Possum attacks HELP!

[Hatch in chicks]

A possum has been eating young chickens and bantams. I think it is eating eggs too.
This rodent was sighted on my trail cam just last night. I have not been counting how many chickens he has eaten, around 10-12.
I need to get rid of this varmint before he eats/destroys all my chickens/ and chicken feed. Here is a picture of him looking for eggs and small chickens

 

[Hatch in chicks]

the only thing not predator proof is the fencing (3\4). Could i put mesh or hardware cloth around the bottom of the fencing? If so, how tall of a roll do you think would work. plus i wanna get rid of him for good

 

[Smokerbill]

the only thing not predator proof is the fencing (3\4). Could i put mesh or hardware cloth around the bottom of the fencing? If so, how tall of a roll do you think would work. plus i wanna get rid of him for good

O'possums are master climbers. You'd have to cover the entire run/coop wall with hardware cloth, top to bottom.

Use a live trap to catch that marsupial, and don't relocate it. Dispatch it.

 

[Hatch in chicks]

O'possums are master climbers. You'd have to cover the entire run/coop wall with hardware cloth, top to bottom.

Use a live trap to catch that marsupial, and don't relocate it. Dispatch it.

ok will do...

 

[Smokerbill]

ok will do...

Is there a roof that's secure?

 

[Hatch in chicks]

roof? the roof to the chicken coop is metal/tin no "roof" for the run

 

[TexasBlues]

Do you know where it is getting in? It looks like a relatively big possum.

 

[Necti]

I have regular nightly opossom visits and they kill any chickens they can and also they can enter if there is any possible way. I think killing the opossoms would be useless since there is an "unlimited" supply in the region.

But on the advice of locals I installed a low level "artistic" light bulb in the coop, the type that puts off a dim orangish colored light, and the opossoms never have bothered the hens in the coop again. (1 year now) This, even though the coop is still rather easy for a opossom to penetrate if it really wanted to.

But the light makes the rooster crow earlier.

 

[Hatch in chicks]

it

Do you know where it is getting in? It looks like a relatively big possum.

could be the very side of the coop, but that hole is only 1 1/2 inch in width. In length its around 4 inches. im setting up a live trap tonight, what should i put in there?

 

[McChooky]

Hoping to dispatch a family of possums with an air rifle.