,,practical ,,skunk ,,raising4 ,a ,,book ,,of ,,information ,,concerning ,,the ,,raising ,,of ,,skunks ,,for ,,profit4 ,by ,,william ,,edwin ,,pratt4 ,published by ,william ,e4 ,pratt4 ,copyright #aiae1 ,by ,,william ,e4 ,,pratt4 ,,contents4 ,chapter-- #a4--;,introduction4 #b4--;,ground4 #c4--,the ,fence4 #d4--,pens4 #e4--;,dens4 #f4--;,cage ,litter4 #g4--;,food ,troughs4 #h4--;,food ,house4 #i4--;,feeding4 #aj4--,water ,troughs4 #aa4--;,examining ,box4 #ab4--;,diseases4 #ac4--,rats4 #ad4--;,disinfectants4 #ae4--;,hospital4 #af4--;,breeding and ,winter ,management4 #ag4--;,barren ,females4 #ah4--;,breeding ,mothers4 #ai4--,young4 #bj4--;,escapes4 #ba4--;,disarming4 #bb4--;,how to ship skunks4 ,conclusion4 ,practical ,skunk ,raising4 ,by ,william ,e4 ,pratt4 ,the supply of wild fur has already fallen behind the demand and the time is in sight when wild fur will form but a small per cent of that in use4 ,all furs trapped in steel traps are less beautiful because the animal suffers4 ,it is a well-known fact that the less the animal suffers1 the better the fur4 ,the time is not far away when nearly all fur will be grown on fur-ranches4 ,fur-farming unquestionably has a great future as an industry4 ,without detailing countless failures2 it is well to begin by disposing of the wrong idea that most people begin with1 that all they need to do is secure an island or a big fenced area1 and throw in much feed to a bunch of selected fur-bearers1 and reap a harvest of so many pelts each year4 ,the absurdity of this is seen if we compare it to a horse-breeder who would put a high fence around a large pasture and turn in a couple stallions and a dozen mares2 throw in much feed daily1 and expect a harvest of so many colts1 each year4 ,no1--success depends on general supervision and control of each individual4 ,skunks raise a better coat in captivity than when wild1 because their food is gotten without hunting for it1 and are beyond danger of man1 dogs1 and other intruders4 ,striped skunks ten years ago sold for one dollar per pair1 while only two dollars per pair was paid for 8star blacks04 ,three years ago or more these prices had doubled1 and a skunk with his scent glands out was even more valuable4 ,one male and two females is a good lot to begin with1 which would increase to twenty young the first year1 and one hundred and fifty the second1 providing one could wait that long1 and one certainly could not expect any dividend until the fifth year4 #b4--,the ,ground4 ,an acre of ground is sufficient to begin with1 but one must have it situated so one could increase to perhaps ten acres4 ,it should be high1 dry and sandy1 with some grass in the plot1 and not too remote from a railway station4 #c4--,the ,fence4 ,an inexpensive fence to begin with may be made by setting posts in the ground close together1 but strongly4 ,i recommend a fence made of wire netting or steel set or inbedded in the ground from one to two feet4 ,first1 dig a trench about one foot wide and two feet deep1 and put heavy rock in the bottom and thus1 with the rock below the wire there will be no way that the skunks can escape by digging4 ,the posts should be set ten feet apart4 ,if set farther the wire will have a tendency to sag4 ,the wire should be of one and a half inch mesh for the main fence1 and one inch mesh for the breeding yards1 as young skunks sometimes escape through a one and a half inch mesh4 ,no4 #af1 or #ah1 gauge wire from four to eight feet in height should be used4 ,any smaller gauge than the above mentioned is not durable enough4 ,a wire or board inhang of twelve inches1 should be placed at the top rejecting in so the animals can't climb out4 ,this is attached by slats nailed along the tops of the posts and the wire nailed to them4 ,steel sheeting needs no inhang1 because it is so that the skunks cannot get a foothold4 ,if the skunks dig at night to get out fill up the holes as soon as possible and thus discourage the workers4 ,the big pen or large enclosure1 serves as a range for the barren females1 males1 and young skunks during autumn4 #d4--,pens4 ,many breeders consider pens better and cheaper than dens4 ,these are little runs about ten feet square1 separated only by a three foot netting which has an inhang or overhang as it is some times called1 of a foot on each side1 so the skunks cannot climb in or out4 ,if boards are used for pens inside the big fence no overhang is needed4 ,all pens should be completely floored with mesh wire three or four inches under surface4 #e4--;,dens4 ,every cage or pen needs a movable den that is dry1 sanitary1 portable1 easy for observation1 and warm4 ,this last feature is important1 for skunks are sensitive to cold which causes pneumonia4 ,the dens should be well supplied with straw and rags1 7avoid hay7 because the seeds are injurious to the nostrils4 #f4--;,cage ,litter4 ,after trying smooth floored dens1 and floors strewn with straw1 chips1 ashes and sawdust2 ,i feel safe in recommending sawdust1 as its great absorbent power helps to keep clean dens4 ,it should cover the floor to a depth of two inches4 #g4--;,food ,troughs4 ,do not use wooden troughs2 they are unsanitary4 ,pie dishes either tin or ware1 will do if the sides do not flare4 ,if they do the skunk usually spills the milk or any liquid in the dish1 by standing on the sides with its paws4 #h4--;,food ,house4 ,the food and tool-house should