Keeping out the skunks

We live in the country, and we try, albeit pathetically, to be country people. Currently, we are raising a rooster and 11 laying hens. One of my sons is expected to do most of the work, and we buy the eggs from him so he can earn extra money. The problem is, we are very inexperienced in the shelter of chickens, and we seem to lose more to predators than we keep. We have lost a couple dozen hens to predators over the last couple of years, and we are really putting forth a concerted effort to do better with this set.

One of the arch enemies of our chickens is a small family of neighborhood skunks. They also frequently territorially mark our property with their trademark scent. Tonight, a good friend came over with his kids and set special traps to catch the skunks. He has captured and killed three of the critters in the protection of his own flock of chickens, and now we are hoping we can use his resourcefulness up here.

I actually like skunks, in that I think they are very interesting and cute animals. Nevertheless, we cannot have them ravaging our poultry investment, and I don't have the courage or the time, or the desire to try to manage a catch and release which means transporting them in my car.

Skunks can be great marketing mascots, because they are so memorable. One of America's best franchises, Aire-Master uses the skunk to market with winking irony.

Here is a cute skunk promotional stress toy which could be used to remind your customer service staff to not let their customer service stink and for other fun applications.