Are possems more of a threat

[CoopCrazy]

Quote:
when they are really dead they lose control of their bowels every one I have ever dispatched I have used this bit of info to keep me from getting bit good luck with your birds

See i thought that was part of them playing "Opposum" ?????

 

[fl_deb]

If I do not kill the opossum, won't s/he keep coming back night after night, trying to break into my coop????

And with each encounter of the opossum crawling on their coop and run isn't there a risk of injury or disease or pests (lice or fleas being the two mildest I can think of) being given to my girls??

I live in an fairly dense urban environment, i.e. a 24 hr. McDonalds is less than a mile away, shopping mall and a perkin pancakes is even closer, 7-elevan on the corner, etc. and a large county park within 1.5 miles.

So, do I wait to find out how many diseases, injuries or birds I lose first? To determine how big a threat the opossum are?

From what others are saying here, the first time these critters get a chance they will kill and eat my birds.

And it will be my fault because the coop had a weaknest that I don't see now????


Maybe someone can enlighten me....do they give up on a free chicken meal,

if coop is secure the first couple of tries????

I do not want to lose my pets! Yes they are my pets- not livestock to me.
I cannot afford to pay an animal trapper $50/animal to relocate this wildlife for me, and it's like a $500 fine if you are caught relocating wildlife without a permit. So I either live with it or SSS.

And no I cannot afford a dog to chase away wildlife, I got the birds because I thought they would be more economically viable than a dog or cat and still be a cool pet.


I don't mean to be a nay sayer here, I just feel like a limited number of choices are available and I do not like them!

 

[animals1981]

people exagerate what possems are capable of they are not nearly as powerful as a coon


possems might eat a chicken at night but during the day it would not dare attack a large bird

their teeth look strong but they do not have much jaw power and do not have strong claws like a coon

 

[Yessur Ebob]

Possums will eat your birds and eggs if they get a chance. Try calling the Game Commission and ask them what to do. If you see a possum out during the day there is a good chance that it is sick, such as rabies, etc. You should deal with this ASAP.

 

[animals1981]

LOL it does not have rabies please dont put people in a panic for no reason

 

[aprophet]

Quote:
possums body temps are generally too low to incubate the virus rabies

 

[aprophet]

Quote:
X2 Your second point kina depends on the size of the possum the bigger the animal the bolder they are the really large ones here are only 6-9 lbs most are only 2-5 lbs

 

[huntercf]

Just a thought, Opossums LOVE cat food, you could try and put cat food out away from your chickens, just a little bit each night and keep moving it farther away. I know you are not suppose to feed wildlife but as an alternative to killing it, this might help. Make sure to put the cat food away from your house as far as possible that way it doesn't associate cat food with your house. Also, don't put poison in the food as this might constitute a felony in your state, it is in mine. Good Luck.

You might also check into ordering animal urine, maybe coyote. This sometimes helps deter some animals.

 

[Pollo Blanco]

Possums are NASTY!!!

I don't really view them much different than rats. So, if you live in an urban environment and don't want to impinge on the urban wildlife, don't kill the rats either.

 

[smilingcat]

If you are really concerned about the possums, call the local animal control and rent for free a live cage trap. Once you've caught the culprit, have them come by and pick it up. Yes they do have fleas, and ticks occasionally. The ones around here have nice fur. They've been dining on avocados. Only thing they don't eat is the pit. They are mostly nocturnal and rarely do I see them active during the day. We leave alone the possums. They are not the superman like coons. That's a whole different critter. BIG possum about 8 pounds. my dawgs 60 to 90 pounds.

Sure they get vicious if you corner them. For them, its life or death and you would be too. Possums generally dine on snails, vegetation and carrions. Possums can move fairly fast but they can't outran my dawgs. No I wouldn't ignore about a possible threat from a possum. They are wild critters and very opportunistic. So given a chance, well I don't give them a chance.

I don't get worked up over possums whereas mountain lions, bobcats, coyotes, coons, bluejay, redtail hawk, rats, snakes, stray dawgs and even housecats that's different.

The short of it, if you protect your flock against rats, coons and snake, you'll be fine against possums. just my opinion.