Why is my skunk starting to bite??

[Miche]

My baby skunk has started to nip & I have no idea why, he isn't hungry as just been fed, there is no food on my hands & it is something he has only just begun to do. He is 17 weeks old & I have had him 3 weeks now, I would appreciate any reasoning why or what to do about it please x

[Malti]

I don't know how you deal with it...but i'm guessing he's nip playing, and if he continues it will become a habit for him (had ferrets and rats who did the same thing, and had to "educate" them to stop) - never had skunks so can't really be 100%

[Fixx]

Originally Posted by Miche

My baby skunk has started to nip & I have no idea why, he isn't hungry as just been fed, there is no food on my hands & it is something he has only just begun to do. He is 17 weeks old & I have had him 3 weeks now, I would appreciate any reasoning why or what to do about it please x

A short sharp "NO!" and then a 'time out' is a good way of 'disciplining' a wayward skunk.
17 weeks old is still a 'dinker' and he's slowly learning to be independent and this is part of the process, but does not realise this behaviour is a no-no.

[Miche]

Thank you, i have just shouted at him & put him back in his cage as he keeps climbing up the desk to "get me" so I put him back on the floor & up he comes again and again!!!! I have read you shouldnt smack skunks where I would tap a ferret on the nose to discipline them??

[Malti]

Originally Posted by Miche

Thank you, i have just shouted at him & put him back in his cage as he keeps climbing up the desk to "get me" so I put him back on the floor & up he comes again and again!!!! I have read you shouldnt smack skunks where I would tap a ferret on the nose to discipline them??

with ferrets its grab them by the neck (like the mum) shake them abit and make a hissing sound (thats to emulate the mother ferret doing her thing)

[Miche]

the little tyke is curled up asleep snoring now put him back in cage!!!! oh well tmrw is another day maybe he will be in a better mood with me!!!!

[Malti]

Originally Posted by Miche

the little tyke is curled up asleep snoring now put him back in cage!!!! oh well tmrw is another day maybe he will be in a better mood with me!!!!

bet he's adorable

[Miche]

oh yep gorgeous but becoming a determined little monster!!!! I just dont want to become wary of him with the biting thing as have enough ferrets here that are feisty buggas!!!!

[Emmaj]

skunks can turn their heads enough to bite you if you scruff them

please take fixx's advice and not advice from a ferret person

skunks and ferrets are completely different

they all go through a bitey stage some at a young age some older

but please do not scruff and shake like has been said to do

[Malti]

Originally Posted by Emmaj

skunks can turn their heads enough to bite you if you scruff them

please take fixx's advice and not advice from a ferret person

skunks and ferrets are completely different

they all go through a bitey stage some at a young age some older

but please do not scruff and shake like has been said to do

the ferret person has a nick...and please see that I never said to do that to a skunk, I never kept them so I know jack shit about them, I was talking ferrets