From: Old George <barnmanager@myfairpoint.net>
To: CHICKENS-101@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sun, October 31, 2010 8:36:39 PM
Subject: [CHICKENS-101] Morning in the chicken coop
Just after sun-up put on my in-between clothing. That is in-between fall and winter. It was about 45 deg F. (8 C) with a cool NW breeze. Off to the barn to get more firewood and make sure the chickens were taken care of for the day. Now the chicken coops are retrofitted stalls at the back of the barn. The wood is stacked in another stall closer to the front. So first I filled the wood cart up and then went back feed and water as necessary. The first stall is the Ameraucana, 4 pullets and 2 cockerels. We had out usual morning conversation about the weather and things. Amazing what chicken will talk about. After making sure they were set I headed for the silkies. I've been having a bit of a problem with visitors so I set out a squirrel size have-a-heart thinking if a chipmunk, squirrel or, god forbid, a rat came in would have it. I turned on the light and said.."OH S+%^T".. and ran out the door. I don't know it got in there but I had a skunk. I knew how the get it out of the barn, cover the trap with a blanket and you can carry it out. But How do you get a skunk out of a trap. Killing it was not an option. This model trap only had one door. After some hurried conversation with the DW I put on a plastic rain slicker and we attacked the problem head on, or rather tail on. The skunk was securely wedged so I didn't see how it could spray. I covered the trap with an old saddle blanket and carried it as far from the house as I could. Carefully depressed the spring, moving the tail and lifted the door. The skunk was laying on top of the release. I was able the wire the thing open and lift the trap a bit letting the animal slide out backward. As soon as it's hind legs cleared I took off. Freeing itself, it staggered a bit to get the circulation going and ambled off through the brush. As it moved along it moved a little faster until it was running. And it ran right back to the barn and disappeared down a hole underneath. All through this it never attempted to spray or even growl. The DW allowed that it knew my voice and smell and was not afraid of me.
Looks like I'll have another guest for the winter. Good thing they sleep a lot.
Ol' George
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CHICKENS-101@yahoogroups.com
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