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Close call

post #1 of 10
7/18/12 at 1:08pm
Thread Starter 

Going to the hen house after dark to move a broody hen, I came face-to-face with a possum that was poised to kill the hen! I fought him for 20 minutes with a BB gun, jim-swing, and crowbar, but he escaped, hissing at my dog as he exited. Those varmits are hard to kill! 7:18:12 possum.jpgLast night my live trap got him.

Black Copper Marans and Black Penedesencas

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Black Copper Marans and Black Penedesencas

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post #2 of 10
7/18/12 at 10:43pm
Kill it baby!! IT HISSED AT YOUR DOG! That pussom has an attitude!
I have two chickens named Salt (White Leghorn) and Pepper (Silver Laced Wyandotte), born on April 28th 2012
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I have two chickens named Salt (White Leghorn) and Pepper (Silver Laced Wyandotte), born on April 28th 2012
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post #3 of 10
7/18/12 at 10:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by PartyOnARoost View Post

Kill it baby!! IT HISSED AT YOUR DOG! That pussom has an attitude!

No, that possum felt threatened and cornered. They do that. Have you ever seen a cornered raccoon? Now THAT"S attitude! They hiss, bark, growl, snarl and try to bite. Why? Because they're fearing for their lives, that's why. Just like that possum. OP, I hope that if you did kill the thing, it was alot more quickly and humanely than 20 minutes of fighting with it. Shotgun or .22 are our weapons of choice. Depends on the varmint and the circumstances.

Chickens off and on for 25+ years and still learning.

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Chickens off and on for 25+ years and still learning.

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post #4 of 10
7/19/12 at 4:30am

Someone on here constantly says the 3 S's ... can't remember now what it means. Shoot, shovel, and shut up or something like that! One massacre will change you're view of most predators.

Ahh chicken math! Not even sure anymore how many we have. We hatched our first egg from our own flock on 9/7 while our son was home alone. hoping a few more will join him/ her soon :)

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Ahh chicken math! Not even sure anymore how many we have. We hatched our first egg from our own flock on 9/7 while our son was home alone. hoping a few more will join him/ her soon :)

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post #5 of 10
7/19/12 at 5:47am

 I got a possum yesterday too.My kids are mad at me. I said," Would you feel different if he killed Jack,broken toe,or pluckers?" and they said," Yes,then you could kill it." 

 

Well I said," Sorry,be mad at me then,because letting a predator kill the chickens you love,so I can then act is foolish imo. I would rather you be mad at me than be sad over our flock getting killed."

 

 I don't really understand why there is the need to wait.Wait till a predator kills.Wait till a vicious dog bites your kid.Wait till the weird guy down the street attacks someone.Wait,wait,wait......then act.

 

SSS all the way.

2013 Captures-3 coons, 1 possum.
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2013 Captures-3 coons, 1 possum.
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post #6 of 10
7/19/12 at 7:16am
Agreed ^^^
I have two chickens named Salt (White Leghorn) and Pepper (Silver Laced Wyandotte), born on April 28th 2012
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I have two chickens named Salt (White Leghorn) and Pepper (Silver Laced Wyandotte), born on April 28th 2012
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post #7 of 10
8/3/12 at 8:28am
Thread Starter 

Well, I released that young possum some distance away from any chicken residences. But then a couple of nights later, two irreplaceable Penedesenca hens were killed. The huge ugly bull possum trapped the next night was humanely euthanized. 

Black Copper Marans and Black Penedesencas

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Black Copper Marans and Black Penedesencas

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post #8 of 10
8/3/12 at 12:54pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mattemma View Post

 I got a possum yesterday too.My kids are mad at me. I said," Would you feel different if he killed Jack,broken toe,or pluckers?" and they said," Yes,then you could kill it." 

 

Well I said," Sorry,be mad at me then,because letting a predator kill the chickens you love,so I can then act is foolish imo. I would rather you be mad at me than be sad over our flock getting killed."

 

 I don't really understand why there is the need to wait.Wait till a predator kills.Wait till a vicious dog bites your kid.Wait till the weird guy down the street attacks someone.Wait,wait,wait......then act.

 

SSS all the way.

I took action after the coons took out my first 5 ladies at 8 weeks old. I had no idea they were in the woods. If I had the chance to take 'em out before losing my girls, you better believe I would not hesitate. A varmint will be sneaky and murder the helpless. Don't ever take that chance. The girls are your responsibility to keep safe. They depend on you. No one should feel the sick feeling of walking up on feathers. Taking out the anger and shame of knowing I let them down on the predator started my getting over the event.   SSS!!

My wife and I can sit for 2 hours or more inside the pen feeding, petting and watching the girls . Don't tell the family, though. I never knew watching our ladies grow and learn would be the best stress relief ever! 

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My wife and I can sit for 2 hours or more inside the pen feeding, petting and watching the girls . Don't tell the family, though. I never knew watching our ladies grow and learn would be the best stress relief ever! 

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post #9 of 10
8/3/12 at 7:47pm
LL
 
SSS

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by JimyCrakKorn View Post

I took action after the coons took out my first 5 ladies at 8 weeks old. I had no idea they were in the woods. If I had the chance to take 'em out before losing my girls, you better believe I would not hesitate. A varmint will be sneaky and murder the helpless. Don't ever take that chance. The girls are your responsibility to keep safe. They depend on you. No one should feel the sick feeling of walking up on feathers. Taking out the anger and shame of knowing I let them down on the predator started my getting over the event.   SSS!!

 

"Never argue with a fool; onlookers may not be able to tell the difference." Mark Twain

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"Never argue with a fool; onlookers may not be able to tell the difference." Mark Twain

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post #10 of 10
8/4/12 at 8:31am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ted n Ms View Post

LL
 
SSS

 

Yes Sir. Good job! 

My wife and I can sit for 2 hours or more inside the pen feeding, petting and watching the girls . Don't tell the family, though. I never knew watching our ladies grow and learn would be the best stress relief ever! 

Reply

My wife and I can sit for 2 hours or more inside the pen feeding, petting and watching the girls . Don't tell the family, though. I never knew watching our ladies grow and learn would be the best stress relief ever! 

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