Do traps work?

[mowgli]

I have been losing some bantums despite everything I've tried.I slept on the porch to guard and heard horrible noises.There was a possum sitting on my little hens eggs.she was staring this monster down screaming at it.I shot it.I have never shot anything before so am a little traumatized by the whole thing.I have secured the coop even more but due to living in the country many of my bantums refuse to enter coop and roost in the trees.about thirty are in the coop, twenty out roosting with my turkies.If traps work what spot I bait them with? What keeps the chickens or turkeys from getting caught in the traps? Thank you for your advice in advance.

 

[TooCheep]

Sorry about your losses. Yes, traps do work. I've captured multiple raccoons with them. In my case, I put it in a location where the chickens can't reach.

Need some more info to help you. How does the possum get into your coop? Do you have an enclosed run area or do your chickens free range? If an enclosed area, how is is protected? Pictures can definitely help here.

 

[sourland]

When sleeping in trees, your flock will always be vulnerable to predation - especially from Great Horned Owls. Lock your coops at night, and use Hav A Hart type live traps so that non targeted species (pets or poultry) can be released. Bait with sardines, parts of killed birds, marshmallows/syrup (for coons). Euthanize anything trapped - catch and release is generally illegal and a bad idea. Dog proof coon traps are also a viable option.

 

[sourland]

You may want to Google 'dog proof coon traps'.

 

[mowgli]

Sorry about your losses. Yes, traps do work. I've captured multiple raccoons with them. In my case, I put it in a location where the chickens can't reach.

Need some more info to help you. How does the possum get into your coop? Do you have an enclosed run area or do your chickens free range? If an enclosed area, how is is protected? Pictures can definitely help here.

 

[mowgli]

The turkeys are in there today.Thank you so much for your quick responses.It was my fault because I didn't close the little door.The majority that go in will be safe if I am not stupid like that again.Angry at myself.I have seven turkeys that roost on top of their pen instead of in it.Several chickens roost with them.I am in the process of training a German shepherd puppy to guard.I have never had this problem before because my old Shepard passed.He took care of predators.

 

[mowgli]

All of them free range during the day.I use them to defeat tics.I have contracted lymes three times.When ranging I have no bugs.

 

[mowgli]

They are also my pets.They are very take and follow me around the yard .They sit with me on the bench at night around the fire pit.It probably sounds stupid to those that eat them.Since my whole purpose is bug control I have become quite attached

 

[TooCheep]

In that case, you really don't want to kill the possums as they are actually prolific tick eaters. https://www.caryinstitute.org/news-insights/media-coverage/opossums-killers-ticks Just concentrate on coexistence and protecting your flock.

However, without a full-time protector your birds are certainly vulnerable. It doesn't look like your defenses are very tight. Not sure how the possum got in- over the top of the cage or through a gap or even under the fence, but you should look at that. If you have (or can borrow) a game camera, you can get a much better idea of what is going on in the area at night.

You might want to at least consider an automatic door control. Unfortunately, they aren't cheap and start at $100 for a commercial one, but they do work well.

Good luck.

 

[mowgli]

Thank you I will look into the door controls and traps.