What is good bait for a live trap

[Ridgerunner]

What size, in inches, is your trap? Or when you got it what was it advertised to catch? It is possible the trap is too small and fairly light. A raccoon or possum could move a fairly big trap, a skunk maybe.

There are always different ways to do things. I found my success rate went up when I wired a piece of plywood to the bottom of the trap to stabilize it and keep critters from going underneath. And built a box to go over it so the only way the critters could get to the bait was to go in from the front.

Staking the trap down could help. Wrapping it with a blanket or something similar so only the front is open might help. Put a cinder block on the sides and back would help stabilize it and keep the critter from going after the bait from the side. Wire one side to your fence to stabilize it. If it is a skunk it may be fun unwiring it so you can dispose of the animal, think about that too. I don't know what you have to work with but any of this might make the difference in an overturned trap and catching the critter.

We went through different possible baits earlier in this thread. We all have our favorites. I've had a lot of luck with a spoonful of peanut butter wrapped in a paper towel for raccoons and opossum, not for skunks though. I now make my own from debris when making chicken broth which also works for skunks. Something that smells fishy is usually really good, tuna, sardines, something like that. Dog or cat food can work. I personally would not buy it a T-bone, but scraps from one, either cooked or raw, could work.

The best way to stabilize the trap is whichever way you can. The best way to direct the animal to enter the front is however you can. It would really help to know which critter you are after to determine a good bait, but something that smells fishy is probably as good as you can get if you don't know what critter you are after.

 

[cmom]

If you have a game camera put it up. Usually the predator will be back. I had a bobcat once did under a fence and kill several birds. It didn't come back the next night but did the following night and I caught it.

 

[chickenmama109]

Well I know what's getting in so last night it was almost 9 and it was getting dark we were at the chickens coop when we here a nose be hide us and there is a field that is right be hide my yard so we looks and there was a skunk walking next to the fence and he was coming this way but we could not find him after that so I thought I will just catch him so I put the cat food in a bowl and put it in the trap and this morning the cat food is gone the trap door is closed and there is another hole under the coop but still no skunk in the trap what should I do

 

[mowin]

Well I know what's getting in so last night it was almost 9 and it was getting dark we were at the chickens coop when we here a nose be hide us and there is a field that is right be hide my yard so we looks and there was a skunk walking next to the fence and he was coming this way but we could not find him after that so I thought I will just catch him so I put the cat food in a bowl and put it in the trap and this morning the cat food is gone the trap door is closed and there is another hole under the coop but still no skunk in the trap what should I do

This has been mentioned several times in this thread. Hardware cloth apron. Simple, and effective.
As mentioned, no need to did a trench. Secure it to the coop/run, and extend it along to ground for 16” . Stake it down. Grass will grow through it, and you won't know it's there.

Get rid of one skunk, another will find the food sorce. Or worse, a raccoon will get in and not just eat your eqqs, but the hens themselves.

First line of defense is a secure area for the chickens.

 

[cmom]

I have some game cameras up in different places on my property. A few years ago some people were catching and releasing skunks in my area. I had a skunk attempt to dig under the gate to my chick coop. The pop door was mostly closed and some of the chicks couldn't get into the coop. I went out because I realized that I had forgot to close the pop door. I went out and saw the skunk and went in to get my gun. I first attempted to scare it off but it stomped it's feet at me like it was challenging me, so I shot it. I put some live traps out and caught over a dozen skunks in a few days. One night I had 2 skunks in one trap. I ran into a wildlife officer in town and told him about my skunk problem and he said I could shoot them as they weren't endangered. I found out about someone releasing the skunks in my area from a friend. We are rural so someone was catching skunks where they live and releasing them where I live. Not nice. Skunks will eat most anything. I have used canned dog and cat food, sardines, tuna.

 

[cmom]

My birds are secure with electric wires around my coops and pens, concrete under my gates, and heavy duty netting over all of my pens. I haven't lost a bird in several years. I do not shut the birds in their coops at night but they all go in to roost.
A coyote.

 

[chickenmama109]

Ok so know I have a big trap I think it will work a lot!!! Better I think the small trap was two small so tonight I hope it works

 

[bobbi-j]

Good luck! An electric fence wire 2" off the ground may help,,,
Are the eggs vanishing in the day time or at night? If they vanish at night, gather eggs at dusk/sunset.

Some of you will get a kick out of this.
Some years ago late one night my brother got up to take a leak. As he went by the baby crib and looked in and thought, "how cute, the cat is curled up with the boy", and on to the bathroom. As he woke up a bit, he realized, "we have no cat". So he grabs the shotgun, then the skunk tossing it against the wall and blows a hole through the wall where the skunk hit. He missed, they tried for years to get the smell out, and eventually tore the house down.

Ok so know I have a big trap I think it will work a lot!!! Better I think the small trap was two small so tonight I hope it works

Even if you do trap the skunk, you're going to have to reinforce that coop. If he can get in, so can mink, opossums, raccoons, etc.

 

[chickenmama109]

Even if you do trap the skunk, you're going to have to reinforce that coop. If he can get in, so can mink, opossums, raccoons, etc.

Yes I'm wanting to fix the coop up to where nothing can get in but I can't right know so for know I will have to trap it. Thanks for all of your help

 

[cmom]

Nothing tries to dig under my fences or coops but I do have electric wire around them and if they do try do dig they will be in for a good shock. When I have forgotten to turn it off, it has made my heart skip several beats when I have accidentally touched it.