what could it be?

[norcalsteel]

So chalk up another win for the skunk. I bought my traps set them up and went to bed. 3am comes and I find myself in the shower trying to wash skunk off my dog. Didn't think to lock my 3 boxers inside since they havnt stopped the skunk from eatin my chickens.

 

[TaraBellaBirds]

So chalk up another win for the skunk. I bought my traps set them up and went to bed. 3am comes and I find myself in the shower trying to wash skunk off my dog. Didn't think to lock my 3 boxers inside since they havnt stopped the skunk from eatin my chickens.

OH no. But does that mean you caught the thing?!?!

 

[norcalsteel]

Booya ... I got him. I think he came back. My coup is in a fenced in orchard away from dogs so my dog didn't get sprayed there. Or there might be more. I watched a YouTube video that says a skunk den holds up to 11 skunks.

 

[norcalsteel]

 

[TaraBellaBirds]

Congrats!

 

[chickengeorgeto]

I fed one about that size to my hens free choice and they ate the whole thing, hair, meat, bones, scent and all in under one day. However I had a 100 or more hens loose on the run at the time.

So, Predators do return don't they?

Whether there are more skunks where that one came from depends on whether the one you caught is named Paul or Paulette. Old ground hog dens are a favorite denning location for skunks.

 

[norcalsteel]

Dont think we have ground hogs here. Im sure the one I caught is just a baby so it a matter of how many in a litter and where's mon and dad. It was only the size of a house cat and to small to really even skin.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Quote:

Dont think we have ground hogs here. Im sure the one I caught is just a baby so it a matter of how many in a litter and where's mon and dad. It was only the size of a house cat and to small to really even skin.

You want I should give you some ground hogs?

Real chickens don't let no stinking hair ball stand between them and fresh protein. But it does go a little quicker if you cut a gash in the corpus delicti, just enough to give your flock the appearance of red meat and to give your hens a place to get started without them needing to floss afterwards to get the skunk hair out of their teeth.

 

[norcalsteel]

Well another skunk came lastnight and got my splayed leg duckling. I got out there as in ran down the fence line to my neighbors. I guess I need to set traps every night regardless to them coming or not. Hope to have new dead skunk photos tomorrow.

 

[norcalsteel]

So I killed a second skunk in last 2 weeks and all was quiet for a few days. I stopped locking them up and setting the traps. Lost 3 ducklings lastnight and feel horrible. I've never had a predator problem here before and have never had to lock my flocks up. Im wondering if its the loss of neighbors dogs or drought that's bring these critters in. Dont like killing skunks but its war now.