Dealing with Opossums and chickens

[CrazyCochin]

Yesterday night I saw a possum making his way toward the coop. Luckily I stopped him by flashing my flashlight at him and he retreated.
Today, I saw him in the run, next to the coop opening, and he began to play dead. All the chickens are safe and sound.

He is playing dead, not moving, and not reacting to loud noises or anything like that.

How did I get him out of the run so that both he and I are safe?
He won’t budge.

How do I prevent opossums from coming back? I know they generally do not harm chickens, but I do not want to risk it.


When I first saw him, he had a bone in his mouth, probably from the chickens’ leftovers. He was going for the meat and bone left in the run, so luckily that distracted him a little bit so he didn’t get into the coop at all.

And advice and suggestions are greatly appreciated.
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@aart @azygous @U_Stormcrow

(I see this is from about a month ago, but just wanted to throw my experience in.)

We trapped two opossums two nights in a row. (A friend of ours we work for had loaned us an expensive animal trap that had broken. But our father was able to fix it.

We took them to a nice release spot. One of those two got my hen, left her with a torn back, and a puncture wound right above her hip. The hip wound has pretty much healed up, but the back wound is taking more time.

She is separated in a crate among her small flock. (They didn’t want to accept her back at first, so that was our other option).

 

[CSolis]

(I see this is from about a month ago, but just wanted to throw my experience in.)

We trapped two opossums two nights in a row. (A friend of ours we work for had loaned us an expensive animal trap that had broken. But our father was able to fix it.

We took them to a nice release spot. One of those two got my hen, left her with a torn back, and a puncture wound right above her hip. The hip wound has pretty much healed up, but the back wound is taking more time.

She is separated in a crate among her small flock. (They didn’t want to accept her back at first, so that was our other option).

I have used coconut oil on badly wounded hens from overly agressive males. You would be amazed at how those wounds heal and get new feathers.

 

[CrazyCochin]

I have used coconut oil on badly wounded hens from overly agressive males. You would be amazed at how those wounds heal and get new feathers.

I don’t know if I have coconut oil, that is helpful and I will remember it next time a hen has a wound.

 

[Chocorobo12]

Please don't kill possums, they're just trying to survive. They actually eat rats and mice so they are useful animals to keep for pest control. Relocate them, don't kill <3

 

[All4Eggz]

You could lock the thread if you didn't want to get a bunch of replies in the meantime.

No, it’s okay. Happy to hear about people’s experiences!

 

[CSolis]

No, it’s okay. Happy to hear about people’s experiences!

Coconut oil is antibiotic and antimicrobial in nature.. plus it has collagen stimulating properties. Skin is made from collagen.

 

[Gearhead846]

Yesterday night I saw a possum making his way toward the coop. Luckily I stopped him by flashing my flashlight at him and he retreated.
Today, I saw him in the run, next to the coop opening, and he began to play dead. All the chickens are safe and sound.

He is playing dead, not moving, and not reacting to loud noises or anything like that.

How did I get him out of the run so that both he and I are safe?
He won’t budge.

How do I prevent opossums from coming back? I know they generally do not harm chickens, but I do not want to risk it.


When I first saw him, he had a bone in his mouth, probably from the chickens’ leftovers. He was going for the meat and bone left in the run, so luckily that distracted him a little bit so he didn’t get into the coop at all.

And advice and suggestions are greatly appreciated.
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@aart @azygous @U_Stormcrow

Id use one of those granny stick things and grab him just enough to get him to budge, and if he plays dead Id just pick him up and send him to heaven safety


sorry. My trapping instincts just kicked in

 

[Everose]

Id use one of those granny stick things

Tell me you mean grabby

 

[Gearhead846]

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!

And yeah it is illegal to kill a hawk, Kat keast where I live) just like how you can't shoot a deer when it's got a broken leg.


And I'd contact your local dow, cause where I'm at, if the animal is gonna hurt your livestock, it is totally legal to pump it full-o lead

 

[Gearhead846]

No, it’s okay. Happy to hear about people’s experiences!

I've just had to deal with a 30+ pound Coon stealing my feed and dumping th bags over.


Too bad ut was still warm out cause I'd have kept his hide