Are possums a threat?

[bobbi-j]

We've had opossums move into our area within the past couple of years and are seeing more and more of them. I'm wondering if they're a threat to my chickens or if they'll eat the eggs or the feed if they get into the coop. We have plenty of other predators, too, so when I build my run this spring it will be made as secure as possible. It's going to have 2x4 fencing all around, plus hardware cloth around the bottom 2' and dug into the ground also. A question about that - is it better to dig it in vertically or horizontally? I've seen it both ways. I've had chickens for years, but they've always free ranged. Last year I lost 13 of 16 chickens in a matter of days. I think to coyotes. So, no more free ranging for my girls. Thanks for any info you can share!

 

[dacjohns]

Quote:
Yes, yes, yes.

Vertically or horizontally. I think it's your choice. Horizontal and predators have to dig farther but they might be able to work their way under it. Vertical is more work for you, wire might rust faster, but probably better.

 

[bobbi-j]

Alrighty then. One more animal with a bull's-eye on its head. I kind of figured the feed, suspected the eggs, but had no idea they were carnivores and would eat the birds too. I guess that's what those nasty-looking teeth are for. The one in our garage will not be a threat to anything anymore (it was a BIG male - my 90 lb lab didn't even want to tackle it), but will keep an eye out for others. Maybe that's why the food for the outside cats has been disappearing.... We have a long list of predators here - coyotes, coons, skunks, mink, weasels, hawks and now possums. One other thing I was thinking about around the bottom of the run. I'm thinking of piling rocks around it. Lots of them. We live on very rocky ground and have rockpiles everywhere. Hoping that would also discourage digging predators.

 

[what was i thinking]

one ate my favorite faverolle shirley... my husband was home so he shot it, but it was too late. she was a good momma and it got two chicks...
i found one in my coop a month or two back and i didn't have the gun.... so i put it in a feed bag and smashed it against my brick barn.... then tossed it in the wood boiler! i think i was getting revenge for shirley....

eta... i lost about 13 in a month or two... but i think mine is all hawk activity or bald eagle. because they would be missing when i went to lock them up at night.

 

[sundance]

We have killed 3 possoms in the last month. My SIL shot 2 and I fixed a nice can of dog food with some plaster of paris, got the third. Had to set the dish down in my garbage can so the dogs couldn't get to it but at least got the possoms. marrie

 

[theFox]

The only good possum is one in Grannies' stew pot.

All of the rest should be in Grannies' stew pot.

If you find one that isn't do it in and send it to Grannie.

 

[JeaMar]

We had a problem with a predator last fall. Whatever it was got into the coop and knocked over feed dish, left 2 eggs broken and the only thing left of my best laying bantam was her breast bone and her feet...along with feathers. Three days later our rooster was gone. He never strayed far from the girls. We installed wire which we hooked up to box giving 1800 to 2000 amps.
We purchased this at our local Tractor Supply store. Then we borrowed two live traps from a neighbor. First night nothing, second night we trapped one of the biggest possums I have ever seen. Used traps for three weeks solid and caught another possum and also two cats. Have had no problems since installing electric wire. Its a lot of work but well worth it for the peace of mind. Researched a lot on possums and they will eat just about anything...once they find a food source they will keep returning until there is nothing left.

 

[bobbi-j]

what was i thinking - sorry to hear about Shirley. I'll have to admit to laughing about what you did to the second opossum that you found in the coop. Told my husband about it and he laughed, too. Good for you for taking care of the problem!

sundance - dog food and plaster of paris? Wow! Haven't heard that one before. Glad you got 'em.

Fox - I hope Grannie is hungry. This was a big one. Tell her to get the stew pot ready.

JeaMar - Thanks for the info on the possums not leaving as long as there is a food source. A good thing to keep in mind.

 

[Ozark Chicken]

One other thing to remember, Possums are MEAN!!!! They wont just roll over and play dead. I saw one in the corral early one morning when I was much younger and more foolish. I ran up figuring that I would "Boot" it and it would play dead. Boy was I wrong. I caught hold of my jeans leg and the fight was on. I'm runnin around hoping and screaming. It was growling and shaking its head like it wanted my leg tore off. It finnaly came lose and we both went our seperate ways... Wheeeewwwww

 

[bobbi-j]

Quote:
Yeah, the one in the garage was definitely a vicious critter! Our dog got a small one out from under the deck last fall. Must've been a young one. He had no problem with it. But he didn't even want to get close to this big ol' guy!