be in the pen for convenience4 ,there should be mice and rat-proof vessels to keep the oatmeal and dry biscuit1 cheese1 and meat in4 ,it should be equipped with a large boiler for boiling oatmeal and meat in4 ,the meat may also be smoked as this will preserve it1 and is greatly preferred by the animals4 ,the meat may be hung out of reach of the rats in sacks4 #i4--;,feeding4 ,skunks like most animals are omnivorous4 ,a continuous unbroken diet of meat would eventually wipe out the stock2 as would a diet solely vegetable4 ,moderate varied feeding is essential4 ,adult skunks are fed once a day1 they themselves prefer it after dark4 ,staple articles of food are beef1 rabbit1 cow liver1 chicken giblets1 oatmeal1 and other porridge1 cooked potatoes and milk2 anything a dog will eat with fruit and insects added4 ,be sure the meat is clear of infection4 ,another staple article of food is a bread made of bran and shorts4 ,mix with three quarts of sour milk1 enough flour to make a stiff dough4 ,roll dough out until it is an inch thick and bake for an hour like bread in a hot oven4 ,this is much relished by all fur-bearing animals1 and is still more acceptable if flavored with a few spoonfuls of black molasses4 ,milk must be given sparingly unless it agrees with the stock4 ,once a week is enough1 more than that is liable to induce scouring and other disorders4 ,half a dog biscuit1 and a few scraps of meat are enough for a skunk's daily allowance4 ,of course some should have more than others according to their needs4 ,a brood-mother growing or suckling her young should have as much as she can eat twice a day1 morning and evening4 ,when winter comes1 skunks retire to their dens and eat nothing for weeks4 ,in ,march the feeding is resumed and in ,april the brood mothers are extra fed with a preponderance of meat1 much of it raw4 ,it costs from twenty-five cents to a dollar to feed a skunk from ,june first to ,december first4 ,meat and fresh water are necessary at all times for brood-mothers1 for if this is neglected they will devour the young as soon as born4 #aj4--,water ,troughs4 ,skunks drink much1 and often4 ,they must have plenty of fresh water at all times2 especially when the young are expected4 ,the vessel that the water at all times is kept in should be washed every day4 ,in winter the skunks lap up snow instead of water4 #aa4--;,examining ,box4 ,no cautious man would undertake to examine a wild skunk as he would a dog or rabbit4 ,yet it is important to know sex and condition of each new skunk as it arrives4 ,this may be easily and quickly done by means of an examining box4 ,this is a small box #aj by #h by #f covered with a chicken wire of about one inch mesh on the top4 ,there should be a six inch entrance at one end of the box4 ,on the solid wood bottom is a handle which is of course the top1 when the box is turned wire side down4 ,chase the skunk in the entrance slowly and then lift the box up by the handle and look under without fear4 ,as soon as the operation is over the skunk will seek his proper den4 #ab4--;,diseases4 ,the keeper should watch the animal's dung1 if too fluid or too soft1 too copious or too little1 there is something wrong4 ,their appetite1 and the dung are the great tests4 ,if these are right there is little chance of anything being wrong4 ,greed--,some cases often abound among skunks such as over-eating2 by getting all they can from the other skunks1 after eating their own food4 ,such freaks should be isolated and marketed as soon as possible4 ,cannibalism--,sometimes when enclosures are small the mothers devour the young as soon as born4 ,this is sometimes the result of quarreling4 ,always build the enclosures large enough so the skunks have plenty of room4 ,murder--,murder must be considered a disease4 ,some individuals are incapable of it while others are very prone to it4 ,the last mentioned soon make themselves known4 ,they should be marketed as soon as possible4 ,distemper--,this may be detected by the animal's eyes and nose running4 ,the animal should be sent at once to the hospital1 and treated by washing the nose and eyes with a solution of boric acid and water4 ,mange--,mange is considered a serious disease1 and is caused by fleas which induce the animal to scratch4 ,the fur gets thin and the body is covered with scabs4 ,this may be cured by applying a good flea powder and a dip4 ,worms--,worms may be eliminated by feeding the skunks in a dish of clear1 sharp1 sand4 ,other ,foes--,while the armed skunk travels about without fear of man or beast1 it must be remembered that the disarmed young skunks may be killed by dogs1 or taken by horned owls or any other large bird4 #ac4--,rats4 ,rats are a great nuisance about a fur ranch4 ,they often dig holes and teach the young skunks the way to escape4 ,they also kill the young1 and are quick enough to keep out of the way of the mother4 #ad4--;,disinfectants4 ,those ,i use are--,chloride of lime1 peroxide of hydrogen1 and lysol1 #b4 ,to disinfect a den1 put it in a large tub and soak it in 8sheep dip04 ,to disinfect a corner1 sprinkle with chloride of lime4 #ae4--;,hospital4 ,the hospital is a series of cages1 quite removed from the other1 with the earth and grass for a floor1 and good opportunities for a 8sun bath04 ,sick animals should be put in the hospital as soon as noted4 #af4--;,breeding and ,winter ,management4 ,the stock should