I have with attaching anything on that side of the chicken yard.

 

[Frazzemrat1]

could you use those metal posts and pound them in right next to your side of the fence, and then secure the wire to it? Paint the posts after to match your fence color so they don't stand out too bad.

 

[swmalone]

could you use those metal posts and pound them in right next to your side of the fence, and then secure the wire to it? Paint the posts after to match your fence color so they don't stand out too bad.
View attachment 1051698

I have thought about that. Most likely this is what I will do. I just need to be careful where and how deep I drive them because of cable and phone lines. This would also allow me to add an electric fence wire on the inside of the vinyl fence in case anything does get inside or manages to dig under.

 

[MaMaher]

I have thought about that. Most likely this is what I will do. I just need to be careful where and how deep I drive them because of cable and phone lines. This would also allow me to add an electric fence wire on the inside of the vinyl fence in case anything does get inside or manages to dig under.

Just call 811 before you dig. USA will come out and mark all the lines so you don't hit them. Well...that's what they do in California anyway. I don't know if you have that service where you live.

 

[animals1981]

skunk has never killed a chicken of mine i don tthink they cana climb??? they just eat the chicken crap and food.

 

[swmalone]

Caught video of the thing running around a couple of days ago. We tried spreading mothballs all over the place but apparently that didn't work. We had a neighbor comment about the strong smell of the mothballs but when I told her it was to try to keep a skunk away she seemed okay with the smell.

The skunk hasn't seemed to be aggressive towards the chicken but they always seem to know it is around long before I do. They make a racket and let me know. It is funny because the skunk is the same size as cats but the chickens and cats will take naps together.

In the video you get a good picture of our old, little coop that we haven't used in a while but keep for integrating younger chickens in with the ones we already have. You might be able to catch a corner of the larger coop. You also can see the vinyl fence I have been referring too in the background.

 

[gila_dog]

Once you have your chicken house all secured so skunks can't get into it, you may consider moving the chicken door that lets them go to the pen up a couple of feet off the ground. Then put two simple ramps made of boards on the inside and outside. Chickens don't mind climbing the ramp, but skunks don't seem to be able to figure it out.
The best way to get rid of skunks, without endangering other animals (like cats), is to catch them in a live trap. Personally, I hate the idea of leaving out poison. Once you've caught a skunk in your trap, throw an old rug or blanket over the trap, wait a little while, then pick up the trap, rug and all, and take it somewhere you can release the skunk, or shoot it. Don't shoot it in the trap. It will squirt its stink all over your trap if you do.
Also, most of the time skunks just want to eat your eggs. But occasionally I've had chickens killed by them.

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

Crossbows don't make noise.

 

[swmalone]

I will try to post a picture of the coop. The little one in the video is not in use except when introducing new chickens to the flock. The coop is actually very secure except when I don't close up the doors. I am worried that their may be baby skunks under the shed because we have been seeing the skunk during the day and that seems to be a sign of a hungry mother going out for food then coming back and keeping an eye on the little ones. I think I'm going to have to pick up several hundred feet of hardware cloth and try some electrified wire to try to keep them out of the yard.

 

[Sara Ranch]

I'm sorry - I chucked when I read the subject line. I am so praying that I don't have to deal with THAT problem, but in case I do, I am grateful there are suggestions here.

Around here (WV) if we see a skunk daytime, we have to be concerned that it's sick. Normally, the skunks are night time animals and avoid humans.

Be careful when working in that area.