Skunk massacre what to do

[cbourbeau32]

Last night/early this morning I had a skunk dig under the wall of my coop and kill 10 of my 25 of my chicks (10 weeks old). It wouldn't be so bad if it would kill one and eat it but she killed 10. Anyway she was still in there when I went out at 7:00 to let them out. She was sleeping under the coop with her belly full and I had a hard time getting her out so I could shoot her out in the open. A water hose did the trick. I sprayed under the layer boxes where she was laying and she ran out into the run and finally ran out into the field where I shot her. Anyway I thought they were more afraid of humans than that but I guess she hears/sees/smells us regularly so maybe that is why she wasn't afraid. She was either pregnant or just had kits because her belly was fat (could have been from the feast she just had) and her teats were very prominent. Would y'all try to disinfect the coop somehow (bleach in a pump sprayer or something?) or just let it be. It's a bad day at our ranch.

Your thoughts would be appreciated.

Charlie

 

[Gray Farms]

I don't think a disinfectant is called for unless you really want to. If your trying to get the smell out, tomato juice works the best I've found. As far as preventing the next break in. You'll need wire or metal dug into the ground around the pen. At least a foot deep. Or a metal apron round the outside you the pen at least two feet wide.

 

[bobbi-j]

Could be she was used to you. It could also be that she was rabid -sometimes loss of natural fear of humans is the only sign of rabies that you'll see.

 

[Gray Farms]

Skunks really aren't afraid of humans. In fact skunks really aren't afraid of anything. I've seen them stand their ground to bears and trucks as if to say "what you lookin at".

 

[bobbi-j]

Skunks really aren't afraid of humans. In fact skunks really aren't afraid of anything. I've seen them stand their ground to bears and trucks as if to say "what you lookin at".

Good point! They really have no reason to be afraid, do they?

 

[Gray Farms]

Not really lol. Anything that messes with them once isn't likely to do so again.