Are Opossums Misunderstood?

[PrettyChicky25]

I feel like these opossums appreciate you and so they know not to hurt you or your family in order to keep being fed.

 

[TexasBlues]

do you notice the possums traveling with others? or they always solo? I saw 2 adults in the yard this morning. Very active too.

 

[Almosta Farm]

do you notice the possums traveling with others? or they always solo? I saw 2 adults in the yard this morning. Very active too.

They are usually solitary, but you might see young ones together

 

[Vicker]

I hope they continue to mind their own business with your chickens. I can't get the image out of my head of the two possum encounters my chickens have had.

 

[catobsessed]

I hope they continue to mind their own business with your chickens. I can't get the image out of my head of the two possum encounters my chickens have had.

Oh geez I’m so sorry for your loss. That’s how I feel with raccoons, I’m so with you. My coops are above ground and locked, surrounded by hardware cloth. Overall I feel pretty good about predators.

 

[catobsessed]

I feel like these opossums appreciate you and so they know not to hurt you or your family in order to keep being fed.

The one featured on the post is a grouchy old lady she looks so betrayed if I didn’t put anything out yet. She’s just expecting food now.

 

[catobsessed]

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

I know they eat eggs, but it’s funny bc I offered mine boiled eggs that cracked and they snubbed it! Mine are spoiled, man.

 

[catobsessed]

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.

Yes ((( it’s a rough world out there, why not share our blessing with the animals that mean no harm?

 

[dirkandlorie]

Yes ((( it’s a rough world out there, why not share our blessing with the animals that mean no harm?

You won't say that when you enter your coop to find your babies eviscerated by those possums! I thought they were no problem for a long time, they looked so slow, the cats weren't disturbed by them, my coop is hardware cloth top bottom and sides, thought they were safe. That possum found a tiny gap and worked it open. Walked in while it was eating my girl, a second hen severely clawed down the sides. You are playing with fire encouraging those possums to hang around. Those chickens count on you to keep them safe!

 

[catobsessed]

You won't say that when you enter your coop to find your babies eviscerated by those possums! I thought they were no problem for a long time, they looked so slow, the cats weren't disturbed by them, my coop is hardware cloth top bottom and sides, thought they were safe. That possum found a tiny gap and worked it open. Walked in while it was eating my girl, a second hen severely clawed down the sides. You are playing with fire encouraging those possums to hang around. Those chickens count on you to keep them safe!

Oh no!!! I’m so sorry for your experience. You are right though, our girls do count on us to keep them safe, that’s why I never let them free range unsupervised. Fortunately I’ve only lost 4 out of the 25 I’ve owned over the years from a predator, in my case twice being from a raccoon, a hawk, and a dog. The first two were my own fault because I was new to chickens and didn’t realize how important hardware cloth and locks are. I didn’t realize a raccoon could undo a simple latch.