Do I HAVE TO get rid of opossums?

[emarble]

My self I would eliminate the possibilities of threat at the source and start eliminating the preadators now BEFORE they decide that their tired of digging in the compost!

The Chicken wire is only good for raising baby chicks so they cant get OUT NOT keeping predators from getting in! Hardware cloth and Hot Wire are the only semi sure fire ways to prevent entry (Make sure it is WIRE hardware cloth since they also sell a plastic that they call hardware cloth)

You will never eliminate all predators but you can eliminate a few and that will hold the population down

Ernie

 

[Lofty Dreams]

opousums once ate half of my flocck

 

[welasharon]

I had to think about this when deciding to get chickens because I have an opposum who eats the left over cat food outside. I built with her in mind. Hardware cloth on all sides and buried along the sides. I know there are racoon families around and I hear an owl in the woods near the coop. No way can I eliminate them nor would I try. I just am going to do my best to keep my chickens safe from them. Hopefully we can co-habitate.
sharon

 

[blefky]

Quote:
x 2 I mean, if something is actively getting at/or trying to get at your flock you have to deal with that. But there's no way you're going to "get rid of" predators. They're out there, just doing what they do to survive. If they try to get my flock then I'll do what I have to to keep my girls safe. But as they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure - never more true than with chicken keeping.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

We predator proofed the coop and leave the wildlife alone. That's been working for us all these years.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

To further my point, if you choose to kill some predators, opossums, raccoons and coyotes are the only ones that have expanded their range and numbers since white men found this continent. So if you eliminate some of them, it won't negatively impact the balance of nature - unlike hawks, owls, snakes and fox which are constantly in decline. It may not seem so to those who see snakes and hawks daily, but that is the case.
I also know a guy who has lost half his flock to a cougar. I bet it's hard to cougar-proof a coop once they get a taste.
Speaking of balance of nature and the impact of invasive species - DITTO for (domestic)cats.

 

[Spookwriter]

I doubt if you could remove all the predators in your area. And if you could,
you would probably upset the natural balance quite badly.

Predator proof that coop. Use do care in the run. The best you can.

I've never lost a single chicken to a predator. But mine are in the coop or run.

My father does the free range thing and he's lost a few. Maybe three in two years.
Just lost his roo a few weeks ago.

We both have a pretty good yard dog.