Do possums eat the chickens or the eggs or both?

[Folly's place]

Opossums are resistant to rabies infection, but NOT immune. A few years ago there were two confirmed rabid possums, out east somewhere, reported on the CDC website. Mary

 

[baskiely]

One night we forget to lock up our small coop used for raising birds and one got in.. He killed one, we found 5, and 2 are on the loose. I shot him and will be looking to trap and shoot the rest. What a terrible night.

 

[mammashutt]

They can eat both.


I have not heard of them running in herds. The ones in my yard are solitary, unless it is mom & babies.


Imp

 

[mammashutt]

Heard my rooster and chicks carrying on late last night went to investigate and sure enough a possum was inside the coop have no idea how he got in it was all locked up I was very lucky all birds were ok he sure won't be bothering them anymore!

 

[smg1970]

We have caught and released 10 raccoons and five possums in the last few weeks.

. This little guy showed up this morning, so cute..... But too close to my girls

. Trap to be set tonight,..... Again grrrr. We've released all the captured to a preserve abt 10 miles away.... And now we have a juvenile hawk watching the ladies so time to get a net up.

 

[Folly's place]

Releasing such critters is ILLEGAL, for good reasons. It's also cruel to the released animals, who won't do well in a new place. Don't trap if you won't shoot! Call your DNR and find out what's legal in your state. Mary

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Yes, and a bad idea for so many reasons.
10 miles isn't enough for raccoons either. They have huge territories, possibly already know the area and will be back.
You have now overloaded an area with those vermin. They'll have to fight to compete with animals that know the terrain and if they haven't been there, they won't know where to find water.
It's usually illegal because you may be introducing disease to the rural area it may not have existed. Relocating trapped vermin is a good way to spread disease.
Relocation may also be dumping your problem on someone else's doorstep.

Step up to the plate and either house your animals in a safe manner or dispose of the vermin properly and permanently after trapping.

 

[smg1970]

Releasing such critters is ILLEGAL, for good reasons.  It's also cruel to the released animals, who won't do well in a new place.  Don't trap if you won't shoot!  Call your DNR and find out what's legal in your state.  Mary

Releasing such critters is ILLEGAL, for good reasons.  It's also cruel to the released animals, who won't do well in a new place.  Don't trap if you won't shoot!  Call your DNR and find out what's legal in your state.  Mary

Well to answer those questions about DNR, A Phone call was made to DNR and this was exactly what we were told to do and where to release them. I Cannot shoot in our area, too close to residential area. But allowed to have chickens. Be my guest and contact DNR in the state of LA. DNR is who we were told by, how to catch in a have a heart and where to relocate these animals . Be my guest and contact them.

 

[smg1970]

Yes, and a bad idea for so many reasons.
10 miles isn't enough for raccoons either. They have huge territories, possibly already know the area and will be back.
You have now overloaded an area with those vermin. They'll have to fight to compete with animals that know the terrain and if they haven't been there, they won't know where to find water.
It's usually illegal because you may be introducing disease to the rural area it may not have existed. Relocating trapped vermin is a good way to spread disease.
Relocation may also be dumping your problem on someone else's doorstep.

Step up to the plate and either house your animals in a safe manner or dispose of the vermin properly and permanently after trapping.

Well to answer those questions about DNR, A Phone call was made to DNR and this was exactly what we were told to do and where to release them. I Cannot shoot in our area, too close to residential area. But allowed to have chickens. Be my guest and contact DNR in the state of LA. DNR is who we were told by, how to catch in a have a heart and where to relocate these animals . Be my guest and contact them. As far as your comment about stepping up to the plate, My girls are well taken care of and protected. As I said before I've done exactly what DNR has directed.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

DNR in MO doesn't handle wildlife issues. That's the Dept. of Conservation here. They told me since it isn't allowed to discharge a firearm here to drown the animal.
They told me to fill a garbage can with water and drop the trap in it.
Make sure if it is a Havahart trap that only works horizontally to secure the doors before turning on end. I learned that the hard way.