Skunk Sraying in COOP

[bietsch624]

Just had a skunk spray in our chickens coop before we could shoe it out..will the overpowering odor hurt the chickens.

 

[redsoxs]

I don't think it will influence them at all as chickens don't have a sense of smell. Did the chickens themselves get sprayed? If not I think they will be fine.

 

[bietsch624]

I don't think they were sprayed; their roost is more than 4 feet off the ground. I am glad they do not have a sense of smell. It quite pungent in there.

 

[centrarchid]

I am not certain chickens lack a sense of smell, Some evidence in literature indicates chickens can detect at least some scents and that ability of birds to access some aspects of food quality / flavor requires more than vision, taste and feel. Beyond that issue, my birds will pick at a skunk carcass.

 

[blucoondawg]

I don't think it is harmful to the birds, it may be somewhat irritating if they can indeed smell it at all but shouldn't be physically harmful. I have had hound dogs sprayed point blank in the face and then proceed to rip a skunk to pieces, the dog then will roll on the ground and rub its face in the dirt trying to get the stuff off and his eyes will be very red from the direct contact but a spray down and some time to let it wear off leaves them no worse for wear.