Skunks as predators?

[Ebz5003]

Does anyone have experience with skunks getting their chickens and have tips on how to secure their run coop from these animals? I'm not sure that's my predator yet, but I saw one on my property this morning and wanted tips. Thanks

 

[Al Gerhart]

Eggs and chicks for sure. Rabies carrier as well. Check your state game laws and see if you can take a shotgun to the critter.

 

[Ebz5003]

Eggs and chicks for sure. Rabies carrier as well. Check your state game laws and see if you can take a shotgun to the critter.

Do you know if they will eat the head and neck meat, but leave the rest of the body? Also there was a dried pool of blood where it happened.

 

[StinkyAcres]

1/2" x 1/2" 19-gauge galvanized hardware cloth to cover the run, all windows, and vents. And predator aprons all around the run.

Do you know if they will eat the head and neck meat, but leave the rest of the body?

I think they do. But opossums and raccoons do that as well.

 

[Al Gerhart]

Do you know if they will eat the head and neck meat, but leave the rest of the body? Also there was a dried pool of blood where it happened.

Sorry, I have no experience on that.

 

[5Australorpasaures]

Do you know if they will eat the head and neck meat, but leave the rest of the body? Also there was a dried pool of blood where it happened.

Usually the head is weasel family and will kill just for the sake of killing.

 

[Penpal]

One day I buried an egg in my two tomato planters. That night I went to bring the chicks in and found half of them around the tomato plants. In one of the tomato planters I found a skunk, happily eating an egg.

Just the same, I was more cognizant of bringing the chicks inside earlier.

If you choose to shoot the skunk, make it a head shot, a dead shot. They will spray if they aren't killed immediately.

 

[Ebz5003]

Good to know!

 

[Seaslug]

If you have one, set up a game camera. You may be surprised at the number and kind of animals that come through your area over a given period of time. And not every individual animal comes back immediately. Many larger animals are believed to have circuits that they travel over a week or two.
My general point is: you may very well be killing a completely innocent animal. They do exist. But the niche that animal fills in the ecosystem will be filled by another animal. One that may not be so innocent. For this reason I do not advocate killing every animal that walks onto one's property or by one's chicken coop. It is not a popular position; it opens me to ridicule. But I hope that chicken keeping exposes us all to the fact that animals are individuals. I advocate having a secure run and coop.

 

[Ebz5003]

If you have one, set up a game camera. You may be surprised at the number and kind of animals that come through your area over a given period of time. And not every individual animal comes back immediately. Many larger animals are believed to have circuits that they travel over a week or two.
My general point is: you may very well be killing a completely innocent animal. They do exist. But the niche that animal fills in the ecosystem will be filled by another animal. One that may not be so innocent. For this reason I do not advocate killing every animal that walks onto one's property or by one's chicken coop. It is not a popular position; it opens me to ridicule. But I hope that chicken keeping exposes us all to the fact that animals are individuals. I advocate having a secure run and coop.

Very good points. I think you may be right.