be mated about ,november or ,december4 ,put one male to four or five females4 ,it is well to watch them for a few days to make sure the group is harmonious4 ,often it happens that one female will quarrel with the others4 ,she should be removed and tried somewhere else4 ,if one is seen outside the den constantly1 this is the cause4 ,put plenty of straw in the den and they will make themselves comfortable enough4 ,during the winter they eat nothing4 ,some breeders deem it wise to feed a light meal a week4 ,mating time is from the middle of ,march1 starting with ,february4 ,males must not meet at this time for they will fight1 until one or the other is killed4 #ag4--;,barren ,females4 ,three or four days after mating season has set in1 remove the male and try some other male in1 or for a few days4 ,as the males are decided in their likes and dislikes4 ,neglect of this precaution will result in a large proportion of barren females4 #ah4--;,breeding ,mothers4 ,by ,april first every female should be given a separate den1 and well fed and cared for4 ,this is the most important time of all1 success or failure depends on the management of the mother at this time4 ,toward the end of the month she should be given raw meat and plenty of water4 ,this diet should be given until mid-,may1 as this allays the meat craving which causes the mother to devour the new-born young4 ,i will repeat again the watchwords of success-- ,proper sanitation1 seclusion1 and quiet1 an abundance of raw meat and fresh water4 ,the period of gestation is nine weeks2 the young are born in mid-,may4 ,the young females have from four to six young the first litter and the older females have from eight to sixteen to one litter4 ,never put two females with young1 in the same house for they will fight and steal one and anothers' young4 ,one family in one house is a good old rule to observe4 ,when one month old they are able to walk around and drink milk4 ,i would advise disarming and weaning at this time4 #ai4--,young4 ,the young grow very fast and soon become as tame as kittens1 some show their amazing temper at this age1 from the beginning4 ,at thirty days they walk alone and drink milk4 ,at sixty days they will weigh on the average of six lbs4 each1 and appear to be half grown4 ,at six months they are full-grown1 and weigh from four to six lbs4 ,at this age they are ready to be marketed4 #bj4--;,escapes4 ,it is well to be prepared for escapes4 ,a properly constructed fence will prevent this4 ,two contrivances should be in stock--net and traps4 ,net--,this is an ordinary dip net to put over them4 ,traps--,these are box traps1 or 8catch-alives04 ,they are easily constructed1 and one half dozen will be found convenient for many purposes4 #ba4--;,disarming4 ,to prevent a shot from this deadly battery of the skunk they are disarmed while very young4 ,when animals are young the operation is a simple one2 but when performed when they are grown not more than one out of three survives the operation4 ,when ready for disarming1 spread a burlap or gunnysack across your lap and order the assistant to bring the skunk4 ,he must be careful to hold it by the tail1 with it near the ground4 ,the sack is then rolled around the animal2 rear exposed4 ,the assistant holds the animal firmly and double muffles the eyes1 so it cannot possibly see4 ,a skunk seldom shoots unless it sees an enemy4 ,the proper instruments consist of a scalpel1 clamping forceps1 extracting forceps1 hook and goggles4 ,the scent sacks are located one on each side of the vent off one fourth inch from the vent4 ,to disarm--,first make an incision three eighths of an inch long and one half an inch from the vent4 ,as soon as the incision is made1 cut deeper until the scent sac appears1 which is about the size of a bean in young skunks and about the size of a marble in mature ones4 ,with the blunt forceps1 force the adhering muscles down off the sac1 and cut the sac off one fourth inch from the vent4 ,if the operation is done according to instructions1 there will be no loss whatever4 ,animals do not require disarming unless they are going to be shipped4 ,if skunks are raised solely for fur1 it is just as well to leave them armed4 ,express companies refuse to ship them unless scent sacks are removed4 #bb4--;,how to ,ship ,skunk4 ,secure them when ready for market1 by using a box-trap4 ,never try to handle them4 ,to ship them1 put each in a small soap-box lined with tin4 ,cut a hole three inches square in the side and cover it with wire of one inch mesh4 ,fasten a tin in one corner of the box three inches from the bottom for water4 ,above this make a hole to pour water through4 ,mark it 8water here04 ,make a lid in the box for convenience in feeding4 ,one pound of dog biscuits1 or bread1 and a few scraps of meat will amply supply a skunk on the road4 ,label the bag 8,seven days food04 ,do not fear to lift the lid and look in1 for a skunk must be greatly alarmed and provoked before discharging musk4 ,conclusion4 ,if the material in this book is thoroughly understood and mastered1 and the reader is the proud possessor of two 8star-black0 skunks in a plot1 fenced secure against escape1 in five years he can reap large dividends4 ,illustration3 ,decorative tree in pot4 ,transcriber's ,notes --,silently corrected a few palpable typos4 --,retained the original 7expired7 copyright notice from the printed copy4