Adventures with possums

[Scatterknit]

So I shut the girls up nice and safe in the coop last night and this morning, I hear a whole lot of complaining. I walked outside, the girls were out of the coop, the door was standing wide open and this was hanging out in the coop.





Amazingly, the girls were all safe, just

My son the sniper had already left for school. I called him and he told me to shoot it with my shotgun but I didn't want to mess up the inside of my run. BLECH. Possum guts everywhere. So I threw rocks and sticks (and missed since I can't hit the side of a barn) and he just hissed at me. So I decided to chase him out of the coop with this.



By the time I got back, he was out of the coop but wouldn't leave the fenced in run. ARGH! So I called the dogs, right? Wrong. They refused to help. Wouldn't even look at me. They are happy to bark incessantly at possums up in a tree until I lose my mind from all the noise but actually chase one up a tree? Forget it. They're too fat for that nonsense.



So I called my son the sniper and he said "Oh Mom get over it. Go get your 12 gauge and shoot it. If it's not running away from you, there's probably something wrong with it."
OK. So I pulled out my trusty 12 gauge and grabbed some shells.



And I stood 15 feet away and BAM!
I MISSED THE THING! I SHOT IT AGAIN AND MISSED AGAIN!!!

But I scared it and it finally ran off.

How does anyone miss a possum from 15 feet with a 12 gauge?!?! That is just pathetic. PATHETIC!!! I spent all day on Sunday shooting sporting clays (and yes mostly missing) but really?!?! I can't hit a possum?!?!?!

I am going to have to give up farming and go live at the city and hang out at coffee shops and Whole Foods if I can't do any better than that.

Anyone have ideas for a good possum proof latch? Now it has a sliding bolt but I think I'm going to have to put some kind of lock thingy on it.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Missing with a shotgun in broad daylight at 15 feet! No, I won’t comment.

On the occasions I’ve had to dispatch a possum I haven’t shot it, I use a shovel. They have needle sharp teeth and can do damage but they are fairly slow. They are not that dangerous as long as you use a little care. Besides, you already have a way to carry it and bury it. How convenient.

Don’t worry about making a mess with the guts if you do shoot it. The chickens would love the extra protein.

 

[enola]

No comments from me either! But, it does sound like something that could happen in a lot of chicken runs. Thanks for the smile your story brought to my face.

 

[Scatterknit]

Hahahaha! I'm just hoping I can blame the shells. Come to think of it, the gun didn't kick much. 1 oz. should have done it though. I thought I'd blast it into smithereens but noooooooooo!

I was planning to leave it as lunch for the girls but they missed out. It ran off into the woods to recover from its minor flesh wounds. It's probably going to heal and come back for revenge.

 

[Honey B]

If farming doesn't work out, you could be a writer! I really enjoyed your tale

 

[enola]

If farming doesn't work out, you could be a writer! I really enjoyed your tale

I agree! I think we need more stories to cheer us up.

 

[Peep a Cheep]

Great writing Scatterknit! In re: missing; the only thing I will say is that I also used to miss at 15 feet and was so confused.....and then I found out I was right handed but left eye dominant. oops.

You asked about what people have used for latches. I went to the hardware store and got a hinged latch that had a slit on one side and circle/eyehook type thing on the other - the kind where you put the slit over the circle and then add a lock to the circle (I can't remember what they are called, sorry). I attach a non-locking carabiner through the circle. I haven't met a possum, or raccoon who could open a carabiner.

 

[Scatterknit]

Carabiner!!! Perfect!!! Thanks!

 

[RonP]

You're lucky it was daylight.

Possums at night are deadly to chickens.

I have also found them not to be territorial.

Hopefully he will just move on...

 

[The Lazy L]

... So I pulled out my trusty 12 gauge and grabbed some shells.



And I stood 15 feet away and BAM!
I MISSED THE THING! I SHOT IT AGAIN AND MISSED AGAIN!!!

Missed. I don't think so. I think you shot exactly where you wanted to. You're just soft hearted.