baby possum in coop, suggestions!

[Jster]

It's a juvenile, probably about 6-8 inches long not including tail. We were out of town this weekend and had a friend checking on the girls, when I went out this morning to let them free range, this little possum was crawling into a concrete block the coop is up on for its daytime nap. What should I do with it? It might be hard to get it out. The chickens didn't seem at all bothered by it, could that be because they are used to my cats? Or because it was young? Does it pose an immediate threat?


And now I've got to figure out how to strengthen the coop as well...

 

[ilovemychickies]

Awwwwww, how sweet! Maybe you could keep and raise it around your chickens so it becomes a guard possum!

 

[peruvian_princess]

I wouldnt hold my breathe on that one especially if the possum gets a taste for chicken.

 

[Wynette]

EEEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'd get rid of it as fast as you can! !!!! I love all animals - they're all God's creatures. But, I also know that 'possums carry BAD BAD diseases; plus, they can be awfully mean, and they'll eat eggs and can kill your chickens! Also, if you have horses, they carry a disease that can be deadly to horses! EEEEKKKKK!!!!!!!!!!

 

[amazondoc]

Ahhhh phoooo.

Possums are not Typhoid Mary, and in fact they're even immune to rabies. BUT once that little pesky gets big he will enjoy egg dinners as much as the next guy.

Possums DO have lots of teeth, so avoid the head end. Pick him up by the tail, put him in a sack or a small dog carrier, and carry him off into the woods somewhere.

-- edited to add, if you're not used to handling wild animals then wear thick leather gloves -- they DO have a lot of teeth.

 

[Zookeeper9000]

Kill it and look to see if there are others and get rid of them as well, all babies grow up to become adults.

 

[amazondoc]

Hey --

I found a page on deterring possums. Check it out --

http://www.opossum.org/discourage.html

 

[tiffanyh]

Kill it and look to see if there are others and get rid of them as well, all babies grow up to become adults

No need to kill it. No need to kill every predator within a 10mile radius. Just protect your flock with better wire, coops and run. What give us the right to kill animals for trying to survive. If people would just build better protection for our chickens, we can coexist.

Original poster, I would relocate it, although you may want to check that it is old enough on it out. Otherwise, give it a big dowl of soft dog food and move him. I haev had lots and lots of possums aourn dmy coops. One day when they were free ranging I had one go in the run adn sleep on top of the coop. I just relocated. They do have big teeth and are nois, but rarely go after you. They are usually on the defense, not offense!

(PS, yes I have lost a couple chickens to predators, I am not speaking from inexperience of the pain and frusteration involved.)​

 

[amazondoc]

Quote:
btw.....

This is technically true. It's a disease called equine protozoal myeloencephalitis. However, it's good to keep in mind that up to 50%-80% of all NORMAL horses have already been exposed to this disease, and very few actually ever come down with symptoms of it. It's not like you can avoid the disease just by killing a possum or two.

 

[rooster-red]

Quote:
Agreed.