Skunk!

[farmin'chick]

Tonight my dogs alerted, as they always do when any of the chickens raise a fuss, even though they (dogs) are in the house! (One night I was playing a video clip on the computer, and the terrier INSISTED that she had to go out and "fix" the problem the chicks were peeping about on the video!)

As I got near the open window, I smelled it -- a skunk. So I grabbed the trusty .22 and a flashlight and CAREFULLY (step by step, inch by inch!) started searching the porch, under the porch, the coops, the pasture...and THERE it was. I have a small pen (metal roof, 1/2 " cage wire sides) where I let new birds "settle" before I integrate them....The chickens were screaming and running back and forth and a skunk was running around and around the coop trying to get in.

Pop pop....he didn't make any stink about his end. But the chickens stayed huddled in the corner until after the body was hauled away.

I thought skunks went after eggs, and bugs -- I guess they go after chickens, too?

 

[mmwb]

"I thought skunks went after eggs, and bugs -- I guess they go after chickens, too?"

Like most predator/omnivours, they are equal opportunity feeders.

 

[laughingllama75]

yes, they are skillfully adept at killing and eating chickens. I hate skunks. got 9 so far this summer.

 

[kawonu]

They have done a number the last couple years on our ducks.

 

[lavacaw]

Skunks will take out an entire pen of chickens...look for one if your dead chickens are missing heads but otherwise intact. Sometimes the strong smell around the pen is a raccoon but they don't usually leave the entire carcass of the bird.
Real fun is getting one in your coon trap and trying to decide how you are going to dispatch it without a major stink! Shoot carefully from a distance!

 

[deerman]

Skunk will take birds, but they get them on the ground. Eggs or setting hens.

 

[deerman]

Quote:
That sounds more like coons, then the skunk come to help clean up the dead. Skunks will kill chicken but not alot in one night.