Dealing with Opossums and chickens

[DonyaQuick]

Is it legal to kill wildlife like that? I’ve attempted to kill a hawk that hurt its wings while going for our chooks, and someone on BYC notified me saying it’s illegal to do so.

If it’s legal, I’d gladly do so. Rather be safe than sorry.

Check state laws for MA on that and also worth checking to make sure there aren't weird, stricter things for your town/county. The criteria can be weird from one place to another. Sometimes the animal can be taken just for threatening livestock but other places have more annoyingly strict rules and some towns have firearm discharge rules that complicate things further.

 

[MARANMAN2011]

Those carry diseases just get rid of it

 

[littlecoopnextdoor]

I mean, I'd suggest closing the doors if he just walked in. It's not fair to kill him if you're leaving the doors open and inviting him in. Opossums are usually after the feed or eggs, not the huge birds on the roosts.

 

[CSolis]

I mean, I'd suggest closing the doors if he just walked in. It's not fair to kill him if you're leaving the doors open and inviting him in. Opossums are usually after the feed or eggs, not the huge birds on the roosts.

Might I suggest you read some threads in the predators area. Here's just one of them.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/opossum-a-deadly-threat.1505711/post-25240550

 

[HeatherKellyB]

I have opossums here on a regular basis. In an effort to protect your birds and yourself I'd dispatch it. I've had them become aggressive (well not really. That's an exaggeration. They just like to hiss at me and dare me to do anything) with me before. I have had a lot of eggs that Ive had to toss and they love some eggs, rotten or not. So far they haven't bothered my roosters that like to sleep in the chain link run, but they usually have plenty to eat. If you can't dispatch it tonight and you're planning on doing this, I'd make sure you have something for it to eat tonight (not near your birds) so it's not tempted by your chickens. This is just my personal opinion and I imagine many won't agree.

 

[All4Eggz]

Might I suggest you read some threads in the predators area. Here's just one of them.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/opossum-a-deadly-threat.1505711/post-25240550

This is not the case most of the time, from what I understand.

 

[MARANMAN2011]

If you want it out and dont want to kill it.
If its at night close coop door open gate and chase it out in the dark.
If you have a live trap

 

[MARANMAN2011]

If you want it out and dont want to kill it.
If its at night close coop door open gate and chase it out in the dark.
If you have a live trap

Trap it amd get rid of it like 20 miles from your home

 

[All4Eggz]

Looks like MA law allows the killing of mammals that are harmful or damaging to one’s property.

I may dispatch it if it does not leave the run in the next few hours. It has one chance- life, or death. The next time I see it, I am going to dispatch it.

 

[McChooky]

We rarely see a snake or rodent because we have so many hawks, owls and possums hunting and killing them . Possums and other small predators can squeeze thru small openings so you need to cover your coop and run with 1/2" hardware to protect your chickens better.Chickens have poor night vision and can't escape in the dark of night.