Stella's Social Club

[1muttsfan]

I make fresh salsa sometimes with tomatoes with the skin left on but roasted first. Gives it great flavor.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Ugh, I had an unwanted visitor in my coop last night. I go out every night with my dog to close the window in my small coop, and check on everyone in my large coop. I should have known something was up when my dog was pacing the fence line. I opened the door and with a headlamp that could use a battery change, I saw something on the floor of the coop, under the roosts next to a cockerel bedded down on the floor. As I stepped in, my brain registered what I was seeing...........a skunk.

I instantly backed out, and went inside to bring the dogs in. (I didn't really want to have to bathe my shepherd when she caught it) It came in through the pop door, and got trapped inside when the door closed. I go back outside to my husband calling after me on how I'm going to get it out. I replied that I have no idea, but it can't stay there..... picturing myself getting sprayed before this was over. I opened the door again, and I don't see anything. I couldn't tell if the cockerel was alive or not. A quick scan to the right inside the door revealed the skunk in the corner. I closed it part way and used a flashlight to trigger the door to open, hoping it would come out on it's own. After a few minutes, it was clear this wasn't going to happen. I opened the door and stepped in again, circling wide to the left, and saw it in my next box right next to my broody Welsummer. I came out and started towards me, so I ran and jumped out of the coop.

By this time, it was back under the roosts, near where I was just standing, looking and sniffing up the wall. Then..........it laid down. Crap. I cautiously stepped in the coop, and curved over to the next boxes. Checked on my broody, and both of her babies were tucked in with her. I shined the flashlight and my headlamp on the skunk. I clapped, hollered, banged the lowest roost.........nothing I did bothered it. It just looked at me like I wasn't threatening in the least. And it still laid there, all comfy like.

So now I got brave. I looked around, and saw my tool that I use to clean out the nest boxes. I picked it up, and tossed it at the skunk. For once, my aim was good, and it hit the side of the skunk. It instantly stood up, poised to spray. I froze and did nothing, now thinking I'm screwed. Luckily for me, it decided not to spray, and wandered towards the door, but didn't go out. I went towards it telling it to get lost, and it finally jumped out of my coop. I checked on everyone, and the only casualty was an egg.

So for now....Human 1, Skunk 0. I'm sure it will be back tonight now that it knows there is food there. There is no breach in the fencing or netting, so I think it got in by climbing the lodge poles and squeezing between the spaces in the fence. (I didn't want to chase it too closely)

I've really had my fill of critters. I think it's time to be critterless for a while. I'm overdue for a break!!!!!!!

 

[ronott1]

Ugh, I had an unwanted visitor in my coop last night. I go out every night with my dog to close the window in my small coop, and check on everyone in my large coop. I should have known something was up when my dog was pacing the fence line. I opened the door and with a headlamp that could use a battery change, I saw something on the floor of the coop, under the roosts next to a cockerel bedded down on the floor. As I stepped in, my brain registered what I was seeing...........a skunk.

I instantly backed out, and went inside to bring the dogs in. (I didn't really want to have to bathe my shepherd when she caught it) It came in through the pop door, and got trapped inside when the door closed. I go back outside to my husband calling after me on how I'm going to get it out. I replied that I have no idea, but it can't stay there..... picturing myself getting sprayed before this was over. I opened the door again, and I don't see anything. I couldn't tell if the cockerel was alive or not. A quick scan to the right inside the door revealed the skunk in the corner. I closed it part way and used a flashlight to trigger the door to open, hoping it would come out on it's own. After a few minutes, it was clear this wasn't going to happen. I opened the door and stepped in again, circling wide to the left, and saw it in my next box right next to my broody Welsummer. I came out and started towards me, so I ran and jumped out of the coop.

By this time, it was back under the roosts, near where I was just standing, looking and sniffing up the wall. Then..........it laid down. Crap. I cautiously stepped in the coop, and curved over to the next boxes. Checked on my broody, and both of her babies were tucked in with her. I shined the flashlight and my headlamp on the skunk. I clapped, hollered, banged the lowest roost.........nothing I did bothered it. It just looked at me like I wasn't threatening in the least. And it still laid there, all comfy like.

So now I got brave. I looked around, and saw my tool that I use to clean out the nest boxes. I picked it up, and tossed it at the skunk. For once, my aim was good, and it hit the side of the skunk. It instantly stood up, poised to spray. I froze and did nothing, now thinking I'm screwed. Luckily for me, it decided not to spray, and wandered towards the door, but didn't go out. I went towards it telling it to get lost, and it finally jumped out of my coop. I checked on everyone, and the only casualty was an egg.

So for now....Human 1, Skunk 0. I'm sure it will be back tonight now that it knows there is food there. There is no breach in the fencing or netting, so I think it got in by climbing the lodge poles and squeezing between the spaces in the fence. (I didn't want to chase it too closely)

I've really had my fill of critters. I think it's time to be critterless for a while. I'm overdue for a break!!!!!!!

Are you gong to set a trap tonight?

 

[robhuncor]

Wow, you lucked out! I hope it doesn't come back. This summer we had 2 different coons get into 2 different coops and they wouldn't come out either. We ended up having to shoot them, which I hate. We usually catch them in the havahart and relocate. But a skunk is a whole different story!

 

[Happy Chooks]

I might Ron. My step dad has offered to come shoot it for me. The county trapper that has been coming out and gassing his skunks and coons (in the city) said that 90% of skunks in this area are rabid.

I'm going to call the trapper and see if they will do it for me.

 

[Happy Chooks]

W But a skunk is a whole different story!

I know, right?

 

[1muttsfan]

Well I needed a laugh today Kelli so thanks, except the Rabies part!! Hope you can find the breach and exclude him. While I seldom kill predators here (I would be constantly murdering wildlife), a skunk with an entry plan would earn a trap-and-22 treatment.

 

[robhuncor]

My DH is the "skunk whisperer"! We've caught a bunch of them when we were actually trying to catch raccoons. Somehow he just picks up the trap, puts it in his truck and drives it out to the back of beyond, opens the trap and out goes the skunk, no problem!

 

[robhuncor]

One time I was coming in the back door at dusk and there was the cat waiting to come in. I said "Hi, Kitty" and leaned over to pat it on the head. Oooops! Not the cat - Skunk!! It totally nailed me, at such close quarters that it felt like a hose spraying my leg!! Yuuuk! I totally panicked and did everything wrong. Tore off my clothes and ran and got the garden hose to spray down my leg. That just made it worse, so then I ran IN the house and got in the shower. Needless to say, water is not what you want to put on it. I ended up having to throw out absolutely everything in my bathroom and my family was NOT happy with me!

 

[1muttsfan]

My dog got skunked badly one time on his last evening trip outside - I did not realize it until he ran past me into the house . I sent him out again, but too late - the house reeked for days.