Will a skunk attack a chicken?

[bobbi-j]

Skunks can and will kill your chickens. They are also a major carrier of rabies. Many years ago, my friend had a skunk get into a batch of kittens, killing some and fighting with the mama cat. A week or so later, they saw a skunk (presumably the same one) wandering around in circles in an old building. It was shot and taken in for testing. It was rabid. They were ordered to kill all of their cats and dog. They did, and brought one of the kittens from the earlier attack (their daughter's pet) in for testing. It, too, was rabid. The whole family (Kids were in 4th and 1st grades, and the youngest not in kindergarten yet) had to go through the rabies vaccines. The kids are adults now and hate needles to this day. Any skunks seen around here die of lead poisoning.

 

[ajneal30]

This one is pretty brave. He was in the dog food last night and I walked right up on him before he took off in the dark. I turned the hound loose, but the skunk was already gone. Going to set the live trap tonight and put the dog in the garage so I can let him out faster.

 

[muddychicken2]

skunks have tried to get into my coop so probably yes.

 

[Sylvestor12]

That's so sad... I wonder how they mysteriously die of lead poisoning? lol

 

[ajneal30]

Lead poisoning is a very quick and mysterious death

 

[d3rabbitry]

Please rethink the dog part my lab caught a skunk twice now and it is just bad very bad

 

[ajneal30]

Stripes showed up early last night. The dogs went crazy and I turned them loose. The border collie ran around the house and right up onto the front porch. The hound was right on his smelly little tail until he ducked into the culvert that runs under the driveway. I blocked one end with rocks and set the live trap at the other and drug the hound back to the back yard. 4:00 am Stripes digs out of the culvert and proceeds to the garage where he starts in on a bag of dog food. The border collie jumped the fence and apparently confronted him under my car. The mechanic who is supposed to be working on that car will really appreciate the smell I am sure. Border collie came back to the gate and begged to be let back in, meanwhile the hound was begging to be let out. He ran off into the darkness and I couldn't find him. He came back 15 minutes later smelling pretty bad. I don't know if he killed it as he trails silent, but my whole house and yard and two of my dogs smell terrible. Until tomorrow, Stripes!

 

[littleoak]

With the dogs chasing the skunk you are really running a risk of rabies. Almost all of the skunks here in east central IL are rabid. A few years ago rabies nearly wiped them out but some survived and are carriers. I kill the skunks and put them where nothing else can get to them. I also use throw away gloves and am very careful about touching them. They are not afraid of people, but are easy to live trap. Moistened dry cat food works well.

 

[ajneal30]

Ok, THAT'S IT! BRING IT ON STRIPES! One of my hens was eaten last night. We came home from a week long trip to find that there is a trail worn along the fence, tons of (what I am assuming is) skunk poo and broken egg shell all over the place. Now to top it off, my nine year old son's auracauna hen was eaten last night. The neighbors dogs have killed two skunks in four days, I am setting my live traps and between me and the neighbor dogs, I am hoping to drastically reduce the number of skunks in the neighborhood. Enough is enough. I thought my hens were just not laying, now I think that skunks have been raiding the hen house for eggs during the day and tormenting my birds at night.

 

[Sylvestor12]

If you can I reccomend that you get a red light, shine it in front of the coop, find a good point for shooting, and wait for 'em. Another solution is to lock the coop and keep the hens in for a few weeks straight, it usually gets rid of predators because they don't want to starve waiting for the inside meal. The problem with that is that they usually come back when you aren't expecting it.