We have several opossums that hang around our yard at night (in a sort-of town). They're mostly scrounging my compost pile, along with a few raccoons here and there.
My chickens go in promptly at dusk, and I watch for the last one to go in so I can close them up right away. The coop is secure, with a heavy access door that I doubt any small animal could lift; the only way to the access door is through the run which is chickenwire and 2x4, buried 6 inches all around. Rats do occasionally get in (through the chickenwire, I guess?), but there has only ever been evidence of tampering/digging right around the People Door into the run, which we promptly remedied with more chickenwire. In other words, I am pretty confident with their security so long as they are inside the coop.
Must I get rid of the opossums? Is there some threat I am overlooking?
My chickens go in promptly at dusk, and I watch for the last one to go in so I can close them up right away. The coop is secure, with a heavy access door that I doubt any small animal could lift; the only way to the access door is through the run which is chickenwire and 2x4, buried 6 inches all around. Rats do occasionally get in (through the chickenwire, I guess?), but there has only ever been evidence of tampering/digging right around the People Door into the run, which we promptly remedied with more chickenwire. In other words, I am pretty confident with their security so long as they are inside the coop.
Must I get rid of the opossums? Is there some threat I am overlooking?