Practical Skunk Raising: A Book of Information Concerning the Raising of Skunks for ProfitPratt, William Edwin
Science
Practical Skunk Raising: A Book of Information Concerning the Raising of Skunks for Profit
Pratt, William Edwin
Fur farming; Skunks
An inexpensive fence to begin with may
be made by setting posts in the ground close
together, but strongly. I recommend a fence
made of wire netting or steel set or inbedded
in the ground from one to two feet.
First, dig a trench about one foot wide and
two feet deep, and put heavy rock in the
bottom and thus, with the rock below the
wire there will be no way that the skunks
can escape by digging.
The posts should be set ten feet apart. If
set farther the wire will have a tendency to
sag. The wire should be of one and a half
inch mesh for the main fence, and one inch
mesh for the breeding yards, as young
skunks sometimes escape through a one
and a half inch mesh. No. 16, or 18,
gauge wire from four to eight feet in height
should be used. Any smaller gauge than
the above mentioned is not durable enough.
A wire or board inhang of twelve inches,
should be placed at the top rejecting in so
the animals can’t climb out. This is attached
by slats nailed along the tops of the
posts and the wire nailed to them. Steel
7
sheeting needs no inhang, because it is so
that the skunks cannot get a foothold.
If the skunks dig at night to get out fill
up the holes as soon as possible and thus
discourage the workers.
The big pen or large enclosure, serves as
a range for the barren females, males, and
young skunks during autumn.
4.—Pens.
Many breeders consider pens better and
cheaper than dens. These are little runs
about ten feet square, separated only by a
three foot netting which has an inhang or
overhang as it is some times called, of a
foot on each side, so the skunks cannot
climb in or out. If boards are used for
pens inside the big fence no overhang is
needed. All pens should be completely
floored with mesh wire three or four inches
under surface.
5.—Dens.
Every cage or pen needs a movable den
that is dry, sanitary, portable, easy for observation,
and warm. This last feature is
important, for skunks are sensitive to cold
which causes pneumonia. The dens should
be well supplied with straw and rags, (avoid
hay) because the seeds are injurious to the
nostrils.
6.—Cage Litter.
After trying smooth floored dens, and
floors strewn with straw, chips, ashes and
sawdust; I feel safe in recommending sawdust,
as its great absorbent power helps
to keep clean dens. It should cover the
floor to a depth of two inches.
8
7.—Food Troughs.
Do not use wooden troughs; they are
unsanitary. Pie dishes either tin or ware,
will do if the sides do not flare. If they do
the skunk usually spills the milk or any
liquid in the dish, by standing on the sides
with its paws.
8.—Food House.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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