skunks!

[chickiebaby]

Lots of em have been hanging around over the past year or two on and off . . . I know they're serious egg suckers but so far they seem to mostly just sniff around and once or twice I have found them pretty interested in eating feed pellets. . . .kid is pretty worried they'll attack the birds but I say whey havent they ever? Should we stop worrying?

 

[BJ]

We had a skunk roaming around and I did some research. One of the skunk's main predators is the great horned owl, and it was suggested that a plastic owl is hung from a tree or placed somewhere to scare the skunk off. You might get one and place it near your coop area and that might help make the kids feel better. Walmart and/or a garden store might still have one this time of year.

 

[Clay In Iowa]

We have a Great horned Owl that roost in a tree next to our house. Apparently no one has bothered to inform the owl that he is supposed to be eating skunks, as there are several skunks that inhabit our 10 acres. No thanks to a guy about 1/4 mile away who feeds them cat food every day.

 

[Akane]

Hungry skunks may eat chickens. They tend to go for easy food though. Cat food is a big attractant. About the only ones we get are looking for cat food. Usually they only stay if they are sick or old and too weak to find other food. Otherwise they pass on through without bothering much. Skunks are pretty hard to spook unless you actually make physical contact with them. Pretty much the only thing I've seen deter a skunk is a big dog but the dog will likely get sprayed in the process. Otherwise I've nearly walked right over the buggers in the dark and they just look back up at me. If you make noise they may even come running over.

 

[Bassleg]

BJ I have a pet skunk and they can't see more than 4 feet so I don't think a plastic owl will work unless you put it on the ground!

 

[BJ]

Quote:
I s'pose I wasted my money on that plastic hooty owl from The Walmart!!

 

[FractalFarmer]

Quote:
I s'pose I wasted my money on that plastic hooty owl from The Walmart!!

I heard that they deter hawks too. I hope so since that is our main predator. We have seen some skunks around. Our dogs have killed 3 skunks over the years, getting sprayed in the process every time. Oh well.

 

[yardbird tx]

I have skunks. And I dont mess with them. They will take a egg long before they would think of tackling a chicken.

I have read they sniff out and eat a lot of mice and rats. So that is there good will pass around my place.

I love to watch a skunk cruse threw the yard.

Coons are a totaly difrent story. They make me want to go take a valium.

:

 

[Bassleg]

Coons are a totaly difrent story. They make me want to go take a valium


Coons will take a 22 hollow point from me!!

 

[Sequin]

I am more concerned about coons than I am of coyotes. Cause at least you can hear the coyotes coming. Coons you do not know until you find feathers all over the place. Not only that, but they are smaller than coyotes and can climb. Oh yeah, and they are extremely smart as well. *shudders thinking of coon raiding hen house* Fortunately, there seems to be enough Other food for the coons that they seem to stay away from our flock.