Dealing with Opossums and chickens

[McChooky]

If possums are so good at eliminating ticks why are they always covered with them in the summer?

Maybe they pick some of their tail end and eat them.

I don't buy they kill venomous snakes either.

They can carry a disease that is deadly to horses.

I can't say I've ever got close enough to check for ticks but I found a picture of one online eating a dead snake in the road. Snake venom won't kill possums at least none we have (WV)

 

[McChooky]

If possums are so good at eliminating ticks why are they always covered with them in the summer?

Maybe they pick some of their tail end and eat them.

I don't buy they kill venomous snakes either.

They can carry a disease that is deadly to horses.

Research on possums being immune to venomous snakes has led to the development of a new anti-venom thanks to the possum. Few people can afford to be bitten by a venomous snakes. Even if a snake bite doesn't kill you you can lose limbs or suffer from permanent deformities. https://www.medicaldaily.com/opossu...-new-route-treating-deadly-snake-bites-326678

 

[McChooky]

If possums are so good at eliminating ticks why are they always covered with them in the summer?

Maybe they pick some of their tail end and eat them.

I don't buy they kill venomous snakes either.

They can carry a disease that is deadly to horses.

Here is a video of a possum fighting a huge python in the UK to save its baby after the snake grabbed it. https://au.news.yahoo.com/incredibl...-furiously-python-protect-baby-231412840.html

 

[McChooky]

Possums are marsupials and related to koala bears and kangaroos. I try to live in peace with local wildlife and don't kill them if they don't bother my chickens. My coop and run are predator proof though.

 

[Serin]

You can pick up adult or juvenile opossums by the base of the tail, put in a box and take out to a patch of woods a few miles away and they won't return to your yard. Opossums do not bite defensively and don't eat adult chickens.

 

[Dottie the Chicken]

I like to "take care" of possums with a baseball bat across the head.

 

[allenw]

EPM Is the disease possums carry that can be fatal to horses. https://horses.extension.org/i-need...m-or-the-equine-opossum-disease-symptoms-etc/

 

[Vicker]

That was according to research. The bulk of people, even on BYC (from what I understand) that have experienced possums breaking in to the coop, have realized they do not usually go for the adult chickens, but rather the chicks, eggs, and leftover feed.


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.

Thanks for your response!

Possums are considered varmints. You can dispatch them. They will indeed kill and maim adult chickens. One played dead in a corner of my coop before. I used a shovel to push it out. My husband picks them up by the tail and removes them.

 

[Ferd Berfel]

No matter what some animal rights person has written possums kill adult chickens. I know from experience. Unfortunately if you have tiny baby kittens in your barn they eat them too. Again I KNOW from experience.

 

[Lightning Bob]

In my experience Possums don’t actually eat chickens. However, they do love eggs and will gladly kill the chicken and gut it to get them. We lost quite a few birds to possums before we predator-proofed our coop. …none since.