Goodbye, Mr Possum...

[Sleepy71]

Just had one of my backyard chickens banging on my bedroom window. Since I had just dozed off for the night, I was startled to hear the disturbance. I wasn't sure what it was, at first, but after turning on the floodlights, there she was. I thought maybe she decided not to go back in the coop, so I went out to carry her back to her coop. As soon as I opened the side door, I was face to face with Mr Possum. So, I quickly put her in the other coop, then ran inside to get my trusty Marlin 22 and a flashlight. As soon as he saw the light, he jumped down and ran to the back of the coop and got in the nesting boxes. I went around to the front of the coop and had to aim thru the small coop door, while holding my flashlight along the side. His evil eyes were glowing back at me as I took aim. POP! And, down went Mr Possum. I gave him one more, just to be sure, since he was squirming a little. Probably shouldn't have done this at 12-midnight, but I have no mercy for these rodents. I only found 2 of the 3 birds that stay in that coop, both were fine. The 3rd would have actually been in one of the nesting boxes, since she was sitting on 2 eggs for the past 2-3 weeks. Hopefully I'll find her tomorrow. Those eggs are probably gone, huh...

 

[Sleepy71]

And, now I'm wide awake and can't go back to sleep. LOL

 

[jeepguy982001]

well that sucks you can't fall asleep.But at least you got that little rascal.

 

[bigoledude]

Possums are by far the worst predator we have at the different locations we keep chickens. They, like coons, will reach through the fencing, pull the chicken's head through and eat the head off. DP traps work like a charm on those nasty "grinners".

Coons seem to catch on after you kill the original bunch and their offspring stay clear of coops-n-runs. When they come too close.....

 

[Sleepy71]

Well, I went back out there this morning. All the birds are accounted for, but the possum did eat the eggs in that nesting box. Oh well, she was only sitting on two of 'em, and they would have been bantams, so no huge loss. I just hate the fact that he got in there. I know this happens all the time. I am still amazed that I was woken up by the one hen that came to the window. She may have just been try to jump and roost somewhere on the house, although there was nothing there to roost on. But, she could have gone anywhere in the backyard (we live on a deep 1-acre lot), but she came to the bedroom window.

 

[Mattemma]

Bummer about the eggs,but glad to read no hens died.Would that be a Marlin 60 22LR you used?.Did not make a big mess in the coop?

How lucky that hen hit your window eh? She deserves a treat.

 

[ScurrMurr]

Good for you, after losing a hen to a weasel last week (in broad daylight) I have little sympathy for predators. At least you didn't lose any chickens!
Funny about your hen waking you up - the only reason I caught the weasel in the act was that I heard my eldest hen squawking up a racket outside so I went to see what the fuss was about. Good thing she did too, or that thing would have killed all of them, I'm sure.

Maybe it wasn't an accident that she came to your window!

 

[FrenchFamily]

She needs a treat! Good chickie, and nice shot!

 

[ll]

That is a real good chicken you have there = smart! Keep her 4ever, ok?

 

[Coop Deville]

Good shot. I'm hoping to nail the possum that got my bantam last week. Your story is an inspiration.