Are Opossums Misunderstood?

[SB907]

My yard is an opossum highway. I have caught them in the coop, they have walked through my flock in broad daylight, and for the most part, they have coexisted peacefully for the past 4 years. A couple months ago, I lost several of my silkies (one a week, three consecutive weeks) to a mystery predator: all were broody at the time, and as eternally broody silkies, would not have vacated their "nest" if their life depended on it. I found their bodies partially eaten under a shed that the opossums are known to frequent, and we have no other ground predators that could carry them that far, so I suspect an opossum wandered in just before dusk, happened upon a silkie that wouldn't run away, and took the opportunity to grab it. Elevated the nest boxes a bit, and locking the girls up a little earlier than normal and we have had no further issues. I don't think they are going to be chasing down and catching a healthy adult chicken or breaking into a coop like a raccoon might. They have pretty terrible eyesight, but if they stumble upon an easy meal, they will take it!

 

[The Moonshiner]

No. They're understood perfectly here.

 

[mowin]

Not miss understood at all. Nasty, disease carrying, chicken/egg eating critter. Don't want them anywhere near my place.

 

[Chicken Heel]

I suspect this situation will not end well for the OP or the opossums.

 

[No Coop No Problem]

I think this goes for most predators. They're simply hungry animals, not evil monsters. I've even seen pictures online of someone feeding and petting wild foxes that were peacefully mere feet away from their chickens walking around

I briefly contemplated doing the same with my foxes, but I don't want to be stuck in a mafia type situation where I'm supporting an expanding population of foxes that if I stop feeding they kill my chickens

 

[Almosta Farm]

Most definitely! They are the coolest little guys! They are all around where I live and I see them regularly. I, like you, put food scraps out for them rather than putting food in the garbage to go to a landfill. They appreciate it I'm sure! I've never had a problem with them bothering my chickens. I have found them in my run at night and just pick them up and take them out. They look ferocious, but it's all for show ... they hiss and show their evil looking teeth, but I've never had one try to bite. They are just trying to survive like all the rest of God's creatures.

 

[CochinLady61]

While I strongly suspect you are in an extreme minority of BYC folks who appreciate opossums, I think it's great that you have found a way to keep your chickens safe AND enjoy the opossums' company.

I have many encounters with those little grinning critters. They've gotten into the hay shed (where I believed I had only been feeding a feral cat), crawled into my duck shelter, stolen feed while two geese pathetically looked on and hissed, driven my smaller dog crazy as she's tried to tree them and led me on several slow-motion pursuits around the yard (thank goodness, we run at about the same pace).

I've never befriended any, as you have (congrats!), but none has ever attacked any of my birds. I've always kind of liked the little pests. They don't carry rabies, eat a lot of ticks and are so ugly-cute.

However, I will admit to "rehoming" a couple who were a bit too brazen about their thievery. They got a long car ride into some wooded country.

Thanks for your story and the sweet photos!

All mammals can carry rabies. Possums are just low on the totem pole for getting / carrying.

Neighbors horse had to be put down for rabies.

 

[Almosta Farm]

All mammals can carry rabies. Possums are just low on the totem pole for getting / carrying.

Neighbors horse had to be put down for rabies.

Not possums. Their body temperature is too low for the virus to survive,

 

[Apis mellifera]

Opossums may not kill your chickens right away, but as they get comfortable and unafraid it's just a matter of time before they kill a hen. I had a hiding broody hen that an opossum found before me unfortunately.

 

[Apis mellifera]

Raccoons however, are not friends. Those get chased off or trapped and relocated if they don’t get the hint.

A relocated raccoon becomes someone else's problem. They also have great homing abilities and find their way back.