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Possum - Chicken Predators - How To Protect Your Chickens From Possums
Possum
General Information & Description
Possums (or "opossums") are arboreal marsupial species. There are about 70 species of possums. The most common possums in Canada and the United States are the Virginia possums.
Possums are closely related to kangaroos although they are often mistaken for rats. Possums remain distinct because of their pouches and their penchant to live in trees. Possums are nocturnal mammals who love to scavenge for food, particularly poultry farms.
Possums are omnivores. They eat nuts, vegetables, and fruits, while also having an appetite for mice, birds, worms, small snakes, and chickens. Possums have a well-developed sense of smell and are attracted to dead meat.
Range
Possums are indigenous to Australia, Sulawesi and New Guinea, but are also found in North America. Aside from living in trees, possums have learned to adapt to human settlements. As tree dwellers, they like to rest aloft overlooking potential prey. They are scavengers who visit homes and stores to raid trash bins, dumpsters, and backyard poultry. While less common than rodent infestation, possums can be just as sinister.
Methods of Kill
Possums use their sharp claws to rip through their prey. Hens often do not survive a possum attack. Their razor sharp claws have been known to lacerate their necks and bowels—leaving them to bleed to death.
When possums gain access to chicken coops, they steal eggs and feed on baby chicks. With their strong claws, possums rip through egg shells and chicks. They will occasionally attack hens when they try to defend their young. Possums usually bite or claw
their necks, tearing through abdomens if threatened. Possums often just leave their wounded or dead prey when they can’t cart it out of the chicken coop.
Prevention & Treatment
Possums are known to enter chicken coops through worn-out chicken wire, broken ground, and holes. If you want to prevent attracting possums, make sure that you don’t leave food out (even chicken feed) to attract them to your poultry farm. Mothballs and ammonia have also been proven very effective when it comes to driving possums away. Aside from this, make sure that you regularly inspect your coops to ensure that it has no weak points.
If you already have a possum lingering around your yard, set a trap for the possum by leaving food out as bait. Possums would eat anything. You can then take out your shotgun and kill it. If state laws don’t allow this (or if you are too squeamish), drive the possum as far away as possible and leave it there.